Newsgroups: comp.lang.scheme
Path: cantaloupe.srv.cs.cmu.edu!das-news2.harvard.edu!news2.near.net!viewlog.viewlogic.com!josh
From: josh@viewlogic.com (Josh Marantz)
Subject: GEL #f/nil, SCM choice
Message-ID: <Cz0ADt.Gv@viewlogic.com>
Sender: news@viewlogic.com
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Organization: Viewlogic Systems, Inc.
Date: Wed, 9 Nov 1994 15:15:28 GMT
Lines: 21

1.  The two objections to SCM I thought of were not mentioned in your
    list.
    - It is slower than byte-code compilers like VSCM (though still
      acceptably fast, IMO).
    - It is subject to the GPL, and hence can't be used in proprietary
      software.  In RMS's GEL proposal, he said that GEL will be usable
      in proprietary software.  How is this resolved?

2.  The '() vs. #f issue is confusing to me.  Can't you solve the elisp
    problem by making the elisp->GEL translator do:
        (if a b c) --> (if (and a (not (null? a))) b c)
    and similarly for cond, and, or, not?  What other primitives take
    booleans?

    This seems like a much less painful solution to me!
-- 
Joshua Marantz              If I only could deceive you, forgetting the game
Viewlogic Systems,    Every time I try to leave you, you laugh just the same
josh@viewlogic.com                     'Cause my wheels never touch the road
                                              And the jumble of lies we told
                                Just returns to my back to weigh me down...
