Subject: Re: Common Lisp for Schemers From: Erik Naggum <erik@naggum.net> Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2002 07:06:33 GMT Newsgroups: comp.lang.lisp Message-ID: <3222486395579953@naggum.net> * Brian Campbell <lambda2000@yahoo.com> | Are there any good introductions to Common Lisp for people who are | experienced in scheme? I would be especially interested in introductions | to CLOS, and also any gotchas in moving from scheme to Common Lisp (like | the defun/define distinction). There is only one gotcha: Thinking that being experienced in Scheme helps when you want to learn Common Lisp. It does not. In fact, much evidence (i.e., past students) seems to indicate that it prevents you from learning Common Lisp. So to learn Common Lisp if you know Scheme, keep reminding yourself that any "Scheme ways" you think are similar are not. When you think you "get" Common Lisp, you may compare them, but at this point, it should be pointless. If you think in Scheme and write Common Lisp, you will never learn Common Lisp. Therefore, return to the state of mind of the novice before you embark on your journey. /// -- In a fight against something, the fight has value, victory has none. In a fight for something, the fight is a loss, victory merely relief.