[miki123211]

> I see Rust macros as the closest thing that demonstrates homoiconicity in mainstream Algol-based languages

I don't know if you consider Elixir mainstream, but IMO their macro system is much closer to lisp's ideal.

Elixir is basically Lisp, but with better syntax, a modern ecosystem, and running on the Beam. Unlike languages like Rust, Elixir's conditionals and function definitions are just calls in the AST, even though the syntax looks mainstream and not like paren soup.

[embedding-shape]

> Elixir is basically Lisp, but with better syntax

Which so helpfully removes many of the benefits of lisps :P I don't understand this argument at all, if it's not s-expressions nor quacks like a lisp, in what way is it lisp at all? Making it algol/C-like already makes it like the rest of the 99% of the languages, without any of the easy benefits of the neat and simple syntax of lisps.

[drob518]

Agreed. You can tell when someone “gets it” or not by whether they see sexprs as a problem to be overcome or a benefit to be embraced. Count me firmly in the benefit camp.