[zachbeane]

It might have been at some point in the past, but it doesn't run on modern systems, does not fully implement Common Lisp, and can't run much of the useful software written in the past 10 or so years.

It's still pretty cool, but not as a learning tool in 2015.

[vram22]

I don't agree with your points.

1. It ran for me on Windows 7 not too long back - a year or so ago, IIRC. 2. I did not say that it fully implements Common Lisp. I said is useful as a learning tool - meaning for beginners to Lisp. This scenario is quite possible and can make sense for beginners: install an easy-to-setup-and-start-using tool like Corman Lisp; try learning _some_ of the basics of Lisp for some time using such a tool; if you find that you understand it well enough, and are interested enough to proceed further, THEN find a better/more advanced/professional Lisp and start using it. In other words, gradual learning curve, less investment of time (on installation/setup, etc.) at the start, etc. All good reasons. 3. A beginner is likely not going to want to run "much of the useful software written in the past 10 years" - or however many years. A beginner is going to want to learn the basics of the language - by definition.

And I was talking about beginners in my previous comment - hence used the term "learning tool".

[zachbeane]

I think anyone who wants to be able to stick with a system as they grow, get supportive help from an active user base, reuse the work of others in the form of useful libraries, and not worry about the viability and future of their development environment should use something like LispWorks, Allegro CL, Clozure CL, or SBCL. LispWorks and Allegro CL are just as easy to install and use on Windows as Corman Lisp.

[vram22]

1. That's exactly one of my points. I don't thing it is necessary for a user to stick with one system as they grow. A user may prefer to start with a very simple tool, use it for a while, then move on to a more powerful but somewhat more complex tool. I guess it is a difference of opinion there.

2. I had also tried out LispWorks and Allegro CL. It was a while ago, so don't remember exact details, but IIRC, either or both of them was not so easy to _use_ as Corman Lisp was - for beginners, mind you. Both were easy to install though. Note: I am not criticizing those two products on grounds of technical quality. I had read up a lot about Lisp in general, plus specifically about various prominent companies and individuals in the field, and the work that they had done, earlier, before trying out these tools, and so I know that both of those companies are by very accomplished Lisp people. It's just that I didn't find them that easy to use as a beginner to Lisp, compared to Corman Lisp.