Show HN: I wrote a technical history book on Lisp
Cees de Groot has released "The Genius Of Lisp," a new technical history book born from his five-year quest for a code-rich account of the language. This deep dive into Lisp's past, endorsed by Richard P. Gabriel, resonates deeply with Hacker News readers interested in foundational programming and computer history. The community applauds his dedication to preserving the technical details often missing from historical narratives.
The Lowdown
The author, Cees de Groot, has published "The Genius Of Lisp," a book chronicling the technical history of the Lisp programming language. Driven by a perceived lack of sufficiently technical historical accounts, he embarked on a five-year journey to create this work, which uniquely integrates extensive code examples and technical depth into a historical narrative.
- The book aims to distinguish itself as one of the few computer history books rich with technical details and code.
- Authored by a self-proclaimed "Lisp-er" who also holds an affinity for Smalltalk and Emacs, reflecting his broad programming interests.
- Features valuable contributions from prominent Lisp figure Richard P. Gabriel, including personal memories of John McCarthy, Lisp's creator.
- Available in both ebook and print formats, the book can be purchased through various retailers, including Lulu.com (preferred by the author), Kobo, and Amazon.
- The author actively seeks feedback via platforms like IRC, Mastodon, Lemmy, and the Hacker News thread, indicating plans for potential future editions and expansions.
- A tar file containing all the source code used throughout the book is provided for readers to download and explore.
- A linkable bibliography and a dedicated errata page are also available, promoting accuracy and further research.
This comprehensive project offers a deep, hands-on historical and technical perspective on Lisp, appealing significantly to language enthusiasts and computer historians alike, and stands as a testament to the author's passionate dedication.
The Gossip
Enthusiastic Endorsements
Users are overwhelmingly positive about the book, expressing gratitude for the author's five years of work in compiling a technical history of Lisp. Many plan to purchase it, highlighting the value of preserving such detailed historical accounts. The inclusion of personal memories from Richard P. Gabriel about John McCarthy is particularly well-received.
Clojure's Chapter Queries
Several commenters inquired about the presence of Clojure, given its modern prominence among Lisp dialects. The author clarified that there is indeed a dedicated chapter on Clojure, explaining that its absence from the index was an oversight and confirmed intentions to potentially expand on it or interview Rich Hickey in future editions.
Cover Critique & Creative Considerations
A recurring theme involves feedback on the book's cover design. While some found it "nice enough," others suggested that a professional designer could improve it, noting details like typeface, layout, and overall style. The author openly acknowledged the design wasn't ideal due to last-minute issues and welcomed specific tips, explaining the color scheme choice was intentional for distinctiveness.
Lingering Lisp Legacy
Commenters reflect on Lisp's enduring influence, with some sharing personal experiences of dabbling with Lisp for decades or noting its foundational role for languages like Tcl and Lua. There's also a broader discussion on the challenges and importance of thoroughly documenting computer science history, citing the difficulty in tracing old projects and the sheer volume of untapped archival information.