jhl@kira.msu.edu (John Lawitzke) (04/24/91)
A couple of weeks ago I posted the following request: $Does anyone out there have any experience with Star Sapphire Common Lisp $for MSDOS from Sapiens Software Corp? If so could you please e-mail what $you think of it to me? I'm wondering if it is worth $100 to get to play $with at home. Since that time I've had numerous requests for the info I found. Here are all the responses I received: -------------------- I've been working with the people over at Sapiens to try to get some problems in the latest version 3.1 straightened out. They are really dedicated to this product. There are many features that are implemented but also some that are not (eg. packages). If you are looking to do heavy duty CL programming the product may not give you what you need. If you are interested in working with something that is very close to CL, much closer than XLISP, then go for it. There is a compiler and it does support its own form of virtual memory. They are very repsonsive to bug reports and are working hard on getting a complete CL product. I could go on, but it is probably better if you ask me specific questions. -------------------- I saw it (read the specs they sent me), I talked to them on the phone, and I bought it (waiting for delivery). I am not going to write everything to you that is in the description of their product, when you can get this by phoning them and asking them to send you the information. But I will say this from what I have read from that information. It is not a toy and I plan to use it for serious development work of my own. If you don't have the phone number and address send me email and I will supply you with this information. I am writing this from home or I would just send it anyway. Probably the best $100. I have ever spent on software. -------------------- I have not played with it but I talked with the developer. It is not complete common lisp but it sounds like it is close enough to do the simpler things. It comes with an emacs-like editor. No compiler, does not run under Windows.-- -------------------- I haven't actually used it, but... Have you seen the technical product description of their latest version, 3.1? It certainly *sounds* impressive. They're actually approaching full Common Lisp + CLOS on a 8086-PC architecture. -------------------- -- j |%|John Lawitzke, Dale Computer Corp., R&D |%|UUCP: uunet!mailrus!sharkey!dale1!jhl |%| or: uunet!frith!dale1!jhl Inquiring minds just wondering. |%|Internet: jhl@frith.egr.msu.edu