‹ BackHN Continuity

Thread

What makes Lisp difficult to read?

47 points · 81 comments · ibobev

  1. meken · · focus · HN ↗
    I think it has to do more with infix vs. prefix notation - infix is more natural and easier to read.
    1. Jtsummers · · focus · HN ↗
      When it comes to math, that's what people are familiar with so that is a factor. But function application is prefix as well for the majority of mainstream languages.
      1. tgv · · focus · HN ↗

        [dead]

    2. iLemming · · focus · HN ↗
      There's nothing "natural" about reading. We've not evolved as a species to have natural reading abilities. Of just about anything - be that cuneiform, hieroglyphs, katakana, math formulas or Sanskrit. Every person has to be taught how to read. A Mandarin-speaking person may argue that their writing system is "more natural" simply because it's one of the oldest and most widely used in history. Would you buy that argument?
Open on Hacker News to reply ↗

Unofficial Hacker News client; not affiliated with Y Combinator.