ref.html

A very small LISP implementation with several packages and demo programs.

<p>Pico Lisp does not try very hard to be compatible with traditional Lisp
systems. If you are used to some other Lisp dialects, you may notice the
following differences:

<p><dl>

<dt>Case Sensitivity
<dd>Pico Lisp distinguishes between upper case and lower case characters in
symbol names. Thus, <code>CAR</code> and <code>car</code> are different symbols,
which was not the case in traditional Lisp systems.

<dt><code>QUOTE</code>
<dd>In traditional Lisp, the <code>QUOTE</code> function returns its
<i>first</i> unevaluated argument. In Pico Lisp, on the other hand,
<code>quote</code> returns <i>all</i> (unevaluated) argument(s).

<dt><code>LAMBDA</code>
<dd>The <code>LAMBDA</code> function, in some way at the heart of traditional
Lisp, is completely missing (and <code>quote</code> is used instead).

<dt><code>PROG</code>
<dd>The <code>PROG</code> function of traditional Lisp, with its GOTO and ENTER
functionality, is also missing. Pico Lisp's <code>prog</code> function is just a
simple sequencer (as <code>PROGN</code> in some Lisps).

<dt>Function/Value
<dd>In Pico Lisp, a symbol cannot have a value <i>and</i> a function definition
at the same time. Though this is a disadvantage at first sight, it allows a
completely uniform handling of functional data.

</dl>


<p><hr>
<h3><a name="bugs">Bugs</a></h3>

<p>The names of the symbols <code>T</code> and <code>NIL</code> violate the <a
href="#conv">naming conventions</a>. They are global symbols, and should
therefore start with an asterisk "<code>*</code>". It is too easy to bind them
to some other value by mistake:

<p><pre><code>
(de foo (R S T)
   ...
</code></pre>

<p>However, <code><a href="refL.html#lint">lint</a></code> will issue a warning
in such a case.


<p><hr>
<h2><a name="fun">Function Reference</a></h2>

<p>This section provides a reference manual for the kernel functions, and some
extensions. See the thematically grouped list of indexes below.

<p>Though Pico Lisp is a dynamically typed language (resolved at runtime, as
opposed to statically (compile-time) typed languages), many functions can only
accept and/or return a certain set of data types. For each function, the
expected argument types and return values are described with the following
abbreviations:

<p>The primary data types:

<p><ul>
<li><code>num</code> - Number
<li><code>sym</code> - Symbol
<li><code>lst</code> - List
</ul>

<p>Other (derived) data types

<p><ul>
<li><code>any</code> - Anything: Any primary data type
<li><code>flg</code> - Flag: Boolean value (<code>NIL</code> or non-<code>NIL</code>)
<li><code>cnt</code> - A count or a small number
<li><code>dat</code> - Date: Days since first of March, in the year 0 A.D.
<li><code>tim</code> - Time: Seconds since midnight
<li><code>obj</code> - Object/Class: A symbol with methods and/or classes
<li><code>var</code> - Variable: Either a symbol or a cell
<li><code>exe</code> - Executable: A list as executable expression (<code>eval</code>)
<li><code>prg</code> - Prog-Body: A list of executable expressions (<code>run</code>)
<li><code>fun</code> - Function: Either a number (code-pointer), a symbol (message) or a list (lambda)
<li><code>msg</code> - Message: A symbol sent to an object (to invoke a method)
<li><code>cls</code> - Class: A symbol defined as an object's class
<li><code>typ</code> - Type: A list of <code>cls</code> symbols
<li><code>pid</code> - Process ID: A number, the ID of a Unix process
<li><code>tree</code> - Database index tree specification
<li><code>hook</code> - Database hook object
</ul>

<p>
<a href="refA.html">A</a>
<a href="refB.html">B</a>
<a href="refC.html">C</a>
<a href="refD.html">D</a>
<a href="refE.html">E</a>
<a href="refF.html">F</a>
<a href="refG.html">G</a>
<a href="refH.html">H</a>
<a href="refI.html">I</a>
<a href="refJ.html">J</a>
<a href="refK.html">K</a>
<a href="refL.html">L</a>
<a href="refM.html">M</a>
<a href="refN.html">N</a>
<a href="refO.html">O</a>
<a href="refP.html">P</a>
<a href="refQ.html">Q</a>
<a href="refR.html">R</a>
<a href="refS.html">S</a>
<a href="refT.html">T</a>
<a href="refU.html">U</a>
<a href="refV.html">V</a>
<a href="refW.html">W</a>
<a href="refX.html">X</a>
<a href="refY.html">Y</a>
<a href="refZ.html">Z</a>
<a href="ref_.html">Other</a>

<p><dl>

<dt>Symbol Functions
<dd><code>
   <a href="refN.html#new">new</a>
   <a href="refS.html#sym">sym</a>
   <a href="refS.html#str">str</a>
   <a href="refC.html#char">char</a>
   <a href="refN.html#name">name</a>
   <a href="refS.html#sp?">sp?</a>
   <a href="refP.html#pat?">pat?</a>
   <a href="refF.html#fun?">fun?</a>
   <a href="refA.html#all">all</a>
   <a href="refI.html#intern">intern</a>
   <a href="refE.html#extern">extern</a>
   <a href="ref_.html#====">====</a>
   <a href="refL.html#loc">loc</a>
   <a href="refB.html#box?">box?</a>
   <a href="refS.html#str?">str?</a>
   <a href="refE.html#ext?">ext?</a>
   <a href="refT.html#touch">touch</a>
   <a href="refZ.html#zap">zap</a>
   <a href="refL.html#length">length</a>
   <a href="refS.html#size">size</a>
   <a href="refF.html#format">format</a>
   <a href="refC.html#chop">chop</a>
   <a href="refP.html#pack">pack</a>
   <a href="refG.html#glue">glue</a>
   <a href="refP.html#pad">pad</a>
   <a href="refA.html#align">align</a>
   <a href="refC.html#center">center</a>
   <a href="refT.html#text">text</a>
   <a href="refW.html#wrap">wrap</a>
   <a href="refP.html#pre?">pre?</a>
   <a href="refS.html#sub?">sub?</a>
   <a href="refL.html#low?">low?</a>
   <a href="refU.html#upp?">upp?</a>
   <a href="refL.html#lowc">lowc</a>
   <a href="refU.html#uppc">uppc</a>
   <a href="refF.html#fold">fold</a>
   <a href="refV.html#val">val</a>
   <a href="refG.html#getd">getd</a>
   <a href="refS.html#set">set</a>
   <a href="refS.html#setq">setq</a>
   <a href="refD.html#def">def</a>
   <a href="refD.html#de">de</a>
   <a href="refD.html#dm">dm</a>
   <a href="refR.html#recur">recur</a>
   <a href="refU.html#undef">undef</a>
   <a href="refR.html#redef">redef</a>
   <a href="refD.html#daemon">daemon</a>
   <a href="refP.html#patch">patch</a>
   <a href="refX.html#xchg">xchg</a>
   <a href="refO.html#on">on</a>
   <a href="refO.html#off">off</a>
   <a href="refO.html#onOff">onOff</a>
   <a href="refZ.html#zero">zero</a>
   <a href="refO.html#one">one</a>
   <a href="refD.html#default">default</a>
   <a href="refE.html#expr">expr</a>
   <a href="refS.html#subr">subr</a>
   <a href="refL.html#let">let</a>
   <a href="refL.html#let?">let?</a>
   <a href="refU.html#use">use</a>
   <a href="refA.html#accu">accu</a>
   <a href="refP.html#push">push</a>
   <a href="refP.html#push1">push1</a>
   <a href="refP.html#pop">pop</a>
   <a href="refC.html#cut">cut</a>
   <a href="refD.html#del">del</a>
   <a href="refQ.html#queue">queue</a>
   <a href="refF.html#fifo">fifo</a>
   <a href="refI.html#idx">idx</a>
   <a href="refL.html#lup">lup</a>
   <a href="refC.html#cache">cache</a>
   <a href="refL.html#locale">locale</a>
   <a href="refD.html#dirname">dirname</a>
</code>

<dt>Property Access
<dd><code>
   <a href="refP.html#put">put</a>
   <a href="refG.html#get">get</a>
   <a href="refP.html#prop">prop</a>
   <a href="ref_.html#=:">=:</a>
   <a href="ref_.html#:">:</a>
   <a href="ref_.html#::">::</a>
   <a href="refP.html#putl">putl</a>
   <a href="refG.html#getl">getl</a>
   <a href="refW.html#wipe">wipe</a>
   <a href="refM.html#meta">meta</a>
</code>

<dt>Predicates
<dd><code>
   <a href="refA.html#atom">atom</a>
   <a href="refP.html#pair">pair</a>
   <a href="refL.html#lst?">lst?</a>
   <a href="refN.html#num?">num?</a>
   <a href="refS.html#sym?">sym?</a>
   <a href="refF.html#flg?">flg?</a>
   <a href="refS.html#sp?">sp?</a>
   <a href="refP.html#pat?">pat?</a>
   <a href="refF.html#fun?">fun?</a>
   <a href="refB.html#box?">box?</a>
   <a href="refS.html#str?">str?</a>
   <a href="refE.html#ext?">ext?</a>
   <a href="refB.html#bool">bool</a>
   <a href="refN.html#not">not</a>
   <a href="ref_.html#==">==</a>
   <a href="refN.html#n==">n==</a>
   <a href="ref_.html#=">=</a>
   <a href="ref_.html#<>"><&gt</a>
   <a href="ref_.html#=0">=0</a>
   <a href="refT.html#=T">=T</a>
   <a href="refN.html#n0">n0</a>
   <a href="refN.html#nT">nT</a>
   <a href="ref_.html#<">&lt;</a>
   <a href="ref_.html#<=">&lt;=</a>
   <a href="ref_.html#>">&gt;</a>
   <a href="ref_.html#>=">&gt;=</a>
   <a href="refM.html#match">match</a>
</code>

<dt>Arithmetics
<dd><code>
   <a href="ref_.html#+">+</a>
   <a href="ref_.html#-">-</a>
   <a href="ref_.html#*">*</a>
   <a href="ref_.html#/">/</a>
   <a href="ref_.html#%">%</a>
   <a href="ref_.html#*/">*/</a>
   <a href="ref_.html#**">**</a>
   <a href="refI.html#inc">inc</a>
   <a href="refD.html#dec">dec</a>
   <a href="ref_.html#>>">>></a>
   <a href="refL.html#lt0">lt0</a>
   <a href="refG.html#ge0">ge0</a>
   <a href="refG.html#gt0">gt0</a>
   <a href="refA.html#abs">abs</a>
   <a href="refB.html#bit?">bit?</a>
   <a href="ref_.html#&">&</a>
   <a href="ref_.html#|">|</a>
   <a href="refX.html#x|">x|</a>
   <a href="refS.html#sqrt">sqrt</a>
   <a href="refS.html#seed">seed</a>
   <a href="refR.html#rand">rand</a>
   <a href="refM.html#max">max</a>
   <a href="refM.html#min">min</a>
   <a href="refL.html#length">length</a>
   <a href="refS.html#size">size</a>
   <a href="refA.html#accu">accu</a>
   <a href="refF.html#format">format</a>
   <a href="refP.html#pad">pad</a>
   <a href="refO.html#oct">oct</a>
   <a href="refH.html#hex">hex</a>
   <a href="refF.html#fmt64">fmt64</a>
   <a href="refM.html#money">money</a>
</code>

<dt>List Processing
<dd><code>
   <a href="refC.html#car">car</a>
   <a href="refC.html#cdr">cdr</a>
   <a href="refC.html#caar">caar</a>
   <a href="refC.html#cadr">cadr</a>
   <a href="refC.html#cdar">cdar</a>
   <a href="refC.html#cddr">cddr</a>
   <a href="refC.html#caaar">caaar</a>
   <a href="refC.html#caadr">caadr</a>
   <a href="refC.html#cadar">cadar</a>
   <a href="refC.html#caddr">caddr</a>
   <a href="refC.html#cdaar">cdaar</a>
   <a href="refC.html#cdadr">cdadr</a>
   <a href="refC.html#cddar">cddar</a>
   <a href="refC.html#cdddr">cdddr</a>
   <a href="refC.html#cadddr">cadddr</a>
   <a href="refC.html#cddddr">cddddr</a>
   <a href="refN.html#nth">nth</a>
   <a href="refC.html#con">con</a>
   <a href="refC.html#cons">cons</a>
   <a href="refC.html#conc">conc</a>
   <a href="refC.html#circ">circ</a>
   <a href="refR.html#rot">rot</a>
   <a href="refL.html#list">list</a>
   <a href="refN.html#need">need</a>
   <a href="refF.html#full">full</a>
   <a href="refM.html#make">make</a>
   <a href="refM.html#made">made</a>
   <a href="refC.html#chain">chain</a>
   <a href="refL.html#link">link</a>
   <a href="refY.html#yoke">yoke</a>
   <a href="refC.html#copy">copy</a>
   <a href="refM.html#mix">mix</a>
   <a href="refA.html#append">append</a>
   <a href="refD.html#delete">delete</a>
   <a href="refD.html#delq">delq</a>
   <a href="refR.html#replace">replace</a>
   <a href="refI.html#insert">insert</a>
   <a href="refR.html#remove">remove</a>
   <a href="refP.html#place">place</a>
   <a href="refS.html#strip">strip</a>
   <a href="refS.html#split">split</a>
   <a href="refR.html#reverse">reverse</a>
   <a href="refF.html#flip">flip</a>
   <a href="refT.html#trim">trim</a>
   <a href="refC.html#clip">clip</a>
   <a href="refH.html#head">head</a>
   <a href="refT.html#tail">tail</a>
   <a href="refS.html#stem">stem</a>
   <a href="refF.html#fin">fin</a>
   <a href="refL.html#last">last</a>
   <a href="refM.html#member">member</a>
   <a href="refM.html#memq">memq</a>
   <a href="refM.html#mmeq">mmeq</a>
   <a href="refS.html#sect">sect</a>
   <a href="refD.html#diff">diff</a>
   <a href="refI.html#index">index</a>
   <a href="refO.html#offset">offset</a>
   <a href="refA.html#assoc">assoc</a>
   <a href="refA.html#asoq">asoq</a>
   <a href="refR.html#rank">rank</a>
   <a href="refS.html#sort">sort</a>
   <a href="refU.html#uniq">uniq</a>
   <a href="refG.html#group">group</a>
   <a href="refL.html#length">length</a>
   <a href="refS.html#size">size</a>
   <a href="refV.html#val">val</a>
   <a href="refS.html#set">set</a>
   <a href="refX.html#xchg">xchg</a>
   <a href="refP.html#push">push</a>
   <a href="refP.html#push1">push1</a>
   <a href="refP.html#pop">pop</a>
   <a href="refC.html#cut">cut</a>
   <a href="refQ.html#queue">queue</a>
   <a href="refF.html#fifo">fifo</a>
   <a href="refI.html#idx">idx</a>
   <a href="refB.html#balance">balance</a>
   <a href="refG.html#get">get</a>
   <a href="refF.html#fill">fill</a>
   <a href="refA.html#apply">apply</a>
</code>

<dt>Control Flow
<dd><code>
   <a href="refL.html#load">load</a>
   <a href="refA.html#args">args</a>
   <a href="refN.html#next">next</a>
   <a href="refA.html#arg">arg</a>