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In fairness there is some good context for wanting to get the 'magic', Lisps are talked about in such a context, as beautiful life-changing experiences, so it's understandable to be curious. I'd agree, the right tool for the job, and focus on the job, but the context is there to ask. Lisps as I've used them seem like powerful tools.


Yes, lisp dialects are powerful but there is no magic. The road to enlightenment is long and arduous and can not be put in an HN comment box. It's like I said in my original comment, the only way to get there is to just continue to write code and explore different paradigms and languages.


I would not describe the road as long and arduous, so much as long and joyful.

I have never used a language a fraction as fun as Scheme (except for Common Lisp, which is also quite fun).


Yes, I agree, I think pragmatic discussion like this is important, the 'magic, beautiful, life-changing' hyperbole is probably better left alone in analysis I'd say.


I think what you can enlightenment is what others are calling magic.




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