The Eric Normand Podcast What makes a repl?
May 30, 2019
Dive into the fascinating world of REPLs, particularly in Lisp. Discover how Lisp sets itself apart from languages like Python and Java, offering unique functionalities. The discussion highlights the significance of interactive coding and how immediate feedback can revolutionize programming experience. Perfect for those curious about the nuances that make coding more engaging!
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
REPL Debate
- Eric Normand discusses the debate around what constitutes a "real" REPL.
- He observes a qualitative difference between Lisp REPLs and those of other languages.
REPL-Driven Development
- Experienced Lisp programmers use the REPL constantly, approximately every 10 seconds, for feedback.
- This is called REPL-driven development, similar to test-driven development but with a live system.
Lisp REPL Design
- Lisp REPLs are designed for continuous back-and-forth interaction, optimizing for fast feedback.
- They've been refined over 60 years to remove obstacles to this workflow.