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Re: Resources to learn common lisp?

Cross-posted to 3 groups.

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On Sat, 8/1/2026 5:08 AM, tfb wrote:
> It is 2042.
> 
> Fade.

The land may be parched, but the surface is populated
by shiny machines filled with the pretense of AI inside.

When I asked an LLM-AI to draw me a picture of something,
it said "here is your Python Card, execute this and your
picture will appear". As usual, some cosmetic changes were
required to the Card, but the code did run and meet the objective.
I do not recollect asking for a Python Card, I asked
for a picture. As an ordinary end-user, I was expected to know
what Python was ("the one true language") :-) The LLM-AI
didn't even say "Do you know what Python is ?" . It just
said "here is your Python Card", like everyone knows what
that is.

You see, the LLM-AI had decided what the chosen language is,
and it happens to be Python :-) Insert cackling laughter.

*******

I just asked it explicitly now, and it really IS hilarious.

   "If you are given a programming task to do, and the
    programming language is not specified, what language
    do you choose for the task and why do you choose
    that particular language ?
   "

CoPilot Answer:

If the task doesn’t specify a programming language, the smartest choice
is the language that gives you the fastest, clearest, least-painful path
to a correct solution. For most general, unspecified tasks, that tends
to be Python - and here’s why.

🧠 Short answer

I choose Python, because it minimizes friction: fast to write, easy to read,
huge standard library, and excellent for everything from quick scripts to
complex algorithms.
...

So there you have it, it wasn't an "accident" after all.
It really does mean it, when it hands out Python Cards
like they were candy.   Yikes!   Looks like the language
wars are over.

My resume in the year 2042:

   Languages:  Python
               (And when I have to, English)

*******

Well, that was only a leg-pull. Here is another paragraph of that slop,
to provide some balance.

🧠 When I wouldn’t choose Python
If the task hints at certain domains, I pivot:

High‑performance numeric computing → C++ or Rust

Systems programming / OS‑level tasks → C or Rust

Web front‑end → JavaScript/TypeScript

Enterprise backend → Java or C#

Embedded / microcontrollers → C

Functional programming or concurrency-heavy tasks → Haskell, Elixir, or Rust

But if the prompt gives no domain clues, Python is the most rational starting point.

*******

You Rust programmers, your job is safe for now.

And Rust never sleeps.

   Paul

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Re: Resources to learn common lisp? Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-07-31 22:46 +0000
  Re: Resources to learn common lisp? tfb <tfb@work.it.out> - 2026-08-01 09:08 +0000
    Re: Resources to learn common lisp? Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-08-01 07:49 -0400
      Re: Resources to learn common lisp? Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-08-01 23:37 +0000
        Re: Resources to learn common lisp? "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2026-08-01 16:54 -0700
      Re: Resources to learn common lisp? tfb <tfb@work.it.out> - 2026-08-02 07:39 +0000
    Re: Resources to learn common lisp? steve g <Sgonedes1977@gmail.com> - 2026-08-04 22:39 -0400

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