Experiments in LISP

Here is a summary of the various LISP interpreters and compilers that I have written in the past 20 years, ranging from a proof-of-concept tree-walker to a full compiler or a complete self-hosting LISP system. Given in reverse chronological order.

LISP XV

Web page: LISP XV

Dialect: subset of LISP 1.5

Data types: purely symbolic

Type: tree-walking interpreter

Language: T3X/0, LISP 1.5

OS: Unix, DOS, CP/M, others?

Book: -/-

A version of KILO LISP 23 that has been modified to resemble the original, 1960's LISP 1.5.

KILO LISP 23

Web page: KILO LISP 23

Dialect: Common-LISP-ish, but LISP-1

Data types: purely symbolic

Type: tree-walking interpreter

Language: T3X/0, LISP

OS: Unix, DOS, CP/M, others?

Book: -/-

A version of KILO LISP 22 that imports lots of bug fixes and improvements from MICRO COMMON LISP.

MICRO COMMON LISP

Web page: MICRO COMMON LISP

Dialect: subset of Common LISP

Data types: purely symbolic

Type: tree-walking interpreter

Language: T3X/0, C, LISP

OS: Unix, DOS, CP/M, others?

Book: -/-

A version of KILO LISP 22 that is more compatible to Common LISP: separate namespaces, FUNCTION, FUNCALL, &REST arguments.

KLSYS – A KILO LISP SYSTEM

Web page: KLSYS

Dialect: Common-LISP-ish, but LISP-1

Data types: Scheme, only fixnums, escape-continuations

Type: bytecode compiler

Language: KLSYS LISP, core in C

OS: Unix

Book: -/-

A self-hosting LISP compiler and REPL that runs on a virtual machine. The entire system, including the compiler, is written in LISP. Very hackable. Based on the techniques explored in the LISP9 compiler.

KILO LISP 22

Web page: KILO LISP 22

Dialect: Common-LISP-ish, but LISP-1

Data types: purely symbolic

Type: tree-walking interpreter

Language: T3Xr7, LISP

OS: Unix, DOS, others?

Book: -/-

A T3X version of KILO LISP with command line editing.

KILO LISP

Web page: KILO LISP

Dialect: Mix of Scheme and LISP

Data types: purely symbolic

Type: tree-walking interpreter

Language: C, T3X/Z, LISP

OS: Unix, DOS, CP/M, others?

Book: The KILO LISP System

A LISP system with a size in the kilobyte range (13KB on DOS when compiled with Turbo C).

LISCMP

Web page: LISCMP

Dialect: dynamically scoped retro LISP

Data types: purely symbolic

Type: compiler (to C), interpreter (in LISP)

Language: LISP (low-level runtime in C)

OS: Unix

Book: LISP from Nothing

A LISP compiler that is completely written in LISP, including the reader, printer, and much of the low-level stuff. The only parts written in C are garbage collection, character I/O, and argument binding.

LISP9

Web page: LISP9

Dialect: Scheme-ish, shorter keywords

Data types: Scheme, only fixnums, escape-continuations

Type: bytecode compiler

Language: C, LISP

OS: Unix

Book: LISP System Implementation

An small, experimental bytecode compiler and virtual machine for running LISP. Written in C. An improved version of the S9fES Reimagined compiler.

Scheme 9 from Empty Space, Reimagined

Web page: Scheme 9 from Empty Space, Reimagined

Dialect: R4RS Scheme

Data types: Scheme, bignums, no complex numbers

Type: bytecode compiler

Language: C, Scheme

OS: Unix, Plan 9, others?

Book: -/-

A version of S9fES that uses a bytecode compiler and a VM instead of a tree walker.

Small Scheme Compilers and Interpreters

Web page: Various small Scheme compilers/interpreters

Dialect: subset of R4RS Scheme

Data types: purely symbolic

Type: tree-walking interpreters, compilers (to VM, C)

Language: C, Scheme

OS: Unix

Book: Compiling Lambda Calculus

A collection of small interpreters and compilers for a tiny subset of Scheme, ranging from a tree-walker with deep binding to a compiler (to C) with shallow binding. All interpreters, compilers, and VMs in Scheme with some runtime code in C.

Scheme 9 from Empty Space, 3rd Ed.

Download: s9fes-2014.tgz

Dialect: R4RS Scheme

Data types: Scheme, bignums, no complex numbers

Type: tree-walking interpreter

Language: C, Scheme

OS: Unix, Plan 9, others?

Book: Scheme 9 from Empty Space

A bug-fixed and extended version of the original (first edition) S9fES.

Mini Scheme v.3

Originally by Atsushi Moriwaki and Akira KIDA.

Download: miniscm3.tar.gz

Dialect: subset of R4RS Scheme

Data types: subset of Scheme

Type: interpreter

Language: C, Scheme

OS: Unix, DOS, others?

Book: -/-

An extended, but still tiny version of the original Mini Scheme.

zenlisp

Download: zenlisp.zip

Dialect: LISP-1

Data types: purely symbolic

Type: tree-walking interpreter

Language: C, LISP

OS: Unix, others?

Book: Zen-style Programming

A weird, little, purely symbolic dialect of LISP.

Scheme 9 from Empty Space, First Ed.

Download: s9fes-2007.tgz

Dialect: R4RS Scheme

Data types: subset of Scheme, integer-only, bignums, no call/cc

Type: tree-walking interpreter

Language: C, Scheme

OS: Unix, Plan 9, others?

Book: -/-

The interpreter from the first edition of the book, with some fixes from 2009.