Symbolics_XL1201_Sebek_Budo_Kafka@hotmail.com (Franz Kafka) writes:
> Is there any OpenSource OS or Arcitecture that
> uses Lisp, Scheme, or ScSh to create a Lisp Machine.
No. There is/was a mailing list where people interested in a new Lisp
OS gathered, but AFAIK there were no big successes.
See <http://lists.tunes.org/mailman/listinfo/lispos>.
> How hard would it be to turn a Linux box into a Scheme/Lisp machine.
Depends on how you define "Scheme/Lisp machine" (and "Linux box", of
course). Lisp Machines tended to have specialized processors that your
"Linux box" is not likely to have, so you'd have to replace it. If
your Linux box is an Alpha, you can deinstall Linux und use
Genera. You can also use any computer running Linux to run Lisp on top
of it, just not as as OS.
> Are there any OS's that are written in Lisp/Scheme?
Not any that you can get at Sourceforge or your local computer store.
> Could Linux be ported from C into Lisp/Scheme, and would this
> constitute a Lispm.
Linux is nothing but a huge collection of C, C++ and Assembly code. If
you rewrote it in Lisp, it wouldn't be Linux any more. And probably
not a good LispOS either, just translating a C program will result in
poor Lisp style.
> Please help with a Lisp/Scheme based OS.
>
> If one were freely available, and more people started using and liking
> it, it could cause a rebirth of the Lisp Machine
Well, so what? Why do you think having a Lisp Machine is important? I
for one would be more happy if we had a set of really good development
tools and seamless integration with OSes that other people actually
use.
>--just like Linux caused the rebirth of UNIX.
But Unix wasn't dead. Linux probably caused at least as many problems
for the existing Unixes than it solved, maybe a lot more.
Building a Lisp OS that would be all like Genera today probaly would
not be a too bright idea, anyway - not only because you would not be
able to run lots of good existing software on it without good reason
(unless you would implement a POSIX layer, which is probably not fun),
I wouldn't want to connect a machine running a single-user OS focusing
on openness and easy tweakability to todays internet.
IMHO, Operating Systems have become boring in the last years. There
are several "good enough" OSes you can build upon. My advice for
someone trying to build a Lisp OS would be to start with the
user-visible parts, and let other people deal with boot loaders and
device drivers first.
(Not that I would try to stop anyone from building a Lisp OS, it
surely would be cool to have one. I just think there are other, more
interesting things to to.)
Regards
Henrik
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