I'm curious about using Forth or Factor as alternatives to Common Lisp. Both languages have their own unique syntax, but they also use macros to interact with the stack. My main question is whether either of these languages can match Common Lisp's level of extensibility. What are the detailed differences between Forth and Factor, and which one would be more user-friendly for programming?
2 Answers
Actually, Forth operates differently—it doesn't use macros for stack manipulation. Instead, it uses 'words,' which can either be combinations of other words or low-level primitives, similar to functions in Lisp. Factor is also kind of like that but is considered a higher-level language. It has macros but those aren't how you directly modify the stack.
When it comes to extensibility, Common Lisp definitely stands out among the three. It has advanced features like macros, reader macros, and the Metaobject Protocol, making it structured and scalable. However, if you're looking for something more modern, Factor tends to be easier to work with than Forth, offering better syntax and tooling. Forth, while highly extensible due to its minimalistic design, falls short in readability and maintenance. Overall, for flexibility and ease of use, Common Lisp still takes the lead!
So does that mean Forth can still be as flexible as Lisp when it comes to stack manipulation?