Question

I’m learning LISP for a class. I have a basic workflow setup in Ubuntu with my LISP file in VIM and an interactive LISP prompt in a terminal that I’m using to test code as I write it. Is there a way to get LISP to load a specific file every time I type a command? It’s getting a bit tiring having to constantly input (load 'initial-code.cl) (yes, even when I am using the terminal’s history).

Answer 1

Can always try:

(let (fn)
  (defun l (&optional filename)
    (if filename
      (setf fn filename))
    (load fn)))

Works like this:

[2]> (l "x.lisp")
;; Loading file x.lisp ...
;; Loaded file x.lisp
T
[3]> (l)
;; Loading file x.lisp ...
;; Loaded file x.lisp
T
[4]> 

Pretty simple.

You can also do something like:

(defun go ()
  (load "project.lisp")
  (yourfunc 'your 'parameters))

Then you just type (go) and it reloads your file and calls your main entry point.

Or even combine them:

(defun gogo (&rest args)
    (l) ;; call (l "file.lisp") first to initialize it
    (apply #'yourfunc args))

then you can change your parameters easily

(gogo 1 2)
(gogo 2 4)

Ya know, it’s lisp. Don’t like something, change it.

With more time, you can write a simple wrapper that can build these on the fly. But you get the idea.