How to set up a Common Lisp development environment for OSX? (Programming Newbie)

Question

So, I am very new to programming. I would like to learn Common Lisp. A few years ago, I used IDLE to write and run Python code. All it involved was downloading and installing one piece of software before I was ready to learn some Python.

With Common Lisp, things seem to be a lot more complex. I need to install:

• GNU Emacs - some sort of text editor which I have to run in Terminal
• SBCL - the compiler
• SLIME - an add-on to Emacs, which lets me code in Common Lisp (????)
• Quicklisp
• The list seems to go on forever

Could somebody make this a simpler process for me to follow?

I installed SBCL and emacs both with the help of Homebrew. Now I'm just trying to get SLIME to work with everything.

Following the instructions from this site https://gist.github.com/CodeOmar/9477900#install-slime, I attempted to install quicklisp. But I can't activate SLIME. When I launch emacs, [M-x package-install RET slime RET], it says 'no match'.

Answer this question like I'm an 8 year old, please. If there is an easier way to set up a working Common Lisp environment, I would be glad to hear it.

Answer 1

The simplest way, in my opinion, to approach Common Lisp in the Mac OS X environment, is to install from the Apple Store the fine Clozure CL implementation. It is a full implementation of standard ANSI Common Lisp with a very simple, Mac-friendly IDE. When you have mastered the language, you can install Emacs with Slime, and choose to stay with Clozure CL or pass to SBCL (or use some other implementation).

Edited

Another possibility is to go with the integrated environment provided by the free versions of the commercial implementations, either from Franz (Allegro CL, Free Express Edition), or from LispWorks (LispWorks personal edition). They have limitations, however, and Allegro CL requires a non immediate installation. Moreover, they are best used with some advanced knowledge of Common Lisp.