What software can I write with a Symbolics system?
Just about anything. Perhaps it is best to consider the issue of delivery first – how will you deliver your application? On pre-owned Symbolics platforms? If you are serious, it is possible to deliver on current Symbolics machines (Open Genera running on Alpha hardware). Also you can deliver via the W3 using CL-HTTP and using your Symbolics system as a server. Or perhaps you do not intend to distribute your system, rather use it in-house. I suspect that one of the most valuable contributions that Symbolics users have made to the body of mankind’s knowledge is by prototyping applications that no one would have been able to get their heads around using C and such data oriented environments. Not to pour cold water on it though, but I don’t think a Symbolics system is quite the right environment to build a the sort of small footprint apps that are the stronghold of PC basic hackers. Bear in mind that you have effortless access to multi-processing, debugging like you’ve never imagined befor
