Programming

6 Best Lisp Programming Tutorials For Beginners in 2024

Coursesity Team

Aug 16, 2023 • 6 min read

If you're eager to dive into programming and explore a language known for its elegance and power, you're in the right place. Whether you're a complete novice or have some coding experience, LISP offers a unique perspective that can enhance your problem-solving skills and expand your coding horizons. But first, let's understand what lisp is.

LISP (short for "List Processing") is a family of programming languages known for its distinctive features and historical significance in computer science. It was one of the earliest programming languages, created by John McCarthy in the late 1950s. LISP is characterized by its unique data structure called a "list," a collection of elements that can contain both data and code.

In this carefully curated compilation, we'll introduce you to the best LISP tutorials available in 2023. In addition to basic LISP syntax, you will learn how to build your first functional program. Let's embark on this journey of mastering LISP together!

1. Common Lisp Programming: From Novice to Effective Developer

Embark on a transformative learning journey with this comprehensive Lisp programming course. This course provides you with an in-depth understanding of Lisp's unique features and capabilities, whether you're a beginner or an experienced programmer.

In this Lisp tutorial, you will learn the following:

Understand the Lisp language.
Master the image-based, interactive Lisp workflow.
Use Common Lisp for day-to-day scripting.
Develop and deploy real-world applications.
Learn functional constructs and error handling; will cover CLOS, macros, and more.

From grasping the fundamentals of the Lisp language to mastering its image-based, interactive workflow, you'll gain the skills needed to navigate the dynamic world of programming. This hands-on approach ensures you can seamlessly employ Common Lisp for everyday scripting tasks, enhancing your coding efficiency.

But it doesn't stop there. Beyond the basics, you'll harness your newfound knowledge to develop and deploy real-world applications, showcasing your prowess in applying Lisp to practical scenarios. You'll uncover the elegance of functional constructs and adeptly manage errors, setting the stage for more robust coding practice.

As you progress, you'll delve into advanced topics such as the Common Lisp Object System (CLOS) and macros, unlocking the potential for intricate program design and customization.

By the end of this course, you'll not only understand the Lisp language inside out but also possess the skills to leverage its power effectively. Whether you're aiming to broaden your programming horizons or seeking to enhance your problem-solving toolkit, this Lisp course is your gateway to a world of creative coding possibilities.

Course rating: 4.4 out of 5.0 (189 Rating total)
Duration: 4 Hours
Certificate: Certificate on completion

2. Practical AutoLISP Programming - Beginner to Advanced

In this course, you will learn the intricacies of AutoLISP and its practical implementation within AutoCAD. Delve deep into the world of AutoCAD objects and discover how to manipulate them seamlessly using the power of AutoLISP, all achieved without the need for direct physical interaction. As you progress, you'll master the art of creating personalized AutoCAD Shortcut Commands and Macros, effectively streamlining your workflow and enhancing your efficiency.

In this Lisp tutorial, you will learn the following:

Gain proficiency in AutoLISP and its application within AutoCAD.
Develop a comprehensive understanding of AutoCAD objects and their manipulation through AutoLISP.
Create customized AutoCAD Shortcut Commands and Macros for enhanced efficiency.
Build programs from the ground up through practical exercises, catering to various complexities.
Acquire the skills to independently create programs that automate tasks and extract objects within AutoCAD.
Transform into a proficient AutoLISP programmer, empowered to boost productivity and streamline workflows.

Through a carefully structured curriculum that includes a variety of exercises, you will gradually advance from crafting straightforward to moderately complex programs. These exercises will solidify your understanding and skills along the way. Upon completing the course, you can independently create your programs, thus increasing your productivity.

Course rating: 4.7 out of 5.0 (596 Rating total)
Duration: 7.5 Hours
Certificate: Certificate on completion

3. Learning AutoLISP & Visual LISP

Due to its inherent simplicity and historical integration within the AutoCAD environment, LISP emerges as a natural introductory programming language for CAD managers. This course takes you on a journey through the fundamental aspects of LISP tailored specifically for AutoCAD. By grasping the essentials of LISP, you'll be empowered to streamline repetitive tasks and facilitate the implementation of standardized procedures within your AutoCAD projects.

In this Lisp tutorial, you will learn the following topics:

LISP Formatting
LISP Functionality
Visual LISP Introduction
Working with Strings
Working with Lists
Getting Data From Users
Loops
Selection Sets
Working with Geometry
Creating and Editing Graphic Entities
Creating and Editing Non-Graphic Entities
Storing Data
Loading LISPs and Error Trapping

Delve into the essence of LISP, gain insights into the distinctions between AutoLISP and Visual LISP, and learn the art of writing LISP code. You will discover how to create objects and efficiently store information for future use. Throughout the course, you'll also acquire coding best practices that enhance your efficiency and proficiency in working with this functional language.

Course rating: 4.5 out of 5.0 (17,492 total enrollments)
Duration: 2.2 Hours
Certificate: Certificate on completion

4. LISP Tutorial

The LISP programming course covers a wide range of topics to provide you with a thorough understanding of LISP and its practical applications. Through this course, you'll delve into various aspects of LISP programming, enabling you to harness its power for efficient and effective coding. Starting with an introduction to LISP and its environment, you'll progress through fundamental concepts such as program structure, basic syntax, data types, and operators.

As you continue, you'll explore advanced topics, including macros, variables, constants, decision-making structures, loops, and functions. The course goes beyond the basics to cover essential elements like numbers, characters, arrays, strings, sequences, lists, symbols, vectors, sets, trees, and hash tables. Additionally, you'll gain insights into input and output operations, file I/O, structures, packages, error handling, and the Common Lisp Object System (CLOS).

By the end of this course, you'll have a comprehensive grasp of LISP programming, empowering you to confidently navigate its diverse features and apply them to real-world programming challenges.

5. Learn LISP

Welcome to this comprehensive tutorial on learning Lisp programming by Derek Banas. In this LISP tutorial, we will delve into the world of Lisp, exploring its history, installation on different platforms, fundamental concepts, variable handling, data output, and more. Lisp, one of the oldest programming languages, originated in 1958 and has evolved significantly over the years, playing a crucial role in shaping modern programming languages and influencing fields like artificial intelligence.

In this LISP tutorial, we will cover the following things:

Install Lisp
Introduction
Format
Math
Functions
Equality
If
Case
When
Unless
Cond
Loop
DoTimes
Lists
Car/Cdr
Association List
Functions
Optional
Receive Multiple Values
Key
Return-From
Quasi
Quoting
MapCar
Return Multiple Values
Higher Order
Functions
Lambda
Macros
Classes
Generic Function
Inheritance
Arrays
Hash Table
Structures
File I/O

Learn LISP

6. Lisp Programming

Welcome to the fascinating world of Functional Programming through the lens of LISP. This course is designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental concepts of programming and guide you through the construction of basic LISP programs. Throughout the course, we will delve into various aspects of LISP, exploring expressions, variables, functions, logic, and conditionals.

Course Highlights:

Foundations of Functional Programming: We will start by laying a solid foundation in functional programming principles. You will grasp the core concepts that differentiate functional programming from other paradigms, and understand the benefits of using a functional approach.
Introduction to LISP: Dive into the world of LISP, one of the oldest and most influential functional programming languages. Learn about its unique syntax and how it approaches programming tasks in a distinctive manner.
Expressions and Evaluation: Gain insight into LISP's expression-based approach to programming. Understand how expressions are evaluated and how this evaluation process forms the basis of computation in LISP.
Variables and Bindings: Explore the concept of variables and bindings in LISP. Discover how LISP handles variables, their scoping rules, and the implications of immutable data on your programming style.
Creating Functions: Delve into the heart of functional programming by learning how to create and define functions in LISP. Understand the principles behind function definitions, arguments, return values, and recursion.
Functional Logic: Explore how functional programming promotes a logical approach to problem-solving. Learn how to leverage LISP's logical operators and constructs to build robust and elegant solutions.
Conditional Programming: Master the art of making decisions in LISP through conditional statements. Discover how to use if-else constructs and case statements effectively to control the flow of your programs.

By the end of this course, you will have gained a solid understanding of Functional Programming principles using LISP. You will be equipped with the skills to construct basic LISP programs, apply functional programming concepts to various problem domains, and appreciate the elegance and efficiency of this paradigm.

Whether you're a novice programmer or an experienced developer seeking to expand your programming horizons, this course will empower you with the knowledge and confidence to embrace Functional Programming using LISP as a valuable tool in your programming toolkit.

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