[Gardeners] A batteries package for Common Lisp?

[Luke J Crook]

Maciek Pasternacki wrote:
> I see this as starting contents for ASDF+ASDF-install's site/ and
> systems/ dir, that would make a framework for further tinkering,
> installing more libraries, upgrading, making snapshot of current state
> (think `my own batteries' tarball that would be CL-Batteries add-on
> with libraries I use), etc., etc.  This way, it won't be useful only
> as side wheels for newbies ;)

For the lispbuilder-* project I use Edi Weitz's excellent 'Starter Pack' 
( http://weitz.de/starter-pack/ ) to package and distribute all 
necessary libraries for Windows users; ( 
http://www.balooga.com/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=lispbuilder#windowstrack_1 )

It just makes things so easy. 1000x easier than trying get any kind of 
ASDF package working with SBCL for Windows (Good luck trying to get 
ASDF-INSTALL working in Windows). 10x easier than CLISP+ASDF for 
Windows. And probably 10x easier than the equivalent Linux install if 
ASDF-INSTALL is unavailable (make that 20x easier). There is almost no 
documentation to speak of so installation with the 'STARTER-PACK' is a 
no-brainer.

Depending on the broadband connection and speed of PC a newbie can start 
from scratch, install Lispworks+'Starter Pack' and have one of the 
lispbuilder-sdl examples up and running in under 5 minutes.

For my Linux installation instructions I assume that the user already 
has a Linux environment with a working ASDF-INSTALL. If not I can't be 
bothered trying to explain how to find the location of the ASDF 
directories, then where to place the ASDF packages (necessary 
dependencies, installation of shared binary libraries etc.) then 
creating symlinks to the .ASD files, etc, etc. I mean just forcing a 
newbie to enter (asdf:operate 'asdf:load-op :lispbuilder-sdl-examples) 
is like pulling the trigger twice in succession in a game of russian 
roulette. Too much work and scary enough to frighten newbies away so why 
bother. If you are a newbie using Linux with a Lisp environment with no 
ASDF-INSTALL then you really are up sh*t creek without a paddle.



- Luke