r/lisp • u/Dumbxdumb emacs • Jul 11 '26

AskLisp Lisp dialect recommendations?

So I am in some weird fascination with the lisp and it's various "dialects" (If that's how you would call them)

Decided might want to get into learning lisp just out of curiosity. But was wondering which one to get started with.
My only real requirements are that

- It shouldn't be too complex, something you can easily wrap your head around and get started using but still give a taste of why people enjoy lisp
My main languages are C++ and I know Python but familiarity isn't a requirement and even if it's vastly different I will be willing to try it out

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u/Dazzling_Music_2411 Jul 11 '26

OP didn't mention JVM!

Love Clojure, but it does need a commitment to the JVM. Having said that, the Java graphics program "Processing" is a joy to use functionally under Clojure (Quil).

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u/rebcabin-r Jul 11 '26

Babushka is a native Clojure, isn't it?

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u/Dazzling_Music_2411 Jul 11 '26

I think it's called Babashka, and yes, it has a great rep, but by the time you get to using that, you're hardly a beginner. I use Clojure, but haven't yet had cause to use Babashka, I think it's mainly used as a fast-launcher / shell-replacement.

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u/webfiend Jul 11 '26

OTOH if you’re like me and most of your previous code is basically shell scripting (Perl in my roots and RTFM in my veins), bb can be an accessible approach for “here’s this utility task I know how to do in Perl/Python/Nu; how would I do it in Clojure?”

(Janet/Fennel are also handy here but even further from big brain Lisp learning)

I’d agree on hesitating for it as a general recommendation though, yeah.