- First name:  Francisco 
  
- Last name:  Rivera 
  
- Email address: REMOVED
  
- Home page:  - 
  
- Phone number(s): (506)4406237 
  
- Postal code:  318-4060 
  
- City:  Alajuela 
  
- Country:  Costa Rica 
  
- Organization(s) you work for or study at 
(please supply the name and city for each organization): 
freelance 
  
- Fields of interest 
(e.g. computer linguistics, numerical analysis, business software, 
medicine, bioinformatics): 
business software, genetic programming, chess 
  
- Have you written any Lisp-related papers? If so, please supply 
bibliographical references (and URL's, if possible). 
No 
  
- Have you developed or participated in the development of any 
Lisp-related programs or libraries? If so, please supply a URL, 
if possible. 
Yes, I used Lisp in my thesis ("Evaluation functions using Genetic 
Programming") 
  
- Lisp variants you have used (e.g. Common Lisp, Scheme, Dylan): 
Common Lisp 
  
- Lisp variants you're currently using or intend to use in the 
near future: 
Dylan of Functional Objects 
  
- Lisp implementations you have used 
(e.g. CMUCL, Lispworks, Allegro Common Lisp): 
Lispworks 
  
- Lisp implementations you're currently using or intend to use 
in the near future: 
Lispworks and Corman Lisp 
  
- Computer platforms on which you're using or deploying Lisp: 
Windows XP 
  
- Number of years of experience with Lisp: 
20 years ago. 
  
- Do you use Lisp: 
- at work (if so, how much) 
- for study (if so, how much) 
- as a hobby (if so, how much) 
Work (never) 
Study (for my thesis) 
Hobby (frequently) 
  
- Are you using Lisp as much as you would like to? If not, why not? 
No, 
1- because I cannot find a job using Lisp 
2- Lisp tools are not oriented to business software (aka forms and reports 
linked to database) 
3- I don't have time (and maybe knowledge) for write a business framework. 
Such frameworks are private tools. 
  
- Do you see any obstacles to further Lisp growth (if so, what is the 
biggest obstacle in your opinion)? 
1- Common Lisp is not easy, is a great language, is very different of the 
rest of languages. 
2- Most Lispers are advanced programmers. The normal programmers are 
different, they need more help, better books, etc. For Lisp sucess, we need 
normal programmers, but the Lisp books aren't oriented to normal 
applications. Books are AI oriented and doesn't explain critical aspects of 
the language like pathnames, database, defsystem, packages, modules, loop, 
delivery, etc. Several topics are not analysed such as where and how to use 
MOP, dinamicity aspect in CLOS, patterns, aspect oriented programming, web 
services, etc. 
3- Lisp companies are small and then the progress is slow (for example, I 
bought Lispworks 7 years ago, and at now this compiler is almost equal). 
4- Compilers are very expensive ($4000 or more for a comercial license with 
database libraries) or worst, require pay royalties. 
5- Common Lisp is UnCommon Lisp because critical libraries (like database or 
web operations) aren't "standard". The ANSI CL committe need meeting again. 
6- CL is not a language, like Java and .Net is a environment. Both Java and 
.Net has his own "runtime machine", but CL not. And the libraries are small 
compared against .Net or Java. 
7- There aren't IDEs like jDeveloper, Visual Studio, WebSphere, etc. 
8- Business frameworks are private (for example the framework developed by 
Fractal Concepts). In other languages you can download the framework or 
simply buy a book with all code. 
  
- Would you be interested in a Lisp-related job or contract work? 
YES!! I will like use only Common Lisp. 
  
- Is your organization interested in hiring Lisp programmers? 
I work making programs and installing systems for several clients. 
  
- Are you currently participating in Lisp-related meetings? If so, where and 
how often? If not, would you be interested in such meetings? 
Yes, I will like meetings with Lispers