Understanding AutoLISP and Visual LISP
Developed principally for use in Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications, LISP is still popular in the AI community. AutoLISP was first introduced into AutoCAD as its principle programming language with Release 2.18 in January 1986. It was chosen as the initial AutoCAD programming language for two important reasons: LISP structurally relies upon lists to contain its data types and most of CAD relies upon lists of coordinates or data that can be easily expressed in list form. Just as important, LISP, and AutoLISP by extension, is uniquely suited for the relatively unstructured design environment of CAD projects, which typically involve repeatedly applying different solutions to the design process.
In the ...
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