Difference between revisions of "LISP machine"

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(No, not that article.)
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'''LISP machines''' were a series of custom [[microcode]]d [[workstation]]s intended to run large [[LISP]] programs. The first two generations (the sole prototype, the CONS machine; and the later somewhat volume [[CADR]]) were built at [[MIT]], and direct descendants of these were produced and sold by [[Symbolics]] and LISP Machines Inc; others were produced by other vendors, such as [[Texas Instruments]] and [[Xerox]].
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'''LISP machines''' were a series of custom [[microcode]]d [[workstation]]s intended to run large [[LISP]] programs. Among other capabilities, they provided [[hardware]] support for things like [[garbage collection]]. The first two generations (the sole prototype, the CONS machine; and the later somewhat volume [[CADR]]) were built at [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]].
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Direct descendants of these were produced and sold by [[Symbolics]] and LISP Machines Inc; others were produced by other vendors, such as [[Texas Instruments]], [[Xerox]], and others. Eventually, the additional performance of the custom hardware (which could not evolve, in a way which was economical, as fast as general-purpose machines did) was not enough to make the extra cost worth while, and they disappeared.
  
 
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==External links==
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* [https://lisp-machine.org/ Lisp Machines] - emulators
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** [https://lisp-machine.org/tag/lisp-machine/ Hacking Nevermore – A TI-Explorer Lisp Machine emulator]
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* [https://archive.org/details/ti-explorer TI Explorer Lisp Machine Source Code]
  
 
===Japanese LISP machines===
 
===Japanese LISP machines===
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* Fujitsu: [http://museum.ipsj.or.jp/en/computer/other/0006.html FACOM α]
 
* Fujitsu: [http://museum.ipsj.or.jp/en/computer/other/0006.html FACOM α]
 
* NEC: [http://museum.ipsj.or.jp/en/computer/other/0008.html LIME]
 
* NEC: [http://museum.ipsj.or.jp/en/computer/other/0008.html LIME]
 
==External links==
 
 
* [https://lisp-machine.org/ Lisp Machines] - emulators
 
** [https://lisp-machine.org/tag/lisp-machine/ Hacking Nevermore – A TI-Explorer Lisp Machine emulator]
 
* [https://archive.org/details/ti-explorer TI Explorer Lisp Machine Source Code]
 
  
 
[[Category: Workstations]]
 
[[Category: Workstations]]

Latest revision as of 17:17, 9 April 2025

LISP machines were a series of custom microcoded workstations intended to run large LISP programs. Among other capabilities, they provided hardware support for things like garbage collection. The first two generations (the sole prototype, the CONS machine; and the later somewhat volume CADR) were built at MIT.

Direct descendants of these were produced and sold by Symbolics and LISP Machines Inc; others were produced by other vendors, such as Texas Instruments, Xerox, and others. Eventually, the additional performance of the custom hardware (which could not evolve, in a way which was economical, as fast as general-purpose machines did) was not enough to make the extra cost worth while, and they disappeared.

External links

Japanese LISP machines