PowerLisp Introduction and Licensing PowerLisp 1.1 is the second public release of PowerLisp, a Common Lisp development environment for the Macintosh. It consists of a Common Lisp interpreter, native-code 680x0 compiler, 680x0 macro assembler, disassembler, incremental linker and multi-window text editor. It requires a Macintosh with at least a 68020 processor and system 7.0 or later. About 2 megabytes of RAM are required to run it, and to do much with it you need more like 5 or 6 megabytes. Like any Common Lisp system, the more memory the better. PowerLisp has the ability to run in the background. While executing a Common Lisp program, the user may switch to another application as it continues to run. PowerLisp is extremely fast. All compiled PowerLisp functions execute as native 680x0 instructions. The speed is comparable to other fully compiled languages. PowerLisp programs execute in the background, while you are using the system. All editor functionality is fully available while you are compiling or otherwise executing Common Lisp programs. I do not know of another development environment on the Macintosh that can do this. Of course, you can also use a different application while your programs execute. PowerLisp is being released as shareware. I expect to release regular updates, which will include new features and bug fixes. The frequency and scope of these will depend on the amount of interest there is in the product. I encourage everyone who finds this product useful to send me the shareware fee (see Licensing, below) and register your copy. Even if you don't elect to register it, I appreciate correspondence via e-mail or otherwise letting me know what you think of it. The documentation is currently sparse, because of my time constraints. I intend to produce better documentation in the near future. For now the general information below will have to suffice. Please check this product out. I believe it offers extraordinary value for the price. The primary alternative for Lisp programming, Macintosh Common Lisp from Apple, is an excellent product. PowerLisp cannot compete on features or performance with Macintosh Common Lisp. It is, however, one tenth the cost ($50 as opposed to $500). I feel there may be a niche for a low-cost, small, easy-to-use product like this. I enjoy programming with PowerLisp, and I hope you will too. Roger Corman Licensing PowerLisp is distributed as shareware. I reserve the copyright to the executable application, as well as the source code to the compiler, assembler and library functions. I am asking $50 for the right to use one copy of PowerLisp. If you find this program useful, please send a check for this amount to the address below (under Registering Your Copy of PowerLisp). If you are a teacher, and are interested in using this for a class, please contact me. I am prepared to offer a very reasonable licensing arrangement for classes. Unlicensed copies of this system cannot be legitimately used in a class setting otherwise. I have spent a considerable amount of time developing this program. I may elect to spend a lot more time on it, but only if licensing fees received warrant it. I do not expect a huge response to a program of this type, but each license fee I do receive will have a definite impact on the amount of time I will spend improving it. You may share this program with others. You may not redistribute it for profit, nor make any changes to it, without the permission of the author. PowerLisp 1.1 License Price: $50.00 US What You Get: ¥ On receipt of your check, I will forward you any the most up-to-date information I have regarding bugs, new versions and features. You may also receive a beta pre-release version on floppy disk. ¥ You will receive at least one free major update by mail. I will send registered owners a copy of a new major revision as soon as it is available. ¥ If you send a list of requested additional features, I will do my best to implement them as soon as possible. I will then forward you a courtesy copy. ¥ I will attempt to help with any problems you have and answer questions. I can only offer limited phone support. The preferred method of contacting me is via e-mail or US mail. I will answer all mail communications as soon as possible. ¥ If and when I decide to convert this to a commercial version (non-shareware) licensed owners of the shareware version will be guaranteed a special arrangement. This would likely be a free or at-cost license upgrade to the commercial version. Registering Your Copy of PowerLisp Send a check for $50.00 US to: Roger Corman 2124 Cummings Drive Santa Rosa, CA 95404 USA You may contact me by mail to the above address, or via e-mail or telephone (see below). Along with the fee, be sure to send me your address (and phone number if you donÕt mind). Also I would appreciate a mention of which version you have, what your system is like, and any comments you have. A wish list of product improvements would also be welcome. America Online: PowerLisp Internet: PowerLisp@aol.com Telephone: (707) 528-3321 (evenings and weekends) (707) 575-4024 (days) (707) 528-7477 (fax)