Making Lisp Binaries

indienick · 11-27-2006, 10:48 PM

Is it possible to compile Lisp code into an executable binary?

I know the COMPILE-FILE function creates a *.fasl (Fast Load) file, but I want to create a binary executable, so, suppose I make a hello world program, like so:

Code:

;;;; helloworld.lisp
;;; Print's hello world on the screen
(format t "Hello, World!~%")

if - in the REPL - I go:

Code:

CLISP> (compile-file #p"helloworld.lisp")

All I get is helloworld.fasl.
Is there any way I can generate something like "helloworld" that I can just run? Even if I have to write a script that takes the *.fasl or *.lisp file and throws it through several built in translators, compilers and/or assemblers?

I really like Lisp, and I've written alot of extremely useful programs in it, I just want to be able to compile binaries for my friends and such, and provide downloadable pre-compiled binaries on my soon-to-be-available website...just so that the end user doesn't necessarily need to have a Lisp REPL installed.

bigearsbilly · 11-28-2006, 03:57 AM

what you use? clisp.

I looked into it and it's quite a lot of hassle.
I believe you'd have to change lots of code and put loads of
type definitions and pragmas in. I think there's an issue with macros too.
I don't think it's straightforward.
Not in clisp anyway.
google it though.

good to see another lisp fan though

indienick · 11-29-2006, 01:13 PM

thanks for the response.

and I know what you mean, it's so rare to see/hear about/find other lispers.

but you say it's quite a hassle? poop.
would another Lisp implementation perhaps ease the make-a-binary-executable process a little easier? like CMUCL or SBCL or Allegro?

tuxdev · 11-29-2006, 01:16 PM

I heard that SBCL can make binaries relatively easy, but I don't have any experience with that.

bigearsbilly · 11-30-2006, 02:52 AM

Well, I am a lazy person and it seemed to spoil the pleasure of
lisp programming to worry about type definitions and such.
I think there were other implementations more suited than clisp
but then clisp is quite full featured.

tuxdev · 11-30-2006, 08:34 AM

You can also try ECL, it seems geared toward making small native binaries.

indienick · 11-30-2006, 11:05 AM

ECL, eh?

thanks for the replies tuxdev.

vargadanis · 11-30-2006, 11:06 AM

As far as I know LISP is a very fast with it's interpreter. I do not really think that there is any point in compiling the code unless you want to publish to code. (But you do)
I am pretty sure that installing the a free interpreter on linux systems is fairly easy (apt-get or yum or whatever) and problem solved.
I used to struggle with this and I could not find any usable ideas out there. Maybe I wasn't looking hard enough.
There is one solution I can think of if you can't compile it.
Create a package that contains the REPL and the app itself too. No need for compiling, fairly easy to install and your friends can use it.

indienick · 11-30-2006, 11:29 AM

yeah, ECL definitely looks like what I'm looking for.

thanks again, tuxdev.