Re: Lisp syntax, was A simpler way to tokenize and parse?

On Saturday, March 25, 2023 at 7:48:45 AM UTC-7, Spiros Bousbouras wrote:


(snip)


> It is specific to when you have a very simple and uniform syntax and
experience
> suggests that this isn't to most people's taste. Whether it is a result of
> "mental wiring" or tradition (including mathematical tradition) to which one
> gets exposed from a young age , I don't know. What I mean by this is that
most
> people seem to find it easier to read
> a + b * c
> as opposed to
> (+ a (* b c))
>
> and I don't know if this is just the result of early exposure or an inherent
> part of how most humans' brains function.


Years ago, when there was actual competition between TI and HP
for calculator sales, there was much discussion on the advantages
of HPs RPN (postfix notation) vs. TI's algebraic (infix notation).


That seems to have gone away now, and is not discussed much.


What it always seemed to me, was it was easier to think in
postfix terms, but easier to write in infix notation. You won't
find algebra or calculus books writing expressions in prefix or
postfix form.


No idea about mental wiring or being exposed at a young age.


I wonder about studies of young(er) kids learning to use
calculators or in teaching math to younger kids.

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