VAXLISP/VMS User''s Guide

This "VAX LISP/VMS User's Guide" (Order No. AA-Y921B-TE, May 1986, with updates to July 1987) is a comprehensive manual for LISP language programmers developing, debugging, compiling, and executing VAX LISP programs on VAX/VMS systems. VAX LISP is presented as an extended implementation of COMMON LISP.

The document is structured into two main parts:

Part I: VAX LISP/VMS System Concepts and Facilities This section introduces the VAX LISP environment and its features, including:

• Overview of VAX LISP: Describes VAX LISP as an extended implementation of Common LISP, highlighting extensions like its DCL LISP command, extensible editor, error handler, debugging facilities (break loop, stepper, tracer), pretty printer, call-out facility for external routines, alien structure facility for non-LISP data, interrupt functions, VAXstation graphics interface, and system-building utility for custom LISP systems.
• Basic Usage: Instructions on invoking and exiting LISP, entering and editing input, using DCL commands, creating and loading programs, and compiling LISP programs (individual functions/macros and files), along with details on DCL LISP command qualifiers.
• VAX LISP Editor: A detailed guide to the integrated screen-oriented editor, covering editing cycles, invoking the editor, interaction, help, input completion, error handling, text manipulation (inserting, deleting, moving, cutting/pasting, changing case, substituting), working with multiple buffers and windows, customization, and specific usage on VAXstation with a pointer.
• Error Handling: Explains VAX LISP's error handler, different error types (fatal, continuable, warnings), and how to create custom error handlers.
• Debugging Facilities: Covers control variables, the control stack, and in-depth usage of debugging tools like the break loop, debugger, stepper, and tracer, providing commands and examples for each.
• Pretty Printing: Describes how to control the formatting of LISP output for readability, including default settings, control variables, and extensions to the FORMAT function for custom directives.
• Implementation Notes: Provides VAX LISP-specific details on data representation (numbers, characters, arrays, strings, pathnames), the garbage collector, input/output mechanisms, interrupt functions, and compiler restrictions and optimizations.
• I/O Extensions: Describes VAX LISP-specific extensions to the Common LISP I/O system, including defining new stream types, getting information about streams, and new I/O functions.

Part II: VAX LISP/VMS Function, Macro, and Variable Descriptions This part serves as a reference manual, providing detailed alphabetical descriptions of functions, macros, and variables that are specific to VAX LISP or have particular implementation characteristics within VAX LISP.

The document also notes updates from its previous versions, such as changes in DCL LISP command qualifiers (e.g., removal of /INSTALL and /REMOVE), enhanced information displays for debugging tools, and the addition of new functions.