Would Lisp be extremely difficult for a new(ish) programmer to learn?
I've got a little experience with Python (enough to where I can do if/else/elif and some random number generation), but I've always had a weird fascination with the Lisp languages. I downloaded some scheme source code to look at the syntax but it was pretty much gibberish to me.
For a programmer with only a little programming experience like myself, given some good books, websites, and some time, would it be particularly difficult to learn either Common Lisp or Scheme? Which of the two would be easier? How do they compare with Python and C, as far as ease of learning?
Thanks
Answer
Get SICP (Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs). It was the entry level CS class textbook at MIT up until very recently. It is entirely based on Scheme. If you enjoy CS at all, you will love this book. It's fantastic. You'll walk away a much better programmer too after reading it (and ideally doing most of the exercises). It's an ideal beginner's book, it starts at the very beginning and eases you up to being quite competent at Scheme. However, it is a college textbook, so unless you have a bit of a knack for programming, it may be a tad on the tough side.