X-expressions in XMLisp
Alexander Repenning, Andri Ioannidou · 2007
XMLisp unites S-expressions with XML into X-expressions that unify the notions of data sharing with computation. Using a combination of the Meta Object Protocol (MOP), readers and printers, X-expressions uniquely integrate XML at a language, not API level, into Lisp in a way that could not be done with other programming languages. Integration at a language level has significant advantages by making XML tangible to the programmer throughout existing Lisp development tools including editors, debuggers, inspectors, listeners and compilers. This integration with Lisp tools enables XML development in the incremental development style Lisp programmers have become accustomed to. This article describes XMLisp in the context of the AgentCubes simulation and gameauthoring tool. AgentCubes is the 3D version of AgentSheets system, which is the world's most distributed Lisp-based educational simulation and game-authoring tool.