[plt-scheme] Off topic: Why does Common Lisp have two namespaces (lisp2)?

Hi Grant,

Others may know better than me, but I believe one reason is so the
compiler can identify function calls that it can resolve statically,
in which case it can generate more efficient code (e.g., by inlining,
or at least by avoiding a level of indirection).  (CL's equivalent of
SET! can't see the function namespace, just as mzscheme's module
system doesn't allow mutation of require'd variables.)

Greg

On Tue, Sep 2, 2008 at 7:46 PM, Grant Rettke <grettke at acm.org> wrote:
> Hi folks,
>
> Because I don't know any CL people, and I know there is expertise
> here, could you please explain why Common Lisp has two namespaces
> (lisp2)?
>
> The ability to have two bindings to the name 'list' (one for a
> variable and one for a function) surely can not be the only reason for
> two namespaces?!
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Grant
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