Re: [Gcl-devel] Re: xgcl on Linux works

[Matt Kaufmann]

Thanks for the info.

>> I'd be interested in knowing how you use
>> emacs to interface with gcl/acl2.

I simply start up a shell (meta-x shell), execute gcl or acl2, and continue.
The shell provides command and filename completion with <tab>.  Sometimes I
instead use meta-x rlogin instead of meta-x shell, which works file.  However,
meta-x telnet isn't as friendly; in that case I have to do something more
arcane to get filename (but not command) completion, which I'll pass along if
you're interested.

>> Thanks for this.  If you come across any other performance feedback on
>> gcl vis a vis other lisps in the course of your ordinary usage, I'd
>> love to hear about it.

You're welcome, and I'll keep that in mind.

Thanks --
-- Matt
   Cc: address@hidden, address@hidden, address@hidden,
      address@hidden
   From: Camm Maguire <address@hidden>
   Date: 30 Aug 2002 10:58:53 -0400

   Greetings, and thanks for the feedback.

   Matt Kaufmann <address@hidden> writes:

   > Hi --
   > 
   > 2) Did you get readline support?
   > 
   > I think Gordon took that out.  By the way, I'm an emacs user and although I
   > don't know what readline support is, it's hard for me to imagine that it 
would
   > add any functionality that I'd want to use.  I encourage other ACL2 users
   > around me to use emacs as well.
   > 

   readline is used primarily for command line completion and editing in a
   terminal.  Personally, I use emacs as well, but as yet I'm unfamiliar
   with an emacs package providing command completion, at least until
   ilisp is up and running.  I'd be interested in knowing how you use
   emacs to interface with gcl/acl2.

   > 3) Are you using gmp customized for a p3?  (I've never exercised the
   >    ISA extension code gmp will generate on such machines in a gcl
   >    program such as acl2 or maxima)
   > 
   > I don't know what "gmp" is or what it stands for.  Perhaps Kay knows.

   Gnu Multi Precision arithmetic library.  Gcl uses it for 'bignum'
   support.  If you compiled on a p3, then you are likely using sse1
   instructions, which will work as well on the p4 (which additionally
   supports sse2), but not on any lower intel chip.  Just to let you
   know.   

   > 
   > 4) Do you have an indication of gcl's performance
   >    strengths/weaknesses? 
   > 
   > Primarily, just the numbers on the test suite run that I CCed you on 
before,
   > which show that GCL 2.5.0 on a P3 is about a percent faster than Allegro 
6.0
   > onj the same machine, for the ACL2 regression suite.
   > 
   > GCL:
   > 14817.130u 121.280s 4:10:04.44 99.5%       0+0k 0+0io 5153829pf+0w
   > 
   > Allegro:
   > 15527.850u 94.000s 4:21:11.23 99.6%        0+0k 0+0io 4881150pf+0w
   > 

   Thanks for this.  If you come across any other performance feedback on
   gcl vis a vis other lisps in the course of your ordinary usage, I'd
   love to hear about it.

   Take care,


   -- 
   Camm Maguire                                         address@hidden
   ==========================================================================
   "The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens."  --  Baha'u'llah