Scheme is beautiful. Clojure is promising. The JVM is a fine platform, and Java itself is a decent language for the experienced engineer. You don't need Linux to hack in Common Lisp; I have used win32 for my Lisp apps in the last 10 years.
You don't need to make a "modest" salary; I waited tables for $6/hr, and I made six figures .. neither changed my programming ability, Lisp or otherwise, I am still the same kludgemeister.
Apparently differing opinions are meant to be beaten out through karmic justice.
It also seems that you agree with my assertions that scheme is beautiful and Clojure is promising but not there yet. So you don't disagree with every syllable of it, at least technically.
So wtf with the hostility?
Also, this post was entirely based on my experience.
Keyword: MINE. I make a modest salary. That's the truth. $60,000 is not rolling in dough. Why would you even take issue with that?
I don't get it.
I gave a (reasonable) guide to my experience with lisp, state that I like REAL macros, say pretty much the same thing that you repeated about scheme (and Clojure), give a brief setup guide to emacs/slime, and say to program a lot (because programming a lot is the only thing that makes you good).
AND SOMEHOW I HAVE ONLY TOLD YOU ABOUT MY DICK AND MY SALARY?
Whatever, I'm being trolled.
Good day, sir.
You don't need Linux for anything, but learning it can make you a better programmer.
Not that it is a terrible idea to start with scheme or Clojure, but scheme seems too pure (I like a REAL macro the same way I like a woman who knows what she wants...).
Clojure was too much Java last time I checked (Stack-trace of doom! Where is my continuable error? God! My eyes! (awesome otherwise, let me know when this has been fixed)).
Anyway, the point being, these all seem to be scheme links, and I've never gotten anything done in scheme other than admiring how fucking beautiful it is (seriously, great trellises).
Here's my guide: 1.) install linux 2.) get sbcl 3.) get emacs and slime. add something like this to your .emacs (defun sbcl () (show-paren-mode) (setq inferior-lisp-program "sbcl") (add-to-list 'load-path "~/emacs/slime") (require 'slime) (slime-setup)) (sbcl)
4.) Maybe get/install Quicklisp.
5.) Hack hack hack. Just be stupidly prolific in your spare cycles. Impress your friends, classmates, coworkers, etc. They'll be confused as fuck about the syntax, but you'll know it is no different from any other syntax. (Also you will program fast as hell, you will be the Mercury to their Hephaestus)
6.) Make a modest salary.