MuLISP

muLISP is a LISP development system for CP/M that was later ported to the Apple II, TRS-DOS and PC-DOS, it was marketed by the Microsoft Corporation from the late 70's up to the late 80's, during the last few years under the name Microsoft LISP. In addition to the an interpreter and compiler the system comes with and editor with a WordStar like command set, a symbolic debugger (early versions had a simpler trace-debug package), a collection of libraries, and in later versions a tutorial and example programs. Note that some versions of the package bundled a compiler while others did not

Versions

• muLISP-77 (1977)

Ran on a custom 8080 based computer, not released commercially.

• muLISP-79 (1979)

Ran on a 8080 based CP/M systems, interpreter only.

• muLISP-80 (1980)

First release with a pseudo-compiler, came in an 8080 and a faster Z80 version.

• muLISP-80 AIDS (1980)

Aka muLISP-80 Artificial Intelligence Development System, a bundle of muLISP and muSTAR

• muLISP-83 (1984)

First release with an IBM PC compatible package.

• muLISP-83 v4.11

Last update in the 4.x branch.

• muLISP-85 v5.00 (1985)

Twice a many primitives as v4.11 and heaps as big as 512k. First release with Common Lisp compatibility (not full).

• muLISP-86 v5.10 (1986-01-06)

Prerequisites (version 5x)

• PC or MS DOS 2.0 or higher
• 128k of memory

Add-ons

• muMATH - Symbolic mathematics package

Sold as a standalone package or as an add-on to muLISP, required muSIMP and usually came bundled with it.

• muSIMP - Algol like language

An Algol like programming language that ran on top of muLISP.

• muSTAR

An execution environment containing terminal interfaces and menu system and so on, basically an enhanced editor, integrated into later versions of the system.

Links & publications

• Joan H. Rich: muLISP-80/muSTAR-80 manual - In PDF format.
• Robert J. Schalkoff: muLISP-86 - A review from BYTE Magazine vol 11-10, October 1986, pages 249~252
• Jordan Bortz & John Diamant: LISP for the IBM Personal Computer - A review from BYTE Magazine vol 09-07, July 1984, pages 281~291

Licence and availability

Discontinued commercial software, retail price when new USD 250.

Author & publisher

• Albert D. Rich
• Soft Warehouse