The Digital Press

A grant has been accepted to improve browser integration and port a Lisp implementation to WASI, exploring WebAssembly (WASM) for REPL-driven programming. The project faces performance challenges compared to native implementations but aims to enable live evaluation and direct UI control within the browser.

Why it matters: This effort could make Lisp a dynamic runtime for web apps, enabling live code evaluation and seamless UI updates.

The stakes: Current WASM Lisp runs 7,000 times slower than native SBCL, limiting usefulness for speed-critical tasks.

The big picture: WASM's static architecture challenges runtime code updates, but integrating Lisp could transform how web interfaces are controlled.

Commenters say: Many highlight slowness but emphasize Lisp's potential as a live runtime inside browsers, focusing on interactivity over raw speed.