7:33:29beach#'<name> is taken by READ to be a reader macro, so READ returns (FUNCTION <name>) whereas '<name> is taken by read to be a different reader macro so READ returns (QUOTE <name>).
7:37:14beachAs you can see, you can specify the stream to read from.
8:13:29beachrendar: READ turns a sequence of characters into a data structure in memory that we call an S-expression. An S-expression is either an atom or a CONS cell containing an S-expression it its CAR slot and another S-expression in its CDR slot.
8:13:51beachrendar: The evaluator does not handle sequences of characters, but these S-expressions.
9:00:32pjbpve: it could be just (define-namespace recipe), the variable name could be a gensym too. Otherwise no, it's not a general enough concept.
9:00:51pjbpve: utility libraries will contain functions that appears in almost every program.
9:01:11pjbpve: but you could definitely put define-namespace in your own utility library.
9:02:35pvepjb: ok thanks, I included the variable name because I think I prefer defvar here, so existing entries won't be clobbered if the form is re-evaluated
9:04:06pvealthough I didn't give it much thought yet.. your gensym idea is good, so I might do that