You’ve probably seen uLisp mentioned in the list of languages on the web page of the European Lisp Symposium. But did you actually look at it and use it? With this demonstration, Max-Gerd Retzlaff invites you to do so! uLisp is a version of Lisp designed and authored by David Johnson-Davies as a subset of Common Lisp to run on microcontrollers. Max extended uLisp a bit and has been using it since January 2021 for both fun as well as commercial projects: He has made a hand-held Lisp machine for his nephew, implemented a small client for the Dydra graph database to store sensor readings directly in the database for later analysis and visualization, and even installed a little Lisp computer in his Vespa motor scooter to serve as a more accurate GPS-based speedometer and clock.

More recently, he used uLisp to design and implement a sensor device for an automated IoT device consisting of ten environmental sensors and four controllable power sockets to activate environmental control measures. It is provisioned via Bluetooth (BLE) and communicates with a REST backend over Wi-Fi via HTTPs and schema-based JSON to report sensor readings and to retrieve commands from a controlling smartphone application (developed by a different party) to control the actors or to calibrate the more complicated sensors.

This demonstrates that uLisp is not only fun but mature enough to be used for serious projects and commercial prototypes.

Max-Gerd Retzlaff started to use Common Lisp in 2003 and uses it professionally since 2005.

He studied computer science at the KIT, Germany. In his diploma thesis in the field of applied geometry he simulated real-world mechanical engineering problems with previously unattained precision, speed, efficiency, and robustness. This was implemented in Common Lisp. If you have used a Hˆfler gear grinding machine in the last decade there is a chance you profited from his work.

Max is a PhD candidate and worked as research and teaching assistant at the KIT Computer Graphics Group in collaboration with the Fraunhofer IOSB, Karlsruhe. He headed the software development of a Berlin-based company providing services for the US insurance market and served for three years as X12C TAS representative of the ANSI Accredited Standards Committee X12 in the USA.

Currently, he works as a software developer at Datagraph, Berlin, developing technology for the Dydra graph database service as well as an independent scientific contractor and freelancer.

Since 2004 Max has been working as an artist and participated with interactive installations in exhibitions in many European cities, with works in the collection of the ZKM Karlsruhe and on permanent display in the DASA Dortmund. More on www.retzlaff-wenger.com.

Contact him via e-mail to mgr@matroid.org or visit http://www.defsystem.net