Emacs Lisp vs Varnish Configuration Language

The Lisp that turns your text editor into an OS, whether you wanted one or not meets the dsl that makes caching feel like writing a novel, but at least your website loads faster. Here's our take.

Emacs Lisp

Nice Pick

The Lisp that turns your text editor into an OS, whether you wanted one or not.

Pros

• Tight integration with Emacs allows for deep editor customization
• Dynamic scoping and macros enable powerful, expressive code
• Mature ecosystem with extensive libraries for text processing

Cons

• Dynamic scoping can lead to confusing bugs and debugging headaches
• Steep learning curve for those new to Lisp or Emacs's idiosyncrasies

Varnish Configuration Language

The DSL that makes caching feel like writing a novel, but at least your website loads faster.

Pros

• Fine-grained control over HTTP caching and request routing
• Declarative syntax simplifies complex caching logic
• Compiles to C for high-performance execution
• Extensive built-in functions for header manipulation

Cons

• Steep learning curve with its own quirky syntax
• Debugging can be a nightmare without proper logging setup

The Verdict

Use Emacs Lisp if: You want tight integration with emacs allows for deep editor customization and can live with dynamic scoping can lead to confusing bugs and debugging headaches.

Use Varnish Configuration Language if: You prioritize fine-grained control over http caching and request routing over what Emacs Lisp offers.

The Bottom Line

Emacs Lisp wins

The Lisp that turns your text editor into an OS, whether you wanted one or not.