HTML vs Emacs Lisp

The web's skeleton—without it, everything's just a blob of text and broken dreams meets the lisp that turns your text editor into an os, whether you wanted one or not. Here's our take.

HTML

Nice Pick

The web's skeleton—without it, everything's just a blob of text and broken dreams.

Pros

• Universal browser support means it just works everywhere
• Simple syntax that's easy to learn for beginners
• Essential foundation for all web development
• Semantic elements improve accessibility and SEO

Cons

• Can get messy and unreadable without proper formatting
• Limited interactivity on its own—needs JavaScript for anything fun

Emacs Lisp

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

The Verdict

Use HTML if: You want universal browser support means it just works everywhere and can live with can get messy and unreadable without proper formatting.

Use Emacs Lisp if: You prioritize tight integration with emacs allows for deep editor customization over what HTML offers.

The Bottom Line

HTML wins

The web's skeleton—without it, everything's just a blob of text and broken dreams.