JIS vs Emacs Lisp

Japan's answer to 'why can't we all just get along?'—a standard so thorough it'll make your ASCII cry meets the lisp that turns your text editor into an os, whether you wanted one or not. Here's our take.

JIS

Nice Pick

Japan's answer to 'why can't we all just get along?'—a standard so thorough it'll make your ASCII cry.

Pros

• Ensures consistent Japanese text encoding, preventing garbled characters in software
• Promotes interoperability across Japanese products and services
• Covers a broad range of fields, from manufacturing to IT, enhancing quality and safety

Cons

• Primarily Japan-focused, limiting global relevance outside specific contexts
• Can add complexity for developers unfamiliar with Japanese standards and encodings

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 JIS if: You want ensures consistent japanese text encoding, preventing garbled characters in software and can live with primarily japan-focused, limiting global relevance outside specific contexts.

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

The Bottom Line

JIS wins

Japan's answer to 'why can't we all just get along?'—a standard so thorough it'll make your ASCII cry.