Dynamic and Lexical variables in Common Lisp

Question

I am reading the book \'Practical Common Lisp\' by Peter Seibel.

In Chapter 6, "Variables" sections "Lexical Variables and Closures" and "Dyn

Answer 1

Maybe this example will help.

;; the lexical version

(let ((x 10)) 
  (defun lex-foo ()
    (format t "Before assignment~18tX: ~d~%" x)
    (setf x (+ 1 x))
    (format t "After assignment~18tX: ~d~%" x)))

(defun lex-bar ()
  (lex-foo)
  (let ((x 20)) ;; does not do anything
    (lex-foo))
  (lex-foo))

;; CL-USER> (lex-bar)
;; Before assignment X: 10
;; After assignment  X: 11
;; Before assignment X: 11
;; After assignment  X: 12
;; Before assignment X: 12
;; After assignment  X: 13

;; the dynamic version

(defvar *x* 10)
(defun dyn-foo ()
  (format t "Before assignment~18tX: ~d~%" *x*)
  (setf *x* (+ 1 *x*))
  (format t "After assignment~18tX: ~d~%" *x*))

(defun dyn-bar()
  (dyn-foo)
  (let ((*x* 20))
    (dyn-foo))
  (dyn-foo))

;; CL-USER> (dyn-bar)
;; Before assignment X: 10
;; After assignment  X: 11
;; Before assignment X: 20
;; After assignment  X: 21
;; Before assignment X: 11
;; After assignment  X: 12

;; the special version

(defun special-foo ()
  (declare (special *y*))
  (format t "Before assignment~18tX: ~d~%" *y*)
  (setf *y* (+ 1 *y*))
  (format t "After assignment~18tX: ~d~%" *y*))

(defun special-bar ()
  (let ((*y* 10))
    (declare (special *y*))
    (special-foo)
    (let ((*y* 20))
      (declare (special *y*))
      (special-foo))
    (special-foo)))

;; CL-USER> (special-bar)
;; Before assignment X: 10
;; After assignment  X: 11
;; Before assignment X: 20
;; After assignment  X: 21
;; Before assignment X: 11
;; After assignment  X: 12