Learn a Lisp with Python

📰 Medium · Programming

Learn Hy, a Lisp implementation with a Python backend, and discover how to leverage your existing Python knowledge to get started with Lisp programming

intermediate Published 21 Apr 2026
Action Steps
  1. Install Hy using pip by running `pip install hy` to get started
  2. Explore Hy's documentation and tutorials to learn its syntax and features
  3. Use Hy's REPL to experiment with Lisp code and get familiar with its interactive environment
  4. Implement a simple Lisp program using Hy to demonstrate your understanding
  5. Integrate Hy with your existing Python projects to leverage its capabilities
Who Needs to Know This

Developers familiar with Python can benefit from learning Hy to expand their programming skills and explore the Lisp paradigm, while teams working on projects that involve both Python and Lisp can appreciate the convenience of a shared backend

Key Insight

💡 Hy's Python backend makes it easier for Python developers to learn and use Lisp, allowing for a more convenient and familiar programming experience

Share This
🐍💻 Learn Hy, a Lisp implementation with a Python backend, and expand your programming skills! #HyLang #Lisp #Python

Key Takeaways

Learn Hy, a Lisp implementation with a Python backend, and discover how to leverage your existing Python knowledge to get started with Lisp programming

Full Article

Title: Learn a Lisp with Python

URL Source: https://medium.com/nicolas-couture/learn-a-lisp-with-python-ad2c4599d42c?source=rss------programming-5

Published Time: 2026-04-21T08:03:34Z

Markdown Content:
# Learn a Lisp with Python. It had been a long ‒ long time ‒ since… | by Nicolas Couture | Nicolas Couture | Apr, 2026 | Medium

[Sitemap](https://medium.com/sitemap/sitemap.xml)

[Open in app](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.medium.reader&referrer=utm_source%3DmobileNavBar&source=post_page---top_nav_layout_nav-----------------------------------------)

Sign up

[Sign in](https://medium.com/m/signin?operation=login&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2Fnicolas-couture%2Flearn-a-lisp-with-python-ad2c4599d42c&source=post_page---top_nav_layout_nav-----------------------global_nav------------------)

[](https://medium.com/?source=post_page---top_nav_layout_nav-----------------------------------------)

Get app

[Write](https://medium.com/m/signin?operation=register&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2Fnew-story&source=---top_nav_layout_nav-----------------------new_post_topnav------------------)

[Search](https://medium.com/search?source=post_page---top_nav_layout_nav-----------------------------------------)

Sign up

[Sign in](https://medium.com/m/signin?operation=login&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2Fnicolas-couture%2Flearn-a-lisp-with-python-ad2c4599d42c&source=post_page---top_nav_layout_nav-----------------------global_nav------------------)

![Image 1](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:32:32/1*dmbNkD5D-u45r44go_cf0g.png)

## [Nicolas Couture](https://medium.com/nicolas-couture?source=post_page---publication_nav-1b84abcc5fa-ad2c4599d42c---------------------------------------)

·
Follow publication

[![Image 2: Nicolas Couture](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:38:38/1*Tu_SCiMlGEaviHZR8A2tlQ.png)](https://medium.com/nicolas-couture?source=post_page---post_publication_sidebar-1b84abcc5fa-ad2c4599d42c---------------------------------------)
Professional keyboard hammerer, Pythonista, BASH manual reciter and Linux user.

Follow publication

Nicolas Couture highlighted

Featured

# Learn a Lisp with Python

[![Image 3: Nicolas Couture](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:32:32/0*I5xGVZm6mPpFNqwO.jpg)](https://medium.com/@NicolasCouture?source=post_page---byline--ad2c4599d42c---------------------------------------)

[Nicolas Couture](https://medium.com/@NicolasCouture?source=post_page---byline--ad2c4599d42c---------------------------------------)

Follow

4 min read

·

1 hour ago

[](https://medium.com/m/signin?actionUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2F_%2Fvote%2Fnicolas-couture%2Fad2c4599d42c&operation=register&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2Fnicolas-couture%2Flearn-a-lisp-with-python-ad2c4599d42c&user=Nicolas+Couture&userId=9b462a8f9660&source=---header_actions--ad2c4599d42c---------------------clap_footer------------------)

[](https://medium.com/m/signin?actionUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2F_%2Fbookmark%2Fp%2Fad2c4599d42c&operation=register&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2Fnicolas-couture%2Flearn-a-lisp-with-python-ad2c4599d42c&source=---header_actions--ad2c4599d42c---------------------bookmark_footer------------------)

[Listen](https://medium.com/m/signin?actionUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2Fplans%3Fdimension%3Dpost_audio_button%26postId%3Dad2c4599d42c&operation=register&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2Fnicolas-couture%2Flearn-a-lisp-with-python-ad2c4599d42c&source=---header_actions--ad2c4599d42c---------------------post_audio_button------------------)

Share

![Image 4](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:400/1*XOR2ILSRlKnMq99ciUJt4g.png)

**Hy’s mascot, Cuddles the cuttlefish**

## It had been a long ‒ long time ‒ since I wanted to learn a Lisp implementation, until I discovered HyLang.

This time around teaching myself a Lisp is not only really fun but also conveniently familiar as it has a Python back-end I already know and the standard Python modules I regularly use.

Yeah, it run
Read full article → ← Back to Reads