Note: How to install Quicklisp

June 10, 2022
lisp quicklisp

Before starting, make sure you have installed SBCL. Then, get the quicklisp file, which lets you bootstrap and install Quicklisp.

cd ~/downloads
curl -O http://beta.quicklisp.org/quicklisp.lisp
sbcl --load quicklisp.lisp

Now you are in the REPL, and you can install Quicklisp. By default, it will be installed in ~/quicklisp, but I like to keep my home directory clean and install it in ~/.local/share/quicklisp. Thus the :path argument.

(quicklisp-quickstart:install :path "~/.local/share/quicklisp/")

I also prefer Quicklisp to be available when I start SBCL, so I add it to my init file:

(ql:add-to-init-file)

That’s it! Happy Lisping!