| idisbn = ISBN 978-0-262-07093-5; LCCN: 85-15161}} <!-- xiv, 285 p. ; 23 cm. Cambridge, Mass. --></ref> implementation of [[Lisp (programming language)|Lisp]] developed at [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]] and intended to be the successor to [[Maclisp|MacLisp]]. <ref name=STEELE>{{cite web | title=The evolution of Lisp| author=Guy L Steele Jr, Richard P Gabriel | url=http://www.dreamsongs.com/NewFiles/HOPL2-Uncut.pdf | accessdate=2006-10-12}}</ref> NIL stood for "New Implementation of LISP", and was in part a response to [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DECs]] [[VAX]] computer. The project was headed by [[Jon L White]] <ref>{{cite web | title=Brief History of the Lisp Language| author=Kent M Pitman | url=http://www.lisp.org/table/Lisp-History.html | accessdate=2006-10-12}}</ref>, with a stated goal of maintaining compatibility with MacLisp whilst fixing many of the problems with the language.
