TLISP is a LISP dialect. So it uses a LISP syntax. I'm not a programmer so I'll try to describe it as I see it.
Everything in LISP must be wrapped up in parenthesis, the programming language is fully parenthesized.
The common syntax of LISP is:
for example
This is called Polish notation.
Let's make another example, with also a TLISP equivalent:
Code: Select all
normal infix notation
(5 − 6) * 7
Polish notation
(* (− 5 6) 7)
Equivalent in TLISP
(multiply (subtract 5 6) 7)
To write code in LISP is a bit hard at the beginning, but after you get a hang of it, you can read it by following the parenthesis
So, where do I practice my code? At the game console ! Run the game with the /debug command line, start up a game and press F9 to fire up the game console where you can write code to test. (for more complicated code, making a mod is better as typing everything in the console is tedious, but it's good when you have to learn)
Where do I find all the possible functions I can use in the mod ?
Here !
http://forums.kronosaur.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5703
How do I learn programming ? by asking us questions and reading other mods

Also read the wiki and come by on IRC for real-time help
What is the simplest way to test some code in the game that actually have a visible effect ?
Make an item, with an <Invoke> code. Use that to run your code and do stuff. That's how I learnt it myself at the beginning in 2007 !