How to use install package into system directory for SBCL by QuickLisp?

Question

I'm using quicklisp as the package management tool for SBCL.

However, sometimes I found it's not very convenient to install a package to the HOME directory of current user by ql:quickload. (For example, if I use (ql:quickload "xmls") to install xmls, other users can't use it.)

What's worse, I'd like to run the lisp code as a script. So when I use the package installed by quicklisp, I need to add the absolute path of that package uncomfortably, such as:

#!/usr/bin/sbcl --script
(require 'xmls "..../quicklisp/dists/quicklisp/software/xmls-1.4/xmls")

If I use (require 'xmls), the compiler will not work because it cannot find that package if I use the --script options.

Does anyone knows how to solve the problem so that I can use --script and require(no need to add absolute path) at the same time？

Answer 1

I don't know of a good solution to this problem. The solution I use is to not write scripts with Common Lisp; I usually write applications that I use interactively from CL sessions. When I do want to run things from the command-line, I use buildapp for it, and use ql:write-asdf-manifest-file to create a file to pass to --manifest-file for buildapp.

I sometimes wish there was a better solution, but it'll probably take some work by someone (hopefully not me).

Answer 2

I just do sudo sbcl and this way it'll be installed for every user on my PC - it's OK, because it's my home PC, so there's no danger.

One thing I could think of is maybe symlinking the directory where ql installs stuff to something that is easier to access, like $HOME/packages -> .../quicklisp/software or something?