---
title: "Comment by Olaf on \"60 PicoLisp Functions You Should Know - 6: Lists and Strings\" | Hashnode"
description: "Hi Mia, I do like the list part of this article, I never used yoke before (even did'nt know about it), now I will :-) The 'c[a|d]+r' :-) functions i"
url: "https://hashnode.com/posts/60-picolisp-functions-you-should-know-6-lists-and-strings/613b375cd6057d516e7ece96/comment/613c62f51821961e2551e18b"
---

[Discussion](https://hashnode.com/posts/60-picolisp-functions-you-should-know-6-lists-and-strings/613b375cd6057d516e7ece96)

Comment [60 PicoLisp Functions You Should Know - 6: Lists and Strings](https://hashnode.com/posts/60-picolisp-functions-you-should-know-6-lists-and-strings/613b375cd6057d516e7ece96)

[Olaf](https://hashnode.com/@olaf)

[Sep 11, 2021](https://hashnode.com/posts/60-picolisp-functions-you-should-know-6-lists-and-strings/613b375cd6057d516e7ece96/comment/613c62f51821961e2551e18b)

Hi Mia, I do like the list part of this article, I never used yoke before (even did'nt know about it), now I will :-)

The 'c\[a|d\]+r' :-) functions in picolisp exist as a tribute for old lisper's, are'nt they? For beginners to (pico)Lisp I would prefer to define

```
(setq first        car)    # you can call it first-of-list  if you want
(setq rest-of-list cdr)   # rest would overwrite existing picolisp core function
```

For me it was easier to understand and to remember

```
: (first (rest-of-list '(1 2 3 4 5 6))    # same as (cadr '(1 2 3 4 5 6))
-> 2

: (rest-of-list (first '((1 2) 3 4 5 6))    # same as (cdar '((1 2) 3 4 5 6))
-> (2)
```

But for sure, `(first (rest-of-list (rest-of-list (rest-of-list '(1 2 3 4 5 6))))` would never ever be used (and therefore never be listed under the 60 most used functions) instead of a simple `(cadddr (1 2 3 4 5 6))`  
:-)

(By the way, both should return: 4)

[Mia Temma](https://hashnode.com/@miatemma)

[Sep 11, 2021](https://hashnode.com/posts/60-picolisp-functions-you-should-know-6-lists-and-strings/613b375cd6057d516e7ece96/comment/613c62f51821961e2551e18b#reply-613c67ef1821961e2551e25c)

Thank you! The function redefinition is a really good idea!