Consider a typical ``stack'' of control frames.
Suppose the model required that we express the idea of ``the most recent
frame whose return program counter points into MAIN.''
The natural expression of this notion involves
function application -- ``fetch the return-pc of this frame''
case analysis -- ``if the pc is MAIN, then ...''
iteration or recursion -- ``pop this frame off and repeat.''
The designers of ACL2 have taken the position that a programming language is the natural language in which to define such notions, provided the language has a mathematical foundation so that models can be analyzed and properties derived logically.
Common Lisp is the language supported by ACL2. To be precise, a small applicative subset of Common Lisp is the language supported by ACL2.
