About the Visual LISP Integrated Development Environment (Visual LISP IDE)

During the development cycle of an AutoLISP program, the AutoLISP developer performs a number of operations that are not available within the AutoCAD software.

Note: The Visual LISP IDE is available on Windows only.

Some of these operations—like text editing—are available with other software tools. Others, such as full AutoLISP source-level debugging, are introduced only with Visual LISP. In Visual LISP, you perform most of the necessary operations related to developing AutoLISP programs inside a single environment. This includes text editing, program debugging, and interaction with AutoCAD and other applications.

Text editing and debugging and performed through the various windows and menus that are distinct from AutoCAD, but Visual LISP does not run independently of AutoCAD. Whenever you work in Visual LISP, AutoCAD must also be running. When you run AutoLISP programs from the Visual LISP IDE, you will usually need to interact with the AutoCAD drawing window or Command prompt.

The following are components of the Visual LISP integrated development environment: