Implementation of syntax for symbols to be able to use spaces instead of '-' in them. The default enclosing chars are '<' and '>'.

Common Lisp symbol syntax

;; Implementation of syntax for symbols to be able to use spaces instead of '-' in them.
;; The default enclosing chars are '<' and '>'.

;; Example:
;; (defclass <My Class> (<Standard Object>)
;;     ((<My Slot> :accessor <My Slot>
;;                 :initarg :my-slot)))
;;
;; (<with slots> (<My slot>)
;;                (<make instance> '<My class> :my-slot "Value")
;;     (print <My slot>))

(defpackage symbol-syntax
  (:use cl))

(in-package symbol-syntax)

(defvar *original-readtable* nil)
(defvar *symbol-macro-open-char* #\<)
(defvar *symbol-macro-close-char* #\>)

(defmacro enable-symbol-reader-syntax ()
  `(eval-when (:compile-toplevel :load-toplevel :execute)
     (%enable-symbol-reader-syntax)))

(defun %enable-symbol-reader-syntax ()
  (unless *original-readtable*
    (setf *original-readtable* *readtable*
          *readtable* (copy-readtable))
    (set-macro-character *symbol-macro-open-char*
			 (lambda (str char)
			 (declare (ignore char)) ; Ignore me some warnings
			 (let ((keep-going t))
			   (set-macro-character *symbol-macro-close-char*
						(lambda (stream char)
						  (declare (ignore char) (ignore stream))
						  (setf keep-going nil)))
			   (let ((symbol-parts
				  (loop for thing = (read str nil nil t)
				     while keep-going
				     collect thing)))
			     (intern (format nil "~{~a~^-~}" symbol-parts)))))))
  (values))

(defmacro disable-symbol-reader-syntax ()
  `(eval-when (:compile-toplevel :load-toplevel :execute)
    (%disable-symbol-reader-syntax)))

(defun %disable-symbol-reader-syntax ()
  (when *original-readtable*
    (setf *readtable* *original-readtable*
          *original-readtable* nil))
  (values))