Compiles the internal runtime code of algorithm, if possible. Depending on the Lisp implementation, an algorithm may execute many times faster if it is compiled before it performs. MCL compiles algorithms automatically and CLISP uses a byte compiler, so compilation in these Lisp implementations will have little or no effect. Algorithms that depend on lexical closures in order to execute may not be able to be compiled using compile-algorithm. To compile a lexically defined algorithm, place its source definition in a file and compile/load it using the cl command.

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