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"So, is JavaScript a truly functional programming language? The short answer is no. Without support for tail-call optimization, pattern matching, immutable data
by jw- 10y ago
"So, is JavaScript a truly functional programming language? The short answer is no.
Without support for tail-call optimization, pattern matching, immutable data struc-
tures, and other fundamental elements of functional programming, JavaScript is not
what is traditionally considered a truly functional language."
Time again I'm always surprised by how people over look type systems when talking
about functional languages. Really, much of that list is not fundamental to FP, but
always giving me an Int when you promise one matters.
- Touche 10y agoPeople don't overlook it, it's not a fundamental property of functional programming.
- smallnamespace 10y agoBut by that metric, you could call assembly a functional programming language and not be incorrect either. There's a core set of features that FP languages implement so that people can be productive, and rich and expressive types certainly seems a key component.
- deleted 10y ago[deleted]
- seanmcdirmid 10y agoDon't tell the Lisp people that. Plenty about functional programming has been explored without static typing.