> Does learning Java keep you from learning CS concepts like pure functions and category theory? Dijkstra certainly thought so. http://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/

> Does learning Java keep you from learning CS concepts like pure functions and category theory? Dijkstra certainly thought so. http://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/EWD/OtherDocs/To%20the%20Budget%20Council%20concerning%20Haskell.pdf http://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/EWD/OtherDocs/To%20the%20Budg... > They may contribute actual production code, but probably not if it's Haskell. Not only can interns learn new languages on the job, but any student worth hiring probably knows multiple languages already. The argument here is that theory courses should be in a theoretically sound language; that doesn't preclude students from learning corporate-approved languages as well. For what it's worth, I picked up new languages in two of the internships I did in college. It never took me more than a week or two, and happened contemporaneously with me figuring out the codebase and dev environment. In at least one of those, which was a JavaScript codebase with many functional elements, having a strong functional background as well as a strong imperative background was what allowed me to comprehend it without too much effort. > then they are doing a great disservice to their CS students. I'm inclined to agree. This is, of course, a matter of opinion.