> If you want to personally pick up a programming language in order to become a better coder in whatever other languages you use, F# is the best overall teachin

> If you want to personally pick up a programming language in order to become a better coder in whatever other languages you use, F# is the best overall teaching/coding language you can find. Great, we're back to this nonsense (also promoted by Haskellers) right off the bat. The best way to learn the language you use is to learn the language you use, period. If you want to be good at C, learn frickin' C. No, F# is not going to help. Certainly if you just want to learn about "functional programming", yes, find a relatively completist FP language that that looks easy to learn (F#, maybe - Java, nope), and you'll find it easier to learn other functional-programming languages after that. It's also a good idea to learn new programming languages in general, just to expand your career potential and also make better decisions about what to use (if and when you are ever allowed that choice...). Actually, if you want to learn one language that will make you better at all others? Assembly. Yeah. This is not because Assembly is The Greatest Thing Ever, but because you'll understand the magic behind the curtain a lot better, and be a lot more immune to the incessant nonsensical daily hype around programming languages. For bonus points, learn to write your own compiler/interpreter (but don't feel compelled).