3 ms·

> a rather convoluted style It may be standard for them, but it's why functional languages are niche while C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript and Python dominate.

Munksgaard 3y ago
That's a bold claim, do you have any evidence to back that up with? To be clear, I agree that it could be a reason, along with a multitude of others. I think that discerning which is the most substantial reason (if any such exist) is hard if not impossible.
- amiga386 3y ago
  I don't, I just have the feelings and impressions of various programmers, which is anecdata. I think the pattern that emerges is that the popular languages I listed are multi-discipline, they can be adapted to whichever paradigm you prefer, even if it's a little cumbersome, and over time they adopt the key features of other languages, while retaining their existing benefits. In other words... you can get the best features of Haskell in Python, but you can't get the best features of Python in Haskell?
  - nyssos 3y ago
    > you can get the best features of Haskell in Python Haskell's best features relative to more mainstream languages are HM-style type inference, higher-kinded types, and typeclasses - none of which are possible in a language without real static types.
  - odyssey7 3y ago
    To add to the anecdata of programmer impressions: Haskell can be extremely performant compared to Python. In terms of developer experience, it almost causes me physical pain to use some of the poorly designed Python libraries out there.
neonsunset 3y ago
Rust is a quite functional language, C# has been incorporating (aka stealing from F# :)) functional features for years starting with LINQ and ending with advanced forms like pattern matching on sequences (list patterns). I believe all kinds of Python frameworks too like to incorporate FP into their APIs, and of course, there are list comprehensions.
- louthy 3y ago
  LINQ is arguably stolen from Haskell, not F#. It is closer to ‘do’ notation than Computation Expressions (which has more features). The fact that Eric Meijer was very active in the Haskell community, I think, pretty much confirms that.

Munksgaard 3y ago

That's a bold claim, do you have any evidence to back that up with? To be clear, I agree that it could be a reason, along with a multitude of others. I think that discerning which is the most substantial reason (if any such exist) is hard if not impossible.

amiga386 3y ago
I don't, I just have the feelings and impressions of various programmers, which is anecdata. I think the pattern that emerges is that the popular languages I listed are multi-discipline, they can be adapted to whichever paradigm you prefer, even if it's a little cumbersome, and over time they adopt the key features of other languages, while retaining their existing benefits. In other words... you can get the best features of Haskell in Python, but you can't get the best features of Python in Haskell?
- nyssos 3y ago
  > you can get the best features of Haskell in Python Haskell's best features relative to more mainstream languages are HM-style type inference, higher-kinded types, and typeclasses - none of which are possible in a language without real static types.
- odyssey7 3y ago
  To add to the anecdata of programmer impressions: Haskell can be extremely performant compared to Python. In terms of developer experience, it almost causes me physical pain to use some of the poorly designed Python libraries out there.

neonsunset 3y ago

Rust is a quite functional language, C# has been incorporating (aka stealing from F# :)) functional features for years starting with LINQ and ending with advanced forms like pattern matching on sequences (list patterns). I believe all kinds of Python frameworks too like to incorporate FP into their APIs, and of course, there are list comprehensions.

louthy 3y ago
LINQ is arguably stolen from Haskell, not F#. It is closer to ‘do’ notation than Computation Expressions (which has more features). The fact that Eric Meijer was very active in the Haskell community, I think, pretty much confirms that.