3 ms·

I am learning Perl's FP features and really liking it, and teaching myself common lisp. I enjoyed the article quite a lot actually. I find it is very hard to

I am learning Perl's FP features and really liking it, and teaching myself common lisp. I enjoyed the article quite a lot actually. I find it is very hard to define functional programming for many people but this is what I have come to explain to people: Functional programming means thinking in terms of mathematical functions in the f(x) sense. Once you get that basic promise, that for any given input you have a single correct output, then it transforms the whole way you think about and designing your software. The better I get with lisp, the more everything else changes. I may have to try Racket.

innguest 12y ago
I think your explanation is excellent for getting the point across. All other nice things that we get in FP derive from the "mathematical functions" fact you stated. It's also good in the sense someone can then ask you "how is it that using mathematical functions transform the way you think" and now you have their attention and interest. :)
raiph 12y ago
What about spending a few minutes exploring P6 and providing feedback about it to Larry Wall et al on #perl6? One easy way follows (for you or anyone else reading this who is curious about P6). Preferably between about noon and midnight GMT (so you're more likely to catch Larry Wall, nick TimToady) visit the freenode IRC channel #perl6 (eg go to https://kiwiirc.com/client/irc.freenode.net/perl6 https://kiwiirc.com/client/irc.freenode.net/perl6 and enter a nick) and enter 'hi'. There are on channel evalbots and folk who will be happy to show you a well designed and continuously improving Perly blend of FP, OO, etc. Yesterday's log is at http://irclog.perlgeek.de/perl6/yesterday http://irclog.perlgeek.de/perl6/yesterday. Hope to see you in the log. :)