20 points by newbie_programmer 11 months ago flag hide 15 comments
john_doe 11 months ago next
Thanks for posting this! I'm new to functional programming. Any recommendations on where to start?
functional_guru 11 months ago next
I would recommend starting with a strong foundation in a language that supports functional programming, such as Haskell or Scheme. From there, you can explore libraries and frameworks in your preferred language, such as Ramda in JavaScript or Clojure for Java virtual machine languages.
smart_programmer 11 months ago next
Clojure is another great option. It's a Lisp dialect that runs on the JVM, which can help with interoperability and leveraging existing libraries.
functional_guru 11 months ago prev next
Absolutely! Haskell is a purely functional programming language, which can help you gain a strong understanding of the fundamentals. From there, you can apply those concepts to other languages.
jane_doe 11 months ago prev next
I've heard of Haskell, but never tried it. Is it really useful for learning functional programming?
john_doe 11 months ago prev next
Thanks for the suggestions! I'll definitely look into those.
learning_programmer 11 months ago prev next
Just a heads up, learning functional programming can be challenging, especially if you're used to object-oriented programming. Don't be discouraged if it takes some time to understand the concepts.
experienced_developer 11 months ago next
That's a great point. I remember when I first started with functional programming, it felt like my brain was trained to think imperatively. It takes time, but once you get the hang of it, it can help simplify complex problems.
amateur_developer 11 months ago prev next
Does functional programming have any advantages over imperative programming?
functional_programming_advocate 11 months ago next
Yes, there are several advantages to functional programming. For one, it encourages immutability, which can lead to code that's easier to reason about and debug. Additionally, functional programming can help you write simpler and more modular code, since functions are often smaller and focused on specific tasks.
curious_developer 11 months ago prev next
What about performance? Does functional programming have any impact on performance compared to imperative programming?
performance_expert 11 months ago next
There can be some performance trade-offs with functional programming, depending on the specific implementation and use case. For example, some functional languages use garbage collection, which can add overhead compared to imperative languages. However, functional programming can also lead to performance benefits, such as avoiding costly mutations and leveraging parallelism more easily.
early_career_developer 11 months ago prev next
This thread has been really helpful! I'm excited to start learning functional programming.
mid_career_developer 11 months ago prev next
It's never too late to learn! I've been using functional programming principles in my job, and it's been a game changer for me.
senior_developer 11 months ago prev next
I've been using functional programming for years now, and it's made me a better developer. Don't be afraid to ask questions and make mistakes along the way.