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Using Ocaml to learn FP. What FP concepts should I touch on? (lemy.lol)

submitted 9 months ago by matcha_addict@lemy.lol to c/programming@programming.dev

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cross-posted from: https://lemy.lol/post/19181146

I just started to learn Ocaml to learn functional programming. I will use it to build a CLI that's mostly orchestrating other programs.

My experience is mostly in JS / TS, but I've also coded a good bit in Python and Lua.

Below, I provided a list of things I learned or focused on while using OCaml. But I feel like I must be missing something. This is only moderately different from what I'm used to in JS. I expected something more radical. Moreover, I constantly hear a lot of FP jargon (like "highly kinded types", monads, etc) that I feel am still missing.

So far, here's what I studied:

immutability

avoid side affects

static typing

recursion instead of loops

option / maybe

higher order functions

conditionals and other constructs as expressions, when they're statements in other languages

pipelines and functions as input —> output

currying

scoping with let

What am I missing?

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[–] solrize@lemmy.world 6 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

The jargon you mention is mostly associated with Haskell so you might want to study that too. It has a steeper learning curve but will expand your mind more. Ocaml is great but it's more like what you are used to, especially if you're comfortable with TS. Missing from your list is Ocaml's module system which is more serious than Haskell's, so you should spend some time on it.

For Haskell, see the online books learnyouahaskell.com and https://book.realworldhaskell.org/ . Both of those are now kind of old, but will get you started. Edit: realworldhaskell link fixed.

[–] matcha_addict@lemy.lol 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

My fear with Haskell is that I will end up trying to learn category theory, which will be a much bigger time sink. But I suppose it is the natural next step.

Thanks for the pointer on the module system! I'll study that next.

[–] solrize@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago

CT as used in Haskell isn't a big deal. I found that it demystified a lot so was worth looking into, but really, it's optional. This tutorial is good:

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Haskell/Category_theory

Even more optional, after the above try this:

https://www.haskellforall.com/2012/08/the-category-design-pattern.html