Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

I've not jumped in Clojure (yet)... but exposure to functional programming can do you good.

I'm using CoffeeScript (node & angular) currently, but Clojure has transformed the way I code (way less imperatively).

My only problem with Clojure: its syntax doesn't help me understand structure... so to me, Clojure is difficult to read.

But if you're prepared to think differently, you can learn how with a functional programming language, then apply everywhere...

Note: I've used Scala, I do like it, but it didn't make me a fp programmer... I guess I should give it another try someday. I prefer its syntax (over Clojure), except for types (and occasional syntax ambiguities). It was a mixed Java/Scala project, so I didn't use Scala collections much...




Those were my fears with sticking with something like Scala. I just know I would fall back on imperative programming rather than being forced to understand functional programming.

Scala itself doesn't seem bad, but my gripe is just getting a working project set up. With sbt, I know I have to create a few files just to get up and running. Not knowing Maven syntax - can be embedded in sbt, I think - or sbt itself, I don't find it appealing to learn that kind of tooling outside of work.


I used Scala for a project of mine, and I relied on Eclipse for the build environment... I didn't use sbt directly, and incremental compilation was very fast.

I've recommended Lighttable because it's a very dynamic editor: it has a REPL, it can evaluate every line you type. It makes it easier to learn: no apparent compilation.

I dream of using Lighttable to develop something... Check this video: it's in Javascript, but it shows why Lighttable is so amazing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52SVAMM3V78)




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: