DEV Community

Cover image for Haskell
Bek Brace
Bek Brace

Posted on

Haskell

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to learn Haskell, this beautifully designed programming language mainly by mathematicians, but I gave up after I tried to execute a certain program and the GHC refused to cooperate and compile the code !!

After a second thought, and thanks to a cool Russian programmer known as "tsoding" on YouTube, I was much more motivated to learn it, and I started watching University courses in Russian as I speak the language, and the lectures I watched were very detailed and very well constructed.

I am learning Haskell now, and I started writing all my beginner programs I wrote when I first learnt Python 8 years ago (I hate Cabal btw!).
I even have ordered this book from Empik in Poland :

Image description

So I thought I might share with you guys who might be inspired and motivated by this little story of mine :)

Haskell - What is it ?

Haskell is a functional programming language, originated in the late 1980s through the collaborative efforts of a committee led by Haskell Curry. Renowned for its commitment to simplicity and mathematical precision, Haskell has evolved into a powerful and elegant programming language, challenging traditional paradigms and promoting a declarative programming style.

Image description

Key Characteristics

Haskell distinguishes itself by maintaining a delicate balance between simplicity and power. By emphasizing a declarative approach, it enables concise and readable code while facilitating abstraction and composition. Its unique design principles encourage developers to focus on the 'what' rather than the 'how,' fostering a more expressive and efficient coding experience.

Historical Context

Throughout its evolution, Haskell has been a focal point for innovative advancements in the programming language landscape. Notable contributions include the introduction of monads and advancements in type systems. The Haskell community, characterized by collaboration and intellectual curiosity, has played a pivotal role in shaping the language's trajectory.

Functional Advantage

Haskell's functional nature provides a robust foundation for programming, offering clear and concise solutions to complex problems. Leveraging a type system that catches errors at compile time, Haskell enhances code safety and instills confidence in the development process. Its functional paradigm aligns seamlessly with contemporary software engineering principles.

Last word

In summary, Haskell stands as a testament to the marriage of simplicity and power in programming languages. As a functional language with a rich history of innovation, Haskell invites developers to embrace a declarative style, challenging conventional thinking and elevating the coding experience. It remains a key player in the realm of functional programming, offering a sophisticated platform for those seeking an elegant and efficient coding environment.

Top comments (4)

Collapse
 
prsaya profile image
Prasad Saya

I learnt this programming language back in the year 2017, mainly to learn what is functional programming. I was to learn Java's functional programming which was introduced with Java version 8 and Haskell provided me the conceptual and programming knowledge required for it.

I have two books "Programming in Haskell" by Graham Hutton and "An Introduction to Functional Programming Systems using Haskell" by A J T Davie. I have also referred "Learn You a Haskell for Great Good!" by Miran Lipovača and "Real World Haskell".

Though I have not done much Haskell programming, it provided me a good grounding in functional programming. Following, I did learn Java's functional programming well (I got my Java SE 8 upgrade certification in 2017 which highlights functional programming in Java).

I also wrote an article at that time (November 2017): An Example of Java 8's Functional Style Programming.

Cheers!

Collapse
 
bekbrace profile image
Bek Brace

Great insights ! Thank you so much for sharing them.
I have done some Java in the past, but not much to be honest; I love mathematics and Haskell functional programming paradigm was very close to what I was looking for in programming.
I am going to read your Java article for sure, once again thanks a lot :)

Collapse
 
best_codes profile image
Best Codes

Cool! I might have to check it out!

Collapse
 
bekbrace profile image
Bek Brace

This is my third week, and I love the language's perspective.
Happy learning!