Why functional programming?

• Because we want modularity

• Gluing functions together

  • Interchangeable parts

  • Assembly of complicated functions from simpler ones

A little modularisation can go a long way.

• Gluing whole programs together

  • Lazy computation

  • Dataflow and process-driven computation

Lazy evaluation is perhaps the most powerful tool for modularisation in the functional programmer's repertoire.

• Why Functional Programming Matters, Hughes

• Aha!

• This is worth doing in any language

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Copyright 2005 M. J. Dominus