Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

Haskell: A Love-Hate Relationship with Functional Programming

2025-06-06

The author implemented a small program in Haskell, Common Lisp, and Smalltalk to compare programming experiences in different languages. The result? A surprising discovery that their affection for Haskell is independent of its practicality. Instead, it stems from the unique feeling of using Haskell—its code is concise, elegant, and feels more like a set of composable actions rather than mere arithmetic. The author contrasts the code implementations in the three languages, delves into their programming style and its compatibility with Haskell, and reflects on their dependence on the compiler. While acknowledging Haskell's imperfections, the author still enjoys the conciseness and efficiency Haskell provides, and looks forward to exploring more effective programming approaches.

Prolog Education Crisis: A Stack Overflow User's Plea for Reform

2025-05-10

A Stack Overflow user confesses to violating platform rules by providing excessive Prolog help, realizing it's counterproductive. The root problem? Many Prolog assignments stem from professors who don't understand the language themselves. Students' first encounter is often confusion, not understanding. The user proposes a two-part solution: a small, well-annotated solution database to answer even basic questions, and professor-ready slides for teaching Prolog even with limited expertise. This, combined with a moratorium on solving homework problems directly on Stack Overflow, aims to improve the Prolog learning experience.

Averaging Numbers in Prolog: A Recursive Circus

2025-05-07

This article humorously illustrates calculating an average in Prolog, progressing from a simple mathematical definition to an excessively verbose recursive implementation. The author critiques the pedagogical constraint of prohibiting standard Prolog library functions, resulting in redundant and less readable code. The article contrasts a concise mathematical approach with a cumbersome recursive solution, arguing for prioritizing code readability and maintainability over mere recursive exercise in teaching.