Haskell: A Love-Hate Relationship with Functional Programming
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.