David Wilczynski raises some very important and interesting questions
about Haskell from a "Real World" point of view. I would very much
like to see this kind of discussions, which I feel are essential if
Haskell is ever to move out of the laboratories. Please do *not* move
this discussion into private email or phone.
I'll just comment on one small item:
> Is there a strategy in which an
> engineer can learn a useful subset of Haskell, and grow into it as need be?
> I am unconvinced by arguments such as "this perfectly ordinary Yale
> graduate student learned Haskell in just 8 days."
I think it was about correct for me, although understanding type
classes well enough to create my own (as opposed to just using them)
too a lot longer. I generally "feel" Haskell as one of the simplest
languages I know(!), in the sense that things are natural, logical,
general, and without unpleasant surprises. Of course, this is just
relatively to the many other languages I know (not least Java).
> 4) Concurrency -- I saw that one of the compilers supported Concurrent
> Haskell. I don't recall seeing any mention of it in any of the material I
> have. Have I missed it?
No, concurrency is not part of the standard language, but it would
sure be nice if it was (hint hint).
I look forward to follow the discussion,
Tommy
