Re: [Caml-list] Experiences with learning OCaml?

[Erik de Castro Lopo <ocaml-erikd@mega-nerd.com>]

On Thu, 25 Nov 2004 03:40:30 -0800 (PST)
whenning@ucsd.edu wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> I'm an undergraduate student studying computer science. My course
> assignments generally use C, C++, or Java, and I find myself pining for
> something more elegant.

Indeed.

> Would doing this be difficult if one were sufficiently motivated? 

If you are reasonably familiar with languages as complex as C++ and
Java, then Ocaml is definitely not too difficult but will require 
you to develope some new ways of thinking about programming problems.

> Although I've of course Googled around for potential books to select, are
> there any ones particularly suited for someone in my position?

Before starting with Ocaml, I had not programmed in a functional
language since some scheme (Lisp dialect) programming in University
around 1990.

I didn't have a book. All I had was the web documentation and a
problem I needed to solve. I ended up writing about 100 small 
test programs (100 lines or less) to test different concepts
and techniques.

> Finally, although OCaml looks interesting, would some other functional
> language be better for someone new to functional programming?

Ocaml is a good choice.

Erik
-- 
+-----------------------------------------------------------+
  Erik de Castro Lopo  nospam@mega-nerd.com (Yes it's valid)
+-----------------------------------------------------------+
"The RIAA is obsessed to the point of comedy with the frustration
of having its rules broken, without considering whether such rules
might be standing in the way of increased revenues. Indeed,
Napster and Gnutella may turn out to be the two best music-marketing
gimmicks yet devised, if only the RIAA would take its head out of
its ass long enough to realise it."
-- Thomas C Greene on www.theregister.co.uk