this post was submitted on 29 Jan 2026
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Programming

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How useful are functional programming languages? (mander.xyz)
submitted 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) by partner_boat_slug@mander.xyz to c/programming@programming.dev
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I hear they are good, make it easier to maintain code-bases. Most often I reach for python to get the job done. Does anyone have experiences with functional languages for larger projects?

In particular I am interested to learn more on how to handle databases, and writing to them and what patterns they come up with. Is a database handle you can write to not ... basically mutable state, the arch-nemesis of functional languages?

Are functional languages only useful with an imperative shell?

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[–] darklamer@lemmy.dbzer0.com 21 points 5 days ago (1 children)

"Lisp is worth learning for the profound enlightenment experience you will have when you finally get it; that experience will make you a better programmer for the rest of your days, even if you never actually use Lisp itself a lot." — Eric S. Raymond, How to Become a Hacker

There's definitely some truth behind the hyperbole in that quote and there are quite a lot of techniques from functional programming that can be used also in a language like Python with good results, when used judiciously.

[–] Kacarott@aussie.zone 16 points 5 days ago

I highly agree with the sentiment. Learning languages of different paradigms is sort of like travelling to visit other cultures to make you a more rounded, better person. Learn a functional language (lisp/Haskell). Learn a concatenative language (forth/Factor). Learn a logical language (Prolog/?). Heck even learn an assembly! (I suggest RISC-V).