3Re: Programming and math

[jeffa]

Please define help, because some people consider proving theories to be quite helpful. My definition was something along the lines of "it doesn't hurt" - so i will stick to what i said: "if you want to get into functional programming, then a good knowledge of lambda calculus will surely help". That is, of course, generally speaking - YMMV.

Please don't discourage anyone from learning something new.

jeffa

L-LL-L--L-LL-L--L-LL-L--
-R--R-RR-R--R-RR-R--R-RR
B--B--B--B--B--B--B--B--
H---H---H---H---H---H---
(the triplet paradiddle with high-hat)

[zby]

I just compared the helpfullness of lambda calculus to that of Turing Machine. I believe both have some value. Perhaps you are right that mine comment could discourage people to learn lambda calculus - and I should formulate it a bit more carefully. But I just tried to be honest.

Lambda calculus was quite nice, but it is too low level to be any practical and the interesting parts start when you learn the extensions to the lambda calculus like the F-system (where you get the ultimate polimorfism).