Frequently Asked Questions for comp.lang.functional

Version of 1st August 2001 is an unmoderated usenet newsgroup for the discussion of all aspects of functional programming languages, including their design, application, theoretical foundation, and implementation. Articles posted to this (and other) newsgroups are archived on the web at: This document is a Frequently Asked Questions list (FAQ) for , and provides brief answers to a number of common questions concerning functional programming languages, and some pointers to relevant literature and internet resources. The latest version of this document is available on the web from: Much of the information in this document has been taken from public sources, mostly from articles posted to . Because of the way that this document was compiled, a complete list of contributors is not available. Any opinions expressed in this document are those of the individual contributors, and may not be representative of views of the editor, or of others in the functional programming community. Every effort has been made to ensure that the content of this document is correct and up-to-date, but no guarantees are given for the accuracy of the information provided here. Your corrections and contributions are encouraged! The original version of this Frequently Asked Questions list was compiled and edited by . All questions, comments, corrections, and suggestions regarding this document should be addressed to the current editor, This section gives brief answers to a number of general questions concerning functional programming languages, and some pointers to relevant literature and internet resources. What is a "functional programming language"? Opinions differ, even within the functional programming community, on the precise definition of what constitutes a functional programming language. However, here is a definition that, broadly speaking, represents the kind of languages that are discussed in For example, consider the task of calculating the sum of the integers from 1 to