Article:		What's Your Function?
Subject:		C is not functional
Date:		2003-08-01 17:47:20
From:		anonymous2
C is almost entirely an imperative, or procedural, language. The easiest way to determine which type a language is predominantly is by looking at it's variables. If a language performs most computation through the manipulation of variables, it is imperative. If a language performs most computation without the manipulation of variables, it is functional. C is an imperative language. Lisp is a functional language.

Showing messages 1 through 5 of 5.

• Your comment is inappropriate...
  2003-08-02 00:37:58  anonymous2 [View]
  
  
  ...given the audience this is geared at. Given my background in the subject (which I will assume is generaly consistent with the vast majority of people reading this column), I can't even fathom how profound and important your correction is. Maybe next time you can save the learned computer science nit picking for a column that doesn't focus extensively on "hello world".
  
  Please keep the columns coming - they are quite good. At this pace I'll soon be able to troll neophyte-geared columns with my vast knowledge aching to drip from my fingertips...
• Honestly not trying to troll
  2003-08-02 11:19:39  anonymous2 [View]
  
  
  While I was somewhat brusk, I was not trying to provoke responses. I was trying to convey a rather complicated difference as simply as I could.
  
  A beginning programmer is not going to care if what he is told is wrong, perhaps, but it will hinder his continued learning as he has to relearn concepts as he goes along.
  
  In some subjects, this is done intentionally, such as physics, where galilean relativity is taught despite it being wrong, and only when special relativity is taught are the (more) correct concepts discussed.
  
  I do not think this applies so well in this case. The article would have been just as useful if it had discussed the use of subroutines (a more apt name for the behavior involved), and perhaps touched briefly on how a function is a subroutine without a side effect.
  
  I tried to present a way of telling the difference between the two as simply as I could, with a concrete example for each. I apologize if I was rude.

• C is not functional
  2003-08-01 20:40:00  tallama [View]
  
  
  I do apologize; you are correct.
  
  - Seth A. Roby
• C is not functional
  2003-08-02 11:22:04  anonymous2 [View]
  
  
  As I neglected to in that previous post, I would like to state I like your columns quite a bit. While I have been programming for a while, I enjoy reading good beginning tutorials, and yours definitely belongs in that category.

• C is not functional
  2003-08-01 19:45:08  iapole [View]
  
  
  Haskell enthusiasts everywhere agree.