functional programming in science & Mathematica
From: richard j. gaylord (gaylord_at_uiuc.edu)
Date: 06/25/04
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Date: 25 Jun 2004 13:32:39 -0700
my apologies for posting a message with a personal content here but
my last posting left an impression (based on e-mail messages i
received) that i want to correct.
in my last e-mail to the group, i said that i was no longer interested
in programing or in engaging in religious wars about the merits of
various languages. the latter part of the sentence remains correct;
however, as for the first part, to use a quote
"everytime i think i'm out, they pull me back in"
This is a quote from Al Pacino's character, Michael Corleone, in "The
Godfather III".
and so it is, that i am returning to functional programming because it
is so much fun. i don't expect to be working on scientific problems
because as i stated in my previous message, i am not especially
interested in science (except for the chemistry of neuroscience) and i
don't care for the use of computer simulations or computer experiments
in science.
i am just going to implement various intersting and challenging
algorithms i come across in various books (eg., Knuth), into
Mathematica using as pure a functional programming style as i can
(this might be dismissed as a form of mental masturbation but as jerry
seinfeld said "there's nothing wrong with that"). i consider my own
retirement version of 'recreational programming'
the other purpose of this posting is to point out is that people who
prefer the functional style of programming would do best to use a
language that is widely accepted or is at least becoming increasingly
accepted in the scientific community. there is no use in individuals
protesting that people are too stupid to use a 'better' functional
language like LISP [or my personal favorite, J - the functional cousin
of APL) because the fact is that the most commonly used programming
language in science that offers a functional programming style (or a
term rewriting system version of it) is Mathematica (Maple remains
essentally imperative despite having some functional-style functions).
these individuals should just 'get over themselves' and 'deal with
it'.
note: i recall Stephen referring to his 'trojan horse' strategy to
use Mathematica to introduce functional programming to the scientific
community and it appears that stephen's marketing strategy is paying
off and there are more and more Mathematica users who are looking to
program in a functional style.
finally, i would appreciate it if no one would post a response to this
posting or at least that no one refer to me specifically as it is
really unpleasant to be personally attacked on a public usergroup site
and it does, in my opinion, lower the standards and the value of the
group. we can certainly treat each other more respectfully even when
we strongly disagree with them or even think poorly of them.
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