Introduction to Functional Programming using Haskell (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

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Key Phrases: succ zero, parser int, cross functor, False True, Fork Int, Btree Char (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

After the success of the first edition of Introduction to Functional Programming, the authors have thoroughly updated and revised this bestselling title. This book is unusual amongst books on functional programming in that it is primarily directed towards the concepts of functional programming, rather than their realization in a specific programming language. The book clearly expounds the construction of functional programs as a process of mathematical calculation, but the mathematics is restricted to that relevant to the actual construction of programs.

From the Back Cover

After the success of the first edition, Introduction to Functional Programming using Haskell has been thoroughly updated and revised to provide a complete grounding in the principles and techniques of programming with functions. The second edition uses the popular language Haskell to express functional programs. There are new chapters on program optimisation, abstract datatypes in a functional setting, and programming in a monadic style. There are complete new case studies, and many new exercises. As in the first edition, there is an emphasis on the fundamental techniques for reasoning about functional programs, and for deriving them systematically from their specifications. The book is self-contained, assuming no prior knowledge of programming and is suitable as an introductory undergraduate text for first- or second-year students.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR; 2 edition (May 9, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0134843460
• ISBN-13: 978-0134843469
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #776,171 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Original classic, theoretical, November 26, 2004

By	Fooo Bar Buh (Seattle) - See all my reviews

Bird and Wadler got me started on functional programming. Before that, I'd only seen discussions of C++/STL functors and functions like for, map etcetera.

B&W was dense, and magic. It reminded me of the first time I read the K&R C book, you're following along fine, and all of a sudden you're off the deep end!

The syntax, sort of ML-like adds to the 'magic' feel of it all. Overall I think it's a good book. But like with K&R, make this your second or third book, to ground you in the fundamentals after you've become somewhat familiar with the syntax and application of a particular fnal language.

That said, it covers a wide breadth of topics, and does justice to them as well. But this opinion comes from a newbie at functional programming, so caveat lector!

For me, it made me realise that there was a whole 'new' way of programming, vastly bigger than the few functions C++ had in its STL, and that C++ syntax mostly got in the way. However, perhaps because of this book, I never quite grokked Haskell/ML syntax either, though LISP I find easy (easier).

7 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice book on functional programming, November 16, 2002

By A Customer

This is a good introduction to functional programming.
It is less language specific than some of the other books.