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Functional Programming Principles in Scala

Martin Odersky

4.8

Based on 8,247 ratings

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Martin Odersky

Functional programming is becoming increasingly widespread in industry. This trend is driven by the adoption of Scala as the main programming language for many applications. Scala fuses functional and object-oriented programming in a practical package. It interoperates seamlessly with both Java and Javascript. Scala is the implementation language of many important frameworks, including Apache Spark, Kafka, and Akka. It provides the core infrastructure for sites such as Twitter, Netflix, Zalando, and also Coursera.

In this course, you will discover the elements of the functional programming style and learn how to apply them usefully in your daily programming tasks, such as modeling business domains or implementing business logic. You will also develop a solid foundation for reasoning about functional programs, by touching upon proofs of invariants and the tracing of execution symbolically.

The course is hands-on; most units introduce short programs that serve as illustrations of important concepts and invite you to play with them, modifying and improving them. The course is complemented by a series of programming projects as homework assignments.

Recommended background: You should have at least one year of programming experience. Proficiency with Java or C# is ideal, but experience with other languages such as C/C++, Python, Javascript, or Ruby is also sufficient. You should have some background in mathematics (e.g., algebra, logic, proof by induction). Last, you should have some familiarity with using the command line.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Getting Started + Functions & Evaluation

Get up and running with Scala on your computer. Complete an example assignment to familiarize yourself with our unique way of submitting assignments. In this week, we'll learn the difference between functional imperative programming. We step through the basics of Scala; covering expressions, evaluation, conditionals, functions, and recursion

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores functional programming, which is standard in Scala industry applications

Teaches functional programming principles and their practical uses

Develops a solid foundation for reasoning about functional programs through proofs of invariants and symbolic execution tracing

Taught by Martin Odersky, who is recognized for his work in Scala

Provides hands-on experience through short programs and programming projects

Recommended for experienced programmers who are proficient in Java or C#

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Reviews summary

Scala functional programming foundation

According to students, this course provides a solid foundation in functional programming with Scala. Many praise the clear lectures and brilliant instructor. Assignments are often cited as challenging yet rewarding, reinforcing concepts. However, learners highlight it's not for FP beginners, requires strong prerequisites, with a quick pace. Some struggled with assignment difficulty and found auto-grader feedback vague. Certain later topics were perceived as rushed.

Clear and insightful teaching

"Prof. Odersky's lectures are clear and insightful."

"The instructor is top-notch."

"Prof. Odersky is brilliant and makes complex ideas accessible."

"Prof. Odersky is a great teacher."

Provides strong core understanding

"Provides a solid foundation for functional programming concepts and how to apply them in Scala."

"It provides the core infrastructure for sites such as Twitter, Netflix..."

"The core concepts are taught effectively."

"A solid introduction to FP in Scala."

Feedback sometimes vague

"The auto-grader for assignments can be frustrating sometimes with vague error messages."

"The auto-grader feedback could be improved."

Later topics needed more depth

"Some of the later assignments, especially involving lists and collections, felt a bit rushed and could have used more examples or clearer explanations."

"I found the explanations around variance and some advanced type system concepts a bit confusing and had to rely on external resources."

Effective but sometimes difficult

"The assignments were challenging but very rewarding and really solidified the concepts."

"The programming exercises complement the lectures perfectly."

"The assignments were too hard and the lectures didn't feel like enough preparation."

"Assignments are relevant, although some feel very difficult."

"The programming assignments are the highlight, requiring deep thought and reinforcing the principles."

Not for beginners, quick pace

"The course is okay, but definitely not for beginners to programming or FP."

"You really need that 'one year of experience' and ideally some prior FP exposure."

"The pace can be quick..."

"Found this course very difficult."

"...struggled a lot. Maybe my background wasn't strong enough despite meeting the prerequisites."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Functional Programming Principles in Scala with these activities:

Read "Scala Cookbook"

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Review key concepts and best practices in Scala programming to lay a strong foundation for the course.

View Scala Cookbook: Recipes for Object-Oriented and... on Amazon

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Purchase or borrow the book.
Read the introduction and first two chapters to familiarize yourself with the basics of Scala.
Complete one to two exercises from each chapter to practice applying the concepts.
Take notes on important concepts and make connections to your current knowledge of programming.

Build a Tic-Tac-Toe game in Scala

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Apply functional programming principles to design and implement a classic game, solidifying understanding of Scala concepts.

Browse courses on Object-Oriented Programming

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Design the game logic and classes.
Implement the game loop.
Add user input handling.
Test and debug the game.

Solve Scala coding challenges on LeetCode

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Enhance problem-solving skills and gain practical experience in applying Scala to solve coding challenges.

Browse courses on Algorithms

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Select a set of LeetCode problems relevant to the course topics.
Attempt to solve the problems on your own.
Check your solutions against the provided test cases or community discussions.
Review your solutions and identify areas for improvement.

Three other activities

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Attend a workshop on Scala's Interoperability with Java and JavaScript

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Gain hands-on experience in integrating Scala with other popular programming languages used in industry.

Browse courses on Java Interoperability

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Identify and register for a workshop on Scala interoperability.
Attend the workshop and actively participate in the exercises.
Experiment with the concepts covered in the workshop in your own projects.

Write a blog post on Higher Order Functions in Scala

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Deepen understanding of higher order functions by explaining and providing examples in a written format.

Browse courses on Higher Order Functions

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Choose a specific aspect of higher order functions to focus on.
Research and gather relevant information from the course materials and external sources.
Write an outline of the blog post.
Draft the blog post, including examples and explanations.
Review and edit the blog post for clarity and accuracy.

Design a RESTful API for a library management system

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Apply Scala's capabilities for building web applications to design and document an API for a real-world scenario.

Browse courses on RESTful API

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Define the requirements and use cases for the API.
Design the data model and API endpoints.
Create a prototype or mock implementation of the API.
Document the API using OpenAPI or Swagger.

Career center

Learners who complete Functional Programming Principles in Scala will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Functional Programmer

Functional Programmers work in a programming style that focuses on the mathematical evaluation of expressions. They have a deep understanding of how functions work and how to apply them in practical applications. This course in 'Functional Programming Principles in Scala' will provide you with the foundation you need to become a successful Functional Programmer. You will learn the basics of Scala, including expressions, evaluation, conditionals, functions, and recursion. You will also learn about higher order functions, data abstraction, types, and pattern matching. This course is hands-on, with most units introducing short programs that serve as illustrations of important concepts. You will also complete a series of programming projects as homework assignments.

See salaries and explore the career path for Functional Programmer

Software Engineer

Software Engineers apply the principles of computer science and software design to the creation of computer programs. They use their knowledge of programming languages, algorithms, and data structures to design, develop, test, and maintain software systems. This course in 'Functional Programming Principles in Scala' will help you build a strong foundation in functional programming, which is becoming increasingly widespread in industry. You will learn the elements of the functional programming style and how to apply them usefully in your daily programming tasks. You will also develop a solid foundation for reasoning about functional programs. Functional programming is a valuable skill for Software Engineers to have, as it can help them write more efficient and maintainable code.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use their knowledge of statistics, machine learning, and data mining to extract insights from data. They use this information to help businesses make better decisions. This course in 'Functional Programming Principles in Scala' will help you build a strong foundation in functional programming, which is a valuable skill for Data Scientists to have. Functional programming can help Data Scientists write more efficient and maintainable code. It can also help them to better understand the data they are working with.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Web Developer

Web Developers design and develop websites. They use their knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create websites that are both visually appealing and functional. This course in 'Functional Programming Principles in Scala' may be useful for Web Developers who want to learn more about functional programming. Functional programming can help Web Developers write more efficient and maintainable code. It can also help them to better understand the data they are working with.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

Computer Scientist

Computer Scientists conduct research on the theory and practice of computing. They develop new algorithms and data structures, and they design new programming languages. This course in 'Functional Programming Principles in Scala' may be useful for Computer Scientists who want to learn more about functional programming. Functional programming is a valuable skill for Computer Scientists to have, as it can help them to write more efficient and maintainable code.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Scientist

Quantitative Analyst

Quantitative Analysts use their knowledge of mathematics, statistics, and computer science to develop and implement mathematical models to help businesses make better decisions. This course in 'Functional Programming Principles in Scala' may be useful for Quantitative Analysts who want to learn more about functional programming. Functional programming can help Quantitative Analysts write more efficient and maintainable code. It can also help them to better understand the data they are working with.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantitative Analyst

Systems Analyst

Systems Analysts design, develop, and implement computer systems. They use their knowledge of computer hardware and software to create systems that meet the needs of businesses. This course in 'Functional Programming Principles in Scala' may be useful for Systems Analysts who want to learn more about functional programming. Functional programming can help Systems Analysts write more efficient and maintainable code. It can also help them to better understand the data they are working with.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst

Database Administrator

Database Administrators are responsible for the design, implementation, and maintenance of databases. They use their knowledge of database management systems to ensure that databases are reliable, efficient, and secure. This course in 'Functional Programming Principles in Scala' may be useful for Database Administrators who want to learn more about functional programming. Functional programming can help Database Administrators write more efficient and maintainable code. It can also help them to better understand the data they are working with.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

Technical Writer

Technical Writers create documentation for software and hardware products. They use their knowledge of technical writing principles and software development to create documentation that is clear, concise, and accurate. This course in 'Functional Programming Principles in Scala' may be useful for Technical Writers who want to learn more about functional programming. Functional programming can help Technical Writers write more efficient and maintainable code. It can also help them to better understand the data they are working with.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Project Manager

Project Managers plan, organize, and execute projects. They use their knowledge of project management principles and software development to ensure that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality. This course in 'Functional Programming Principles in Scala' may be useful for Project Managers who want to learn more about functional programming. Functional programming can help Project Managers write more efficient and maintainable code. It can also help them to better understand the data they are working with.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Business Analyst

Business Analysts analyze business processes and identify opportunities for improvement. They use their knowledge of business analysis techniques and software development to develop solutions that meet the needs of businesses. This course in 'Functional Programming Principles in Scala' may be useful for Business Analysts who want to learn more about functional programming. Functional programming can help Business Analysts write more efficient and maintainable code. It can also help them to better understand the data they are working with.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Software Tester

Software Testers test software applications to find and fix bugs. They use their knowledge of software testing principles and software development to develop test cases that will thoroughly test software applications. This course in 'Functional Programming Principles in Scala' may be useful for Software Testers who want to learn more about functional programming. Functional programming can help Software Testers write more efficient and maintainable code. It can also help them to better understand the data they are working with.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Tester

Network Administrator

Network Administrators design, implement, and maintain computer networks. They use their knowledge of networking principles and software development to create networks that are reliable, efficient, and secure. This course in 'Functional Programming Principles in Scala' may be useful for Network Administrators who want to learn more about functional programming. Functional programming can help Network Administrators write more efficient and maintainable code. It can also help them to better understand the data they are working with.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Administrator

Database Engineer

Database Engineers design, implement, and maintain databases. They use their knowledge of database management systems and software development to create databases that are reliable, efficient, and secure. This course in 'Functional Programming Principles in Scala' may be useful for Database Engineers who want to learn more about functional programming. Functional programming can help Database Engineers write more efficient and maintainable code. It can also help them to better understand the data they are working with.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Engineer

Security Analyst

Security Analysts analyze security risks and develop security solutions. They use their knowledge of security principles and software development to develop security solutions that protect computer systems and networks from unauthorized access. This course in 'Functional Programming Principles in Scala' may be useful for Security Analysts who want to learn more about functional programming. Functional programming can help Security Analysts write more efficient and maintainable code. It can also help them to better understand the data they are working with.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Analyst

Reading list

We've selected 23 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Functional Programming Principles in Scala.

Programming in Scala

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Provides an in-depth look at advanced Scala topics, including functional programming concepts. It is written for experienced Scala programmers.

Functional Programming Principles in Scala

What's inside

Syllabus

Traffic lights

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Reviews summary

Scala functional programming foundation

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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