Functional Programming: The Big Picture from Pluralsight

Functional programming is gaining traction and popularity in the industry. However, it's not always clear why someone should care about it. This course will look at what it is, how it's different, and why it matters.

Functional programming is not a new concept, but in the past few years, it has seen a sharp growth in usage and general interest. However, it's not always clear why anyone should be interested in functional programming. In this course, Functional Programming: The Big Picture, you’ll learn about what functional programming is, in a language agnostic way, and why functional programming matters. First, you’ll explore basic concepts such as pure functions and why they matter. Next, you’ll discover how immutable data, a key aspect of functional programming, helps reduce bugs. Finally, you’ll learn about some larger applications where functional programming excels. When you’re finished with this course, you'll have a better understanding of what functional programming is, how functional programming is different, and why you should care about functional programming.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

What Is Functional Programming?

Do One Thing Well

Reducing Bugs with Immutable Data

Why Functional Programming Matters

Where to Go from Here?

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores the basics of functional programming, including why it matters, why its gaining popularity in the industry, and its core differences compared to other programming paradigms

Taught by an experienced instructor recognized for their work in the field of functional programming

Suitable for learners who are interested in learning about functional programming's benefits and use cases in different domains

Provides a strong foundation for those who are new to functional programming and can complement existing knowledge for intermediate learners

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: The Big Picture with these activities:

Review programming concepts

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Refresh your understanding of basic programming concepts to strengthen your foundation for functional programming.

Browse courses on Programming Concepts

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Review basic data structures such as arrays, lists, and dictionaries.
Practice writing simple algorithms and functions.

Read 'Functional Programming in Scala'

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Gain a deeper understanding of functional programming principles and their application in Scala.

View Functional Programming in Scala, Second Edition on Amazon

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Acquire the book 'Functional Programming in Scala'.
Read through the book, focusing on chapters relevant to the course.
Take notes and highlight key concepts for future reference.

Explore functional programming tutorials

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Supplement your learning by following guided tutorials to gain practical insights into functional programming techniques.

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Find online tutorials on functional programming languages like Haskell or Scala.
Follow step-by-step instructions to build small functional programming projects.

Five other activities

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Solve functional programming challenges

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Reinforce your understanding by solving functional programming challenges to apply concepts in a practical setting.

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Find online coding platforms that offer functional programming challenges.
Attempt to solve challenges using functional programming principles.

Participate in functional programming study groups

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Enhance your learning through peer collaboration by joining study groups focused on functional programming.

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Find or create study groups with other learners interested in functional programming.
Discuss concepts, share resources, and work through problems together.

Build a functional programming project

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Deepen your understanding by creating a project that demonstrates your proficiency in functional programming.

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Identify a small-scale project idea that can be implemented using functional programming.
Design and develop the project using functional programming principles.
Test and refine your project to ensure it meets functional programming best practices.

Attend functional programming workshops

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Expand your knowledge by attending workshops led by experts in the field of functional programming.

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Research upcoming functional programming workshops in your area or online.
Register for workshops that align with your learning goals.
Actively participate in workshops to gain insights and ask questions.

Participate in functional programming competitions

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Challenge yourself and showcase your skills by participating in functional programming competitions.

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Find online or local functional programming competitions.
Form a team or participate individually in the competitions.
Apply functional programming concepts to solve problems and compete against other teams.

Career center

Learners who complete Functional Programming: The Big Picture will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Software Engineer

A Software Engineer focuses on designing and developing software with attention to requirements, quality, performance, and usability. Functional programming can provide ways to manage complexity and write software more efficiently. Some of the precepts of this course, such as reducing bugs with immutable data, can empower a Software Engineer to write software that is resilient and less prone to errors.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Systems Analyst

A Systems Analyst works to understand user requirements and analyze data to make recommendations on solutions that meet those needs. By learning the basics of functional programming, a Systems Analyst may be able to better understand problems in a variety of domains and develop more systematic, efficient solutions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst

Data Scientist

A Data Scientist collects, analyzes, and interprets data to help businesses make informed decisions. This course will help a Data Scientist to explore advanced concepts such as immutable data and why it matters.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Data Analyst

A Data Analyst cleans, analyzes, and visualizes data to help businesses make informed decisions. This course will introduce a Data Analyst to the basics of functional programming, which can provide ways to manage complexity and write data pipelines more efficiently.

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Database Administrator

A Database Administrator maintains and optimizes database systems to ensure data integrity and availability. This course on the big picture of functional programming may help a Database Administrator explore advanced concepts such as immutable data and why it matters in data management.

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Web Developer

A Web Developer designs, develops, and maintains websites and web applications. This course will introduce a Web Developer to the basics of functional programming, which can provide ways to manage the complexity of web development and write more robust and maintainable code.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

Computer Programmer

A Computer Programmer designs, develops, tests, and maintains software systems. This course will introduce a Computer Programmer to the basics of functional programming, which can provide ways to manage complexity and write more efficient and maintainable code.

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Mobile Developer

A Mobile Developer designs, develops, and maintains mobile applications. This course will introduce a Mobile Developer to the basics of functional programming, which can provide ways to manage the complexity of mobile development and write more robust and maintainable code.

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Computer Scientist

A Computer Scientist researches and develops new computing technologies and applications. This course can help a Computer Scientist explore advanced concepts such as immutable data and why it matters in software development.

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Software Architect

A Software Architect designs and develops the overall architecture of software systems. This course will help a Software Architect understand the big picture of functional programming and how it can be used to design more scalable and maintainable systems.

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Front-End Developer

A Front End Developer designs and develops the user interface of websites and web applications. This course will introduce a Front End Developer to the basics of functional programming, which can provide ways to manage the complexity of front end development and write more robust and maintainable code.

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Information Systems Manager

An Information Systems Manager plans and manages the implementation and use of information systems within an organization. This course on the big picture of functional programming may help an Information Systems Manager explore advanced concepts such as how functional programming can benefit an organization.

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Information Technology Manager

An Information Technology Manager plans and manages the implementation and use of information systems within an organization. This course on the big picture of functional programming may help an Information Technology Manager explore advanced concepts such as how functional programming can benefit an organization.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Technology Manager

Systems Engineer

A Systems Engineer designs, develops, and maintains complex systems, such as computer systems, networks, and software applications. This course may help a Systems Engineer to develop a better understanding of how functional programming can be used to design and develop more scalable and maintainable systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Engineer

Operations Research Analyst

An Operations Research Analyst uses mathematical and analytical techniques to help organizations make better decisions. This course may help an Operations Research Analyst to develop a better understanding of how functional programming can be used to solve complex problems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Research Analyst