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Given so much praise for languages such as haskell, erlang, why none of them can become a mainstream language?

Is it due to their learning curve? Or too much symbol notation?

Ryan
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    "too much symbol notation"? You haven't seen anything yet. – BoltClock Jul 15 '12 at 15:55
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    "learning curve"? "symbol notation"? I think C++ won both of those contests a long time ago. I think comfort and superstition are the main reasons, but Microsoft are making huge efforts in mainstreaming FP. I think VB is the true trojan horse, actually. – molbdnilo Jul 15 '12 at 20:09
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    Funny thing is, while few "functional programming languages" have yet become "mainstream", many "mainstream" languages have acquired and are actively acquiring more and more "functional programming" features. – Dan Burton Jul 16 '12 at 02:20

1 Answers1

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Because most people don't know how to program functionally.

Because overcoming a dominant paradigm is difficult and takes time.

Because "nobody ever got fired for choosing Java" (corollary of above, from FUD).

Because real-world programming isn't always perfectly functional–we love our side-effects.

Etc.

Much more info in this older SO answer, and unlike mine, it includes machine guns and aliens.

Community
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Dave Newton
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