From: ser@... (Sean Russell)
Date: 2004-07-09T03:52:33+09:00
Subject: Re: Functional Ruby (Re: Why I don't use Ruby.)

Mikael Brockman <phubuh@phubuh.org> wrote in message news:<87llhx2hec.fsf@phubuh.org>...
> You're mistaken in believing that functional programs must lack method
> calls.  Scheme's CAR and CDR are just as `object-oriented' as Ruby's
> first and tail.  Ruby just makes it explicit.

Incidentally, from the comp.lang.functional FAQ:

"Functional programming is a style of programming that emphasizes the
evaluation of expressions, rather than execution of commands. The
expressions in these language are formed by using functions to combine
basic values. A functional language is a language that supports and
encourages programming in a functional style."

and from NIST:

"Definition: A language that does not allow any destructive
operation---one which overwrites data---such as the assignment
operation. Purely functional languages are free of side effects, i.e.,
invoking a function has no effect other than computing the value
returned by the function."

--- SER