cross-posted from: https://gregtech.eu/post/19047959
Specifically, I’m interested in BEAM, but I’m not sure if I should go for Elixir or Gleam. What seems cool about Gleam is that it has static typing.
I have no experience with functional programming at all btw
Start with a language that you do know that has functional features.
Javascript is actually an accessible intro to some concepts and applications.
Then once you have cut you teeth, find the true languages.
Other accessible alternatives: scala and clojure on top of java/jvm.
In my experience, I never really “got” functional programming until I had done the above.
Counterpoint: jumping right into lisp or haskell can be useful to get an idea of the paradigm too. Some concepts are so foreign it’s almost better to be farther from the imperative or procedural stuff sometimes.
middle ground point: start with the clj dialect for the ecosystem you’re most familiar with. cljs for js, clj for jvm, etc. then you’re learning the new language stuff but don’t have to worry about a new ecosystem.