Understanding map and apply | Hacker News Reader

Understanding map and apply

fsharpforfunandprofit.com

37 pointsingve3 comments

Very cool discussion regarding higher-kinded programming and FP concepts in general. One thing I don't get is when the author writes:

  Personally, I try to avoid using the word "monad"
  on this site and focus on the bind function
  instead, as part of a toolkit of functions for
  solving problems rather than an abstract concept.

That's pretty much the definition of "monad."[1] Why shrink from it? Unless the author for some reason is worried that their content will be shunned due to using the proper terms for concepts being discussed.

1 - Yes, the existence of a bind operator is not required for satisfying the Monad laws. Which is why I said "pretty much."

>their content will be shunned due to using the proper terms for concepts being discussed.

I think this is exactly it. Consider that a lot of people looking at F# are already using C# in "business"-type applications, with or without formal training, and might have negative associations towards the FP weenie club.

Many FP-ers believe that you need to use understand the math or at least use the "right" terminology before using monads.

There is an obvious counter-example. Millions of C# developers are using monads already under the name of "LINQ". I don't think it would have been as popular if Microsoft called things by their "right" names.

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