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Comment by devmunchies | Hacker News Reader

I’m trying to make the same decision right now. I’m the first product engineer at a AI startup and started using node.js but... meh (i use crystal for stuff and have exp in ocaml, elixir, ruby)

I’m leaning towards f# or Scala. I love static typing.

Since it’s a data science, machine learning company Scala makes more sense.

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Woa, ya those initial choices for an AI startup seem so wrong. Scala sounds most reasonable, I'd say even consider Java to be honest.

I honestly don't see a huge value proposition in Scala, now that Java has reduced pain points around FP. Scala has higher-kinded types, but you see people tie themselves in knots with those as often as not. It is just such a huge language.

Scala 3/Dotty sounds like it will be a big improvement.

Java doesn't have one of the fundamentals of typed FP--algebraic data types with exhaustive pattern matching. And just in general--Scala, despite its warts, can be very succinct and packs a lot of power in simple-looking code.

No, sorry. None of the languages I listed are being used at the startup (except node). These are just what I’ve used previously.

Everything is in python but I’m building out the main user-facing app to interface with all the models.

Before choosing Scala I think you should watch this talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiJycy6dFSQ (note: he's not a troll, he worked 5 years with Scala)

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