scala

Back in the day, Thinking in Java by Bruce Eckel was the first real Java book I read.  I was new to the language and needed lots of help.  It was generally required reading for any self-respecting Java professional.  The problem is, that was 11 years ago.  For a stable industry, that seems like a long time.  In software development, that’s ancient history. Ideas change,  concepts evolve, and languages fall out of flavor.  For better or for worse, change happens and it can be really fun if you embrace it.  Bruce wrote a very compelling post on some of the advantages of Scala.  He touched on code expressiveness, case classes, traits, functional programming, and a few other interesting concepts.  It’s a great read and well worth your time. I’ve been a Scala fan for some time, but I was a fence sitter. I’d dip my toe in and if the water was too cold, I turn and run back to the safety of what I knew. It seems like there is now a critical mass behind Scala though. I’m hoping I can find a way to work it into my next project and get off the fence for good.

Scala: The Static Language that Feels Dynamic

I’ve been trying to spend a lot of my free time hacking on Scala.  I love the language.  It’s had a steep learning curve for me, but I’ve really enjoyed the trip.  As you get into the language, you appreciate how it’s consistency can make complicated concepts seem simple.  Here are some good links that helped me get started:

• Scala training slides: http://github.com/javaBin/scala-training-slides
• Dick Wall’s functional koans: http://github.com/relevance/functional-koans/tree/scala
• Scala for Java refugees: http://www.codecommit.com/blog/scala/roundup-scala-for-java-refugees
• Java Posse Roundup 2010 – Scala discussion: http://javaposse.com/java_posse_314_roundup_10_scala