Ask HN: Why isn't F# more popular?

#1

Post by narimiran » Wed, May 31, 2017, 10:37 AM UTC

I'm coming from Python world and I just started learning F# for fun (and profit ;)). So far, my experience with the language was quite positive, so I was bit surprised to see that F# is not more popular. I guess I wasn't able to see its downsides just yet.

My question for more experienced F# programmers: What are the F#'s downsides which prevent its more widespread usage?

For other people who have tried F# and didn't continue to use it: Why did you stop? Do you use other functional languages instead?

General questions: Is it because of its ties to Microsoft and/or Windows? Is F# not as good as other functional languages (which ones are better, and why?)? Not enough learning resources, examples, etc.?

Re: Ask HN: Why isn't F# more popular?

#2

Post by wayn3 » Wed, May 31, 2017, 10:58 AM UTC

javascript is insanely popular and its obviously shitty. popularity correlates very lightly with quality.

Re: Ask HN: Why isn't F# more popular?

#3

Post by narimiran » Wed, May 31, 2017, 11:31 AM UTC

wayn3 wrote: post #2

javascript is insanely popular and its obviously shitty. popularity correlates very lightly with quality.

That might be true, but I'm more interested in reasons behind it. Surely it isn't something like "well, this seems like high quality, therefore I will not use it".

Re: Ask HN: Why isn't F# more popular?

#4

Post by bbcbasic » Wed, May 31, 2017, 11:38 AM UTC

I think it's two things.

If you write a lot of F# then if anyone leaves you need to replace them and it's harder than finding a C# developer.

Secondly most of the libraries you interop with are C# and so you have to go through interop which is more annoying.

Re: Ask HN: Why isn't F# more popular?

#5

Post by wcummings » Wed, May 31, 2017, 11:40 AM UTC

This is a good question IMO. As functional languages go, it seems like it should be pretty appealing, especially now that .NET is starting to open up a bit. Good runtime, vendor support, can leverage .NET libraries.

Re: Ask HN: Why isn't F# more popular?

#6

Post by wayn3 » Wed, May 31, 2017, 11:47 AM UTC

narimiran wrote: post #3

wayn3 wrote: post #2

javascript is insanely popular and its obviously shitty. popularity correlates very lightly with quality.

That might be true, but I'm more interested in reasons behind it. Surely it isn't something like "well, this seems like high quality, therefore I will not use it".

i didnt say that people dont use it BECAUSE its good. that its good simply doesnt matter to them.

almost nobody is using erlang. one of the best languages out there.

Re: Ask HN: Why isn't F# more popular?

#7

Post by sametmax » Wed, May 31, 2017, 11:51 AM UTC

Functional languages are less popular. They are harder to learn and to use.

Proprietary platform are less popular. And .net is was very closed at the begining.

Non cross platform languages are less popular. And mono is not really that great on linux.

Plus the usual communication, timing and hype factors.

Re: Ask HN: Why isn't F# more popular?

#8

Post by hacker_9 » Wed, May 31, 2017, 11:52 AM UTC

I used F# for a time and ended up disliking it. The syntax is poor IMO and some bits are quite quirky. I love using Clojure though for functional programming. Most of F#s ideas come from the Lisp world anyway, but they also tried to shoehorn on a type system. It doesn't work that nicely in the end, and I don't think you get the full power of functional programming because of it.

Re: Ask HN: Why isn't F# more popular?

#9

Post by ZenoArrow » Wed, May 31, 2017, 11:52 AM UTC

bbcbasic wrote: post #4

I think it's two things. If you write a lot of F# then if anyone leaves you need to replace them and it's harder than finding a C# developer. Secondly most of the libraries you interop with are C# and so you have to go through interop which is more annoying.

C# interop doesn't seem that hard:

https://fsharpforfunandprofit.com/posts/completeness-seamles...

Also, from what I've read it's easy enough to use F# code from C# if you wrap it in an object. F# is multiparadigmatic, including support for FP and OOP.

Re: Ask HN: Why isn't F# more popular?

#10

Post by UK-AL » Wed, May 31, 2017, 11:54 AM UTC

sametmax wrote: post #7

Functional languages are less popular. They are harder to learn and to use. Proprietary platform are less popular. And .net is was very closed at the begining. Non cross platform languages are less popular. And mono is not really that great on linux. Plus the usual communication, timing and hype factors.

I believe f# works on .net core.