03 March 2017
Functional Programming is nothing new to JVM. But with Java 8 it was the big change in paradigm for Java developers. Switching from imperative to functional opens new ways in writing more maintainable code.
Since middle 90s Java has changed. To keep pace with other programming languages it evolves from nearly pure object-oriented to more complex, partly functional, [multi purpose] industry standard. Java Virtual Machine has become a mature environment that gave birth to a bunch of modern languages like Scala, Kotlin or Groovy and reincarnation of proven one's - Closure (LISP), Frege (Haskell) not mentioning ports like Jython, JRuby.
With Java 8th edition comes lambda expression, functions, interface improvements. It is time to review design patterns and start thinking in functional Java.
| Object | vs | Functional | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperative | Declarative | ||
| Mutability | Favors Immutability | ||
| Boilerplate code | Expressive | ||
| Reveals impl. details | Hides impl. details | ||
| Eager by default | Lazy by default | ||
| nulls | Optionals | ||
| Hierarchy of types | Function composition |
Let me share with you a teaser presentation on why functional approach can make your code go to the higher level.
Quick and neat way to initialize a Map with lambda
Decorator Pattern done with function composition
JDK 8 Massive Open and Online Course: Lambdas and Streams Introduction
Enjoy coding
Krakow, winter 2017