Microsoft has announced that support for the F# functional programming language will be fully integrated into Visual Studio. This marks a bold new commitment to facilitating functional programming on the .NET platform and could potentially help legitimize functional programming in enterprise environments. Microsoft’s promotion of F# to a fully-supported language in Visual Studio is also indicative of the extreme versatility of the .NET platform and Microsoft’s Common Language Runtime.
F# began its life as a Microsoft Research project to demonstrate the efficacy of .NET as a platform for mixing multiple distinct programming paradigms. F# is heavily inspired by the OCaml programming language, and a subset of F# and OCaml are largely compatible. F# offers developers many valuable and compelling features without sacrificing much runtime efficiency. F# supports type inference, pattern matching, high-order functions, and currying. F# also supports interactive execution, which means that F# programs can be run like scripts or inputted in an interactive top-level environment similar to the Python shell or Ruby’s IRB. F# also has full access to the .NET APIs and components written in other .NET languages.
The advantages of functional programming
Unlike imperative or procedural programming languages, in which computation is typically performed by altering program state, functional programming languages operate on the principles of mathematical evaluation and reduction. Such programming languages are deeply rooted in formal mathematical logic and computational theory. Functional programming languages are largely based on the system of lambda calculus devised by Alonzo Church, in which numerical values, sequences, data structures, basic mathematical computations, and even recursion can be expressed entirely with nested functions.
The close association with lambda calculus and category theory makes functional languages a powerful tool for understanding and programmatically modeling concepts like catamorphisms and recursion. For some programmers, learning to see the ineffable theoretical perfection of functional programming languages is a profoundly illuminating experience that opens the mind to a completely new way of perceiving and understanding computer programming. In some cases, certain functional programming languages are also valued because functional purity is highly conducive to referential transparency and minimizes the potential for side effects.
Outside of the academic world, functional programming idioms are valued because they are often far more expressive than imperative or procedural equivalents. Modern dynamic scripting languages like Python and Ruby, for instance, offer first-class functions in order to boost developer productivity. Even C# offers some features—like LINQ—that are heavily based on functional programming concepts. The ability to mix F# and C# in .NET applications makes it far easier for software developers to use the programming paradigms that are best suited for each individual task.
Functional programming on .NET
Microsoft’s decision to productize F# represents a particularly significant step forward for the .NET platform. Microsoft took an equally significant step when it unveiled the Dynamic Language Runtime earlier this year. The .NET platform now fully, officially, and equally supports functional, dynamic, and conventional imperative programming paradigms in an interoperable manner all with a single runtime. This is a tremendous accomplishment and strong evidence of the .NET platform’s success and long-term viability.
“[W]e aim to continue the flow of good ideas from functional programming world into mainstream development,” wrote Microsoft developer division vice president S. Somasegar in a blog entry. “Furthermore, the somewhat mathematical slant of functional programming just seems naturally appealing to professionals whose primary domain is described with mathematical notation—domains such as financial, scientific and technical computing. On top of the syntactic appeal, the strong type system yields the sort of guarantees which are often crucial in these domains, and enables a superb tooling experience through Visual Studio.”
Although this is the first time that Microsoft has treated functional programming on .NET as a product instead of an experiment, many independent developers have long used functional programming languages on top of .NET. The open-source Nemerle programming language, for instance, supports extremely impressive features like macros and is preferred over F# by some programmers in the Ars community. There are also several Standard ML and Lisp implementations for .NET.
As the C# programming language and .NET continue to evolve, developers can undoubtedly look forward to seeing more dynamic and functional programming concepts move out of scripting and academia to augment and complement more conventional programming techniques. Microsoft’s efforts to push dynamic and functional programming into the mainstream are one of many signs that the art of software development is enjoying a profound renaissance.
Reported By: Tony Cheung from Hong Kong
Writen By: Ryan Paul
Source:
Arstechnica.com
Written by kenlin@HK [MVP] on October 23rd, 2007 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on .NET Framework and MS News and Visual Studio.
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The report may not be completely fair, but it does point out that Vista’s new security model isn’t a “slam dunk”.
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Tools are now available that can help with making legacy applications work with Vista.
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You can get a pretty crazy looking interface with this tool, which is now Vista compatable.
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As I’ve been saying all along, you’ll see wide scale rollouts of Vista starting in 2008, with most universities (including ours) shooting for the fall of 2008 semester for their Vista roll outs.
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I would agree with most of the points on this list. Fix all of these and Vista would be taken far more seriously.
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For such a huge and rich company, I’m always suprised at how poor their advertising is. ‘WOW’? How much did they pay for that? Was that from the same source that recommended a ‘Start’ menu that leads to the shutdown function?
Written by Joe on October 23rd, 2007 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on Compatibility and Desktop and GUI and News and PR and Security and Software and Updates and Upgrade and review.
THANK GOD I AM A VISTA EXTERMINATOR! A VISTABUSTER!
Yes... I get many calls each day from people in dismay pleading
for my expert help.
Just like they call the Ghostbusters, but in my case I am the VistaBuster!
I remove vista from the computer leaving it fast clean with no vistabugs vistaghosts and vistaghouls, and I install the best OS Microsoft has made: XP!
Call 1800-VISTABUSTERS-00
:-)
Get the midi Ghostbusters tune here to sing along with me... !!! WHOOHOOOO!!!!
http://www.ex-designz.net/englishmidis/nowplaying.asp?mid=540
You can Right click on the midi title link on that page and hit "Save Target As" so you can save it on your computer.
Vistabusters...
If there's somethin' strange in your network neighborhood
Who ya gonna call (Vistabusters)
If it's somethin' weird an it won't work good
Who ya gonna call (Vistabusters)
I ain't afraid a no Vista
I ain't afraid a no Vista
If you're seein' things runnin' thru your OS
Who can you call (Vistabusters)
An' invisible process sleepin' in your dll
Oh who ya gonna call (Vistabusters)
I ain't afraid a no Vista
I ain't afraid a no Vista
Who ya gonna call (Vistabusters)
If you're all alone call phone support
An call (Vistabusters)
I ain't afraid a no Vista
I hear it likes the girls
I ain't afraid a no Vista
Who you gonna call (Vistabusters)
Mm...if you've had dos
Of a freaky Vistababy
You better call Vistabusters
Bustin' makes me feel good
I ain't afraid a no Vista
Don't get caught alone oh no...Vistabuster
When it comes through your dvd
Unless you've just got some more
I think you better call Vistabusters
Ooh... who you gonna call (Vistabusters)
Who you gonna call (Vistabusters)
Ah, I think you better call (Vistabusters)
I can't hear you...(Vistabusters)
Who you gonna call (Vistabusters)
Louder Vistabusters
Who you gonna call (Vistabusters)
Who you can call Vistabusters...(till fade)
Written by computerboom on October 23rd, 2007 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on Customization and vista.
The twelfth tip video by PCWizKid. Turn off or on Windows Vista features easily. Get rid of the useless ones or enable one you never knew about. Improve your Windows Vista performance and experience.
Written by Joe on October 23rd, 2007 with comments disabled.
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The eleventh tip video by PCWizKid. Windows Vista has its default cleanup utility, but for those who want more extensive options there is a free cleaner you can get which is much better. Lets compare them.
Written by Joe on October 23rd, 2007 with comments disabled.
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A while ago, Microsoft began working on an icon to symbolize Information Cards. The download describes, “this icon is intended to provide a common visual cue that Information Cards can be used to provide information to a site or program, similarly to how the RSS icon is used to indicate the availability of syndicated content.”
If you don’t know what InfoCards are, these are basically virtual cards containing identification information such as your name which can be sent and received by websites and web services. On Windows, this is implemented via the CardSpace technology. Other platforms have their own implementation but theoretically Information Cards are universal. If you’re on Vista, type “CardSpace” into your start menu, make an InfoCard for yourself and use it on the demo site here.
I think the idea of an icon is great, especially in comparison to the RSS icon which not only serves as a symbol but also a promotional message to attract people to subscribe to content. On top of just indicating a website is ‘InfoCards compatible’, it also spreads the word about InfoCards. However I wasn’t too keen on the design. The purple was unique, but it wasn’t very bright or vivid either. The roundness of the outside border didn’t match the squareness of the inside cutout. But I did like the “i”, and how it is shaped like a person.
I had a stab at coming up with my own alternative design.
By no means it’s perfect, for example some of the people who I’ve shown it to have said the colors are not very friendly and the Smart Card chip feature might mislead some people to believe this was a security device (although it can be). I’d love to get everyone’s feedback on what’s good and not good, as well as the Microsoft design.
Written by Long Zheng on October 23rd, 2007 with comments disabled.
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Just in time for holiday, Microsoft Corp. today released a new Xbox 360® console that delivers games and content to everyone in the family for an incredible value of $279.99 (U.S. estimated retail price)*. Available in stores beginning today, Xbox 360 Arcade console is the first Xbox 360 console to include five family-friendly games, a wireless controller, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) connection to enable high-definition output if desired and 256 MB of memory useful for storing games and entertainment content. At $279.99, the Xbox 360 Arcade console will include five best-selling games: “PAC-MAN Championship Edition†(NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.), “Uno†(Carbonated Games), “Luxor 2†(MumboJumbo), “Boom Boom Rocket†(Electronic Arts Inc.) and “Feeding Frenzy†(Sprout Games).
“As families gather together this holiday, it’s the perfect time to launch a new low-priced, high-value Xbox 360 that plays games, TV shows and music for everyone to enjoy,†said Jeff Bell, corporate vice president of global marketing, Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “In addition to offering an incredible all-in-one package for families to get right into the fun, the Xbox 360 Arcade system features the industry-leading Family Settings, which allow parents to control what their kids are watching and playing — and we know how important that control is to families around the world.â€
Karen Dodge, senior vice president and chief merchandising officer at Toys “R†Us, added, “We are excited to offer this new gaming experience to our customers — children and families — who can now enjoy the fun of Xbox 360 together. Many of this holiday season’s hottest items provide Internet connectivity, and with the online entertainment options available through Xbox LIVE®, Xbox 360 Arcade offers families a great mix of online content and traditional gaming in one console.â€
source- Microsoft Press release
Written by Ankur Mittal on October 23rd, 2007 with comments disabled.
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