Inside Microsoft's New F# Language

robyn217 writes "There's a new language being formed in the bowels of Microsoft. Recently I got word that the language F# (pronounced F Sharp) is nearing workable stages at Microsoft Research. So, I went in for a look-see. What I found was an interesting blend of imperative (Java, C#) and functional languages(it's ML-based, too!). It looks pretty enticing to me from a computer science perspective, but I'm not sure it would fly in the professional market. I can see the ease of development that a language loosely based on ML would bring, but I can't see coders switching over in droves since it's a tough learning curve." Our previous story on F#.

Comments

That's how I feel about most Microsoft languages

[The Lord of Chaos]

F#ing Visual C++
F#ing VB.
F#ing Win32 API

We have been working with it for a while.

[ayjay29]

When developing for windoes "Microsoft F#&%", or "F#&%*!? .net" is the most common language our team uses.

Gee Flat

[snatchitup]

Do you relize that an F# major has 6 sharps.

But, an F# is the same as a Gb (G flat) which has as 6 flats.

Now the C# scale has 7 sharps, but it's the same as a Db (D flat) which only has 5 flats.

Most people think (D flat) instead of C#.

F# is a very bright scale. It sounds very nice on an Alto Saxophone, whereas the C# scale is a little more moody, depressed.

Maybe Microsoft is trying to back off the use of C#.

Microsoft Attempt to Own the RIAA

[dduardo]

If they can patent/trademark/copyright all the notes used in music, they will be able to own the RIAA.

The have: C#,F#
Left: A,A#,B,C,D,D#,E,F,G,G#

Can't wait for the other 10 programming languages

Re:What will they do?

[RayOfLight]

... the drive letters team is (still) working this one out.

# == Hash

[Anonymous Coward]

Microsoft says it:

F#ism is finally back in F#ion.

I guess this means all Microsoft programmers are F#ists.

Oh well, they're only in it for the C# anyway.

The process now understood

[carlos_benj]

There's a new language being formed in the bowels of Microsoft.

This may help explain Microsofts process for developing new software. How are things "formed in the bowels" anyway? A simple understanding is that good stuff is essentially chewed to pieces and then deconstructed in an acidic bath. Once the good stuff reaches the bowels then an attempt is made to remove everything that is of value. Once that has been accomplished we are, I suppose, left with a Microsoft product that is ready to (careful here now) ship (Whew! Now that was one major Freudian slip just waiting to happen....).