On Thu, 25 Nov 2004 03:40:30 -0800 (PST)
whenning@ucsd.edu wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> I'm an undergraduate student studying computer science. My course
> assignments generally use C, C++, or Java, and I find myself pining for
> something more elegant.

Indeed.

> Would doing this be difficult if one were sufficiently motivated? 

If you are reasonably familiar with languages as complex as C++ and
Java, then Ocaml is definitely not too difficult but will require 
you to develope some new ways of thinking about programming problems.

> Although I've of course Googled around for potential books to select, are
> there any ones particularly suited for someone in my position?

Before starting with Ocaml, I had not programmed in a functional
language since some scheme (Lisp dialect) programming in University
around 1990.

I didn't have a book. All I had was the web documentation and a
problem I needed to solve. I ended up writing about 100 small 
test programs (100 lines or less) to test different concepts
and techniques.

> Finally, although OCaml looks interesting, would some other functional
> language be better for someone new to functional programming?

Ocaml is a good choice.

Erik
-- 
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  Erik de Castro Lopo  nospam@mega-nerd.com (Yes it's valid)
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