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A Gentle Introduction to Functional Programming, Part 1 [public]
This could be your introduction to programming!
Whether you're brand new to programming and just curious, or a seasoned programmer who wants to add a new tool to your toolbelt, this class will be a welcoming way to learn a new skill!
We'll be doing interactive exercises with the programming language Elm – a delightful, simple language that is great for beginners but also offers surprising depth.
This class will emphasize hands-on, interactive exercises where you get started with writing Elm as soon as possible! I'll have some brief lectures prepared to introduce you to Elm, and we'll be taking frequent breaks to do simple exercises together in a friendly web environment.
Beginner Programmers:
Elm is a great first language – it's quite simple and has an extremely friendly compiler that explains in English how to actually fix your errors.
You'll be able to create a simple webapp in Elm by the end of this class!
People with Programming Experience:
Learning functional programming will introduce you to new patterns that you can apply in any programming language! Elm allows you to write clear code with pure functions, managed side effects, and a type system that emphasizer smart domain modeling.
Also, Elm is great for vibe coding – the compiler gives simple errors that LLMs can understand very easily, and the language hasn't changed in 7 years meaning that it's much harder for the model to hallucinate.
You'll need a laptop to participate in this class – I have 2 extra ones if you need.