Functional programmers don't need to know category theory

Functional programmers don’t need to know terms from category theory.

Understanding terms like “functor”, “applicative”, and “monad” doesn’t help you solve problems. What does help is understanding the functions they involve.

Here’s what I mean:

Let’s say you’re implementing a type:

type MyType a

There are any number of functions you could implement for working with MyType.

Here are a few you might consider:

1️⃣ map

map : (a -> b) -> MyType a -> MyType b

map applies a function to a type’s parameter.

Examples:

• Maybe.map applies a function to Just values of a Maybe
• Html.map lets you transform the msg type produced by Html msg

🤔 When to write map?

Will MyType be parameterized with types that commonly need functions applied to them, like msg?

If so, consider writing MyType.map.

2️⃣ andMap

andMap : MyType a -> MyType (a -> b) -> MyType b

andMap allows a type variable to be a function whose arguments are partially applied.

Example:

• Json.Decode.Pipeline.required lets you define fields to be decoded, one by one, via pipeline application.

🤔 When to write andMap?

Will MyType’s type parameter need to be constructed piece-by-piece using partial application?

For instance, is MyType is meant to be used for data validation or decoding?

If so, consider writing MyType.andMap.

3️⃣ andThen

andThen : (a -> MyType b) -> MyType a -> MyType b

andThen allows combining values that might or might not be present.

Examples:

• Maybe.andThen lets you map and combine Maybes.
• List.concatMap lets you map and combine Lists.

🤔 When to write andThen?

Does MyType have a case where its type parameter is not present?

Will that type parameter’s value need to be combined with another?

If so, consider writing MyType.andThen.

So, what does this all have to do with “functors”, “applicatives”, and “monads”?

Why don’t we leave that to the mathematicians?

This post was originally a Twitter thread as part of Ship 30 for 30.