22 last five years quite a bit of attention. One reason for this

    22 last five years or so quite a bit of attention. One reason for

    23 attention is that, like the Java programming language, Scala

    23 this attention is that, like the Java programming language,

    24 compiles to the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and therefore can

    24 Scala compiles to the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and therefore

    25 run under MacOSX, Linux and Windows.\footnote{There are also

    25 Scala programs can run under MacOSX, Linux and

    26 experimental backends for Android and JavaScript.} Unlike

    26 Windows.\footnote{There are also experimental backends for

    27 Java, however, Scala often allows programmers to write very

    27 Android and JavaScript.} Unlike Java, however, Scala often

    28 concise and elegant code. Some therefore say Scala is the much

    28 allows programmers to write very concise and elegant code.

    29 better Java. The Guardian, Twitter, Coursera, LinkedIn to name

    29 Some therefore say Scala is the much better Java. Some

    30 a few either rely entirely in their infrastructures on Scala,

    30 companies (The Guardian, Twitter, Coursera, LinkedIn to name a

    31 or some parts of there infrastructure uses it. If you want to

    31 few) either use Scala excusively in production code, or some

    32 try it out yourself, the Scala compiler can be downloaded from

    32 part of it are written in Scala. If you want to try out Scala

    33 yourself, the Scala compiler can be downloaded from

    57 Scala correctly, you can start the interpreter by typing

    58 Scala correctly, you can start the interpreter by typing on

    58 

    59 the command line:

   836 \noindent This might seem a bit complicated, but its effect is

   836 \noindent This might seem a bit overly complicated, but its effect is

   901 There is much more to Scala, then I can possibly describe

   901 There is much more to Scala than I can possibly describe in

   902 here. There are a number of free books about Scala and of 

   902 this document. Fortunately there are a number of free books

   903 course lots of help online.

   903 about Scala and of course lots of help online. For example

   904 

   904 

   905 While I am quite enthusiastic about Scala, I am happy to admit

   905 \begin{itemize}

   906 that it has more than a fair share of faults. The problem of

   906 \item \url{http://www.scala-lang.org/docu/files/ScalaByExample.pdf}

   907 having to give an explicit type to {\tt toSet}, but not {\tt

   907 \item \url{http://www.scala-lang.org/docu/files/ScalaTutorial.pdf}

   908 toList} is one of them. There are also many ``deep'' things

   908 \end{itemize}

   909 about types in Scala, which even to me seasoned functional

   909 

   910 programmer are puzzling. While implicits are great, they

   910 While I am quite enthusiastic about Scala, I am also happy to

   911 can also be a source of great head-aches, for example

   911 admit that it has more than its fair share of faults. The

   912 problem seen earlier of having to give an explicit type to

   913 {\tt toSet}, but not {\tt toList} is one of them. There are

   914 also many ``deep'' ideas about types in Scala, which even to

   915 me as seasoned functional programmer are puzzling. Whilst

   916 implicits are great, they can also be a source of great

   917 headaches, for example consider the code:

   920 \noindent This should raise a typing-error, but it does not.

   926 \noindent Rather than returning {\tt false}, this code should

   921 

   927 throw a typing-error. There are also many limitations Scala

   922 While Scala has been a success in several high-profile

   928 inherited from the JVM that can be really annoying. For

   923 companies, there is also a company, Yammer, which first used

   929 example a fixed stack size. 

   924 Scala in their production code but then moved away from it.

   930 

   925 According to Wikipedia, they did not like steep learning curve

   931 Even if Scala has been a success in several high-profile

   926 of Scala and also that new versions of Scala often introduced

   932 companies, there is also a company (Yammer) that first used

   927 incompatibilities.

   933 Scala in their production code, but then moved away from it.

   928 

   934 Allegedly they did not like the steep learning curve of Scala

   929 So all in all, Scala might not be a great teaching

   935 and also that new versions of Scala often introduced

   930 language, but I hope this is mitigated by the fact that I

   936 incompatibilities in old code.

   931 never require from you to write any Scala code. You only

   937 

   932 need to be able to read it. In the coursework you can use

   938 So all in all, Scala might not be a great teaching language,

   933 any programming language you like. If you want to use

   939 but I hope this is mitigated by the fact that I never require

   934 Scala for this, be my guest; if you do not, stick with the

   940 you to write any Scala code. You only need to be able to read

   935 language you are most familiar with.

   941 it. In the coursework you can use any programming language you

   942 like. If you want to use Scala for this, then be my guest; if

   943 you do not want, stick with the language you are most familiar

   944 with.