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Hey Underscore, You're Doing It Wrong!

Hey Underscore, You're Doing It Wrong! on HackerTube: recommended by 9 Hacker News commenters across 7 separate months, 2014–2022.

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talk · intermediate · evergreen

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Brian Lonsdorf explains why Underscore.js falls short as a functional programming library, then introduces currying, composition and point-free style in JavaScript. He argues for data-last argument ordering.

Why Hacker News recommends it

A repeatedly recommended introduction to functional JavaScript that explains currying and why data should come last.

people recommended it
9
separate months
7
strong recommendations
3
discussed on HN
2014–2022
“this video gives a pretty good explanation in ~30 minutes”
— patricklynch, Jul 2016, in “Just: A library of dependency-free JS utilities that do just do one thing”

What HN commenters said

12 Hacker News comments link this video. Each one links back to its thread.

r3a1d33pAug 2022Strongly recommends

I find this talk inspiring. Underscore.js got many things wrong for FP: ▶ this video . I've read Grokking Simplicity too. It's very approachable book. Highly recommend it for JS/TS developers who want to learn FP!

in “Ask HN: Learning Functional Programming in 2022?” · View on HN

wizaoJan 2015Strongly recommends

There is an excellent talk called "Underscore, you're doing it wrong!". The talk explains how well designed param order with currying leads to very short and expressive code -- and how underscore missed the boat. This aspect of it should be interesting as it's related to this post. It's well worth the watch. ▶ this video

in “Lodash v3.0.0” · View on HN

lrichardsonApr 2014Strongly recommends

That is great feedback. I am actually working on creating a "functional" version of the 2048 game, along with my own implementation of the AI solver, as part of this series. Kinda goofy, and maybe not a "real world" situation as much, but should at least show the concepts being applied. I also very much recommend this video by Brian Lonsdorf, titled "Hey Underscore, You're Doing It Wrong!: ▶ this video

in “Functional JavaScript, Part 3: apply, call, and the arguments object” · View on HN

splintercellSep 2017Recommends

With all due respect, I don't think you understand the purpose of currying and partial application. In your defense, the article merely explains what currying is, but does not explain why you need it. For instance while writing functional Javascript code, I never curry my methods, instead I use helper methods from functional libraries such as lodash or Ramda to curry. Where currying is useful is in cases like this: ```javascript //Definitions const filterUsers = (fieldName, value, users) => //Implementation const sortUsersBy = (fieldName, users) => //Implementation const takeUsers = (count, users) => //Implementation //Without currying UserService .getUsers() .then(users => filterUsers('active', true, users)) .then(users => sortUsersBy('age', users)) .then(users => takeUsers(3, users)); //If these methods were curried UserService .getUsers() .then(filterUsers('active', true)) .then(sortUsersBy('age')) .then(takeUsers(3)); ``` Here is a video which explains proper uses of currying (and does it very well) [1]. Here is another article if your coworker start using functional programming and you want to stop them [2]. 1. ▶ this video 2. [link]

in “Currying vs. Partial Application (2015)” · View on HN

patricklynchJul 2016Recommends

Because then you can curry/partially apply functions independent of your data. It's _not_ because it's convention everywhere else. (I realize that only really makes sense if you know why it makes sense, so this video gives a pretty good explanation in ~30 minutes - ▶ this video )

in “Just: A library of dependency-free JS utilities that do just do one thing” · View on HN

ignoramousJul 2015Recommends

You might already be using certain functional programming constructs without being aware of them. Contrary to popular misconception, OOP and functional programming don't have to be mutually exclusive. "Pure" functional programming (ala Haskell) and OOP most certainly are to an extent non-overlapping (since OOP has state+behaviour at its core), and pure fn-languages have no side-effects. High-order function in java don't exist, so one would do : new Thread(new Runnable() { ... }).start(); A builder pattern can be distilled down as a form of partial application (or, currying, if you like. They aren't the same thing, but are very similar): alertDialog .setMessage(...) .setPositiveButtonText(...) .setNegativeButtonText(...) .setPositiveButtonOnClickListener(...) .setNegativeButtonOnClickListener(...) .build() .show() Functors (in OCaml) can be viewed as Java's abstract-generic-classes with dependency injection [0]. Note that functors in different languages mean different things. Monads are tricky to understand [1], I have been led to believe. But if you use the promises API in javascript, then you're using a form of monad [2]. If you're familiar with javascript, have a look at: ▶ this video (Hey Underscore, you're doing it wrong!) I think the best way is to read a book on fn-programming. I've heard most people recommend these (pick a language, and choose a book; you cannot go wrong with any of these): Functional DS: [link] Real World Haskell: [link] Real World OCaml: [link] The Joy of

in “Mostly Adequate Guide to Functional Programming in JavaScript” · View on HN

Show 6 more comments
grayrestJul 2014Recommends

If you're interested in FP in javascript, you should check out the relatively new Ramda.js [1]. It switches from the underscore style collection first call pattern to a collection last pattern and automatically curries its functions. The combination allows for easier function composition. [1] [link] More info on the topic: [link] ▶ this video [link]

in “Don’t Be Scared Of Functional Programming” · View on HN

hueypJul 2014Recommends

I would add: 'Hey Underscore, You're Doing It Wrong' -- ▶ this video It is much better than the title would suggest :)

in “Videos about JavaScript” · View on HN

lsdafjklsdJul 2014Recommends

Meh, I don't know or use Haskell and I'm interested in this stuff. I'm a javascript programmer introduced to these concepts via [1] ▶ this video and [link] . Programming in a point free style in javascript is great! 1: Hey Underscore, You're Doing it Wrong!

in “A Gentle Introduction to Monad Transformers – or, Values as Exceptions” · View on HN

kaonashiAug 2014Cites it

Recently watched this video, which describes why underscore is actually making this difficult through its design. ▶ this video

in “Pun: A small library to enable pattern matching in JavaScript and CoffeeScript” · View on HN

seanwoodwardApr 2014Cites it

@lrichardson, I agree with "your way", and apparently you are not alone. See Brian Lonsdorf talk about it, ▶ this video

in “Functional JavaScript, Part 3: apply, call, and the arguments object” · View on HN

ahallockJun 2015Critical

> Reading and understanding underscore will improve your functional programming skills. No. underscore does it wrong (check ▶ this video ) Check some of the real functional libs like Ramda and Pointfree Fantasy

in “How to Become a Great JavaScript Developer” · View on HN

Topics & tags

Functional programmingWeb developmentcurryingfunction compositionpoint-freeunderscore.jsramda