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Some of the Book contents

• Goals, Part 1: “Soft” Goals of This Book
• Goals, Part 2: Concrete Goals
• Goals, Part 3: A Disclaimer
• Question Everything
• Rules for Programming in This Book
• One Rule for Reading This Book
• What Is “Functional Programming”?
• What Is This Lambda You Speak Of?
• The Benefits of Functional Programming
• Disadvantages of Functional Programming
• The “Great FP Terminology Barrier”
• Pure Functions
• Grandma’s Cookies (and Pure Functions)
• Benefits of Pure Functions
• Pure Functions and I/O
• Pure Function Signatures Tell All
• Functional Programming as Algebra
• A Note About Expression-Oriented Programming
• Functional Programming Is Like Unix Pipelines
• Functions Are Variables, Too
• Using Methods as If They Were Functions
• How to Write Functions That Take Functions as Input Parameters
• How to Write a ‘map’ Function
• How to Use By-Name Parameters
• Functions Can Have Multiple Parameter Groups
• Partially-Applied Functions (and Currying)
• Recursion: Introduction
• Recursion: Motivation
• Recursion: Let’s Look at Lists
• Recursion: How to Write a ‘sum’ Function
• Recursion: How Recursive Function Calls Work
• Visualizing the Recursive sum Function
• Recursion: A Conversation Between Two Developers
• Recursion: Thinking Recursively
• JVM Stacks and Stack Frames
• A Visual Look at Stacks and Frames
• Tail-Recursive Algorithms
• A First Look at “State”
• A Functional Game (With a Little Bit of State)
• A Quick Review of Case Classes
• Update as You Copy, Don’t Mutate
• A Quick Review of for Expressions

Book Description

Are you curious about functional programming but put off by dry theory? ‘Functional Programming, Simplified (Scala Edition)’ is here to make things easy. Alvin Alexander breaks down advanced topics into bite-sized, relatable lessons. This book doesn’t just teachyou’ll actually have fun while learning. The free preview gives you a whopping 400 pages to explore before you decide if you want the rest.

Book Overview

This isn’t your average programming textbook. Alexander’s writing style is warm and inviting, perfect for anyone who’s ever scratched their head at monads or immutability. Expect straightforward explanations, code samples that work, and a gradual build-up from basics to advanced concepts. If you’re already a fan of resources like Functional Programming for Mortals, you’ll feel right at home here.

Why Read This Book

Let’s be honestScala can look intimidating. But what if it didn’t have to be? This book strips away the fear factor and replaces it with confidence. You’ll learn why functional programming matters and how it can actually make your code cleaner and more enjoyable to write. Plus, the author shares plenty of practical tips that’ll save your sanity on real projects. If you’ve tried other books and bounced off, give this one a shotit might just change your mind!

Who This Book Is For

The author kept several audiences in mind as  he wrote this book:

• Developers who want a simple introduction to functional programming in Scala
• Developers who are interested in writing “better” code
• Parallel/concurrent application developers
• “Big data” application developers
• (Possibly) Upperclass college students

Therefore, if you’re a developer who’s dabbled in Scala or functional programming but never quite ‘got it,’ this is your friendly guide. It’s also great for experienced programmers switching from languages like Java or C++especially if you’ve enjoyed foundational guides like Programming From the Ground Up. Even total beginners will find something valuable here because the explanations never assume too much prior knowledge.

What You Will Learn

• The core principles of functional programming in plain English
• How to use Scala’s features for cleaner, safer code
• Real-world patterns like immutability and higher-order functions
• How to avoid common pitfalls and anti-patterns in Scala
• Practical tips for thinking functionally even in object-oriented projects
• Why monads aren’t as scary as they sound (promise!)
• Ways to apply functional concepts to everyday programming tasks

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