Programming Languages: Concepts and Implementation

5.12 Layers of Functional Programming

At the beginning of this chapter, we introduced functional programming using recursive-control behavior (see the bottommost layer of Figure 5.10). We then identified some inefficiencies in program execution resulting from that style of programming and embraced a more efficient style of functional programming (see the second layer from the bottom of Figure 5.10). We continue to evolve our programming style throughout this text as we go deeper into our study of programming languages. We discuss further the use of HOFs in Chapter 8 and move toward more efficient functional programming in Chapter 13. Each layer depicted in Figure 5.10 represents a shift in thinking about how to craft a solution to a problem ...