What is Haskell and what is it for? What can be done with Haskell?

If you are interested in programming, you will already know that there are different types of languages that you can use to develop programs and applications.

That’s why if you are new to this world, it’s good that you prepare yourself with the basic knowledge about the different types of existing languages.

One that is currently being talked about a lot is Haskell and the truth is that thanks to its functionality, it’s no surprise that it’s booming.

But we know that nobody is born knowing and that's why, if you still don't know what Haskell is or what this programming language can be used for, we will enlighten you on this subject.

What is Haskell?

Haskell is a general-purpose functional programming language that has gained popularity in recent years because of its strong capability for high-level programming and its focus on code safety and reliability.

But what is this functional programming? It’s just one of the many existing paradigms in the field of programming.

It’s used to create different types of programs that focus on the functions and not on the process to be followed to reach them.

Therefore, it’s a type of programming that arises in response to the needs of companies to have software solutions that are more robust.

Now, regarding Haskell as such, we find ourselves with an open source language that is being used, above all, in financial technology, big data, security, blockchain.... 

Its name comes from the mathematician and logician Haskell Brooks Curry, as he was the one who created the foundations of functional programming that is known today.

All this thanks to his work on combinatorial logic in computer science.

Since the publication of this language in 1990, it has forged an incredible reputation thanks to all that it allows to create.

What is haskell used for?

It goes without saying that all programming languages are used for the development of different applications and software.

However, you should keep in mind that, depending on what you want to do, you will have to work with a specific language.

That’s why it’s worth asking, what is Haskell good for?

Well, thanks to the fact that Haskell is a functional programming language, it’s an incredible option for programs that need to be easy to maintain over time, but at the same time modifiable.

Also, Haskell is a great choice for when you need to do precise mappings of mathematical algorithms.

So it is of great help when developing network security applications, as well as programs where you need to model complex mathematical computations.

What are the advantages of working with a language like Haskell?

Now, in order to get a clearer idea of all that Haskell has to offer, you also need to know its advantages.

The benefits offered by this programming language are among the strongest points why a large majority of people choose it over many other similar languages.

So, you should know that this language has this series of advantages:

• It’s open source, clear, simple and easy to maintain.

• It’s great help for developers to increase their productivity.

• Unlike other programs, with Haskell the semantic gap between the developer and the language is minimal.

• Thanks to its neat work, applications created with this program tend to have fewer bugs.

What does Haskell offer programmers?

Based on what we have reviewed so far, you can get a general idea of why the Haskell language is so widely used today.

But, from a programmer's point of view, what makes you choose Haskell over the other existing languages?

No doubt this is a question you may have already asked yourself, but we'll answer it for you.

Presenting itself as a modern and novel language, Haskell offers a number of general features to developers that are very interesting.

We will tell you about them:

1. Purity

The first attractive aspect of Haskell, without a doubt, is its purity.

Since it’s presented as a pure program, the language does not allow any kind of side effects.

Such side effects often cause problems for large systems created with other languages.

Therefore, with no side effects, the possibility of creating buggy programs is reduced almost to a minimum.

2. Strong typing

Another aspect that undoubtedly attracts the attention of programmers working with Haskell today has to do with the fact that it works with strong typing.

This makes the whole creation process much more efficient and with a lower possibility of errors.

3. Laziness

Continuing with the list, we cannot ignore the level of laziness that a language like Haskell presents.

Of course, this is a positive thing in the programming field, since nothing is going to be evaluated until it needs to be evaluated.

This type of internal processing means that time and effort is not wasted on other unimportant aspects and that attention is focused on the real problems.

4. Elegance

Last but not least, the elegance with which Haskell presents itself as a programming language should be emphasized.

Thanks to this feature, you can be sure that everything will work the way you imagined it would.

There will be no strange changes or functions that you weren’t looking to establish within your program and without a doubt this is something to be thankful for.

What can you do with a language like Haskell?

Now, if you are a person who understands the topics better with practical examples, it’s time to get to the point by talking about what can be done with Haskell as a programming language.

The main uses for it are focused on creating security programs due to the way it works internally.

So, in order for you to get a better idea of how Haskell works, it’s necessary to review how other companies have been using it.

As we mentioned before, this is a language that is widely used nowadays and, in fact, it has been used by some of the most renowned multinational companies.

Therefore, we will explain how these companies have been using Haskell:

Facebook

Although it may seem surprising, the truth is that a giant like Facebook has already been using Haskell within its internal programs.

This is because it has been used to create security tools to combat spam within the platform.

Facebook's choice of Haskell over other programming languages is due to its high level of interactive development and performance.

Microsoft

On the other hand, we also find Microsoft, who has been working hand in hand with Haskell for the Bond project.

This is a multiplatform framework that seeks to work using schematized data.

In this case, a functional programming language is of great help thanks to the high level of logic with which it works.

NVIDIA

Another major company that makes use of Haskell is NVIDIA, which is known for manufacturing incredible graphics processing units (GPUs).

Well, it’s just in these devices where NVIDIA has been working with Haskell.

So if you're wondering how this company creates such incredible graphics, the answer may lie in the use of a functional and scalable programming language.

J.P. Morgan

To end this list we must also mention J.P. Morgan, one of the largest and most recognized banking institutions in the United States.

This company has been working with Haskell for several years and its use has been effectively incorporated into the New Product Development department.

Therefore, it’s quite likely that, behind the technological solutions that this bank offers to its customers, there is programming work done with Haskell.

How to learn to work with Haskell?

Undoubtedly, now that you have a clearer perception of how functional Haskell is and how it can be used, you will be evaluating whether it will be feasible for you to work with it or not.

Of course, if the answer is yes, you need to prepare yourself.

At the end of the day, every good programmer should always be willing to work with more than one programming language.

And, in view of the fact that each one works in a different way, you should learn to work with Haskell.

So, if this is something that interests you, we recommend you to follow these tips that we have prepared for you:

1. Read all the language documentation

Informing yourself is the first thing you should do and if you plan to work with Haskell, it won't be enough just to read the definition.

Ideally, you should start by reading all the documentation of the language, its syntax, its semantics and all the internal features that will allow you to create programs with it.

Luckily, all these documents can be easily found on the official Haskell website and best of all, access to them is free.

2. Look for informative tutorials

There is nothing better than using the self-taught learning benefits that the internet offers us today.

Since it’s such a widely used language nowadays, with just a few web searches you will find many tutorials on how to start programming with Haskell.

In fact, from its own web page, you can find a great variety of tutorials.

As well as many other web articles or video tutorials from people who are already experts in Haskell.

3. Participate in a Haskell programming course

Of course, if your ultimate goal is to become a professional in the use of Haskell, the best thing you can do is to access an academic training program on it.

Nowadays there are already countless complete courses on how to program with this functional language and how to take advantage of everything it offers you to develop.

The best of all is that in this type of courses you will have the guidance of professionals in the area and, at the end, you will get your certification.

Therefore, you will be able to improve your visibility and credibility when looking for a job to work with this programming language.

4. Start practicing with the language

If you have already followed any of the previous tips, it’s time for you to start practicing with the language as such.

After all, it’s not until you start programming as such that you will be able to have a close contact with the way it works and everything you can do with it.

Moreover, learning by trial and error is one of the most effective methods when it comes to learning how to handle a new programming language.

There’s no doubt that Haskell has earned a great reputation for its ability to handle complex data structures and its focus on code safety and reliability.

So, if you are looking for a programming language that allows you to write concise and maintainable code, while giving you the security and reliability you need for your projects, Haskell is an excellent option to consider.

If you have already used it or are learning to work with it, you can leave us in the comments your experience with it, your opinion matters to us!