[Haskell-beginners] How to display a time difference?

[Colin Paul Adams]

>>>>> "Sean" == Sean Lee <sean.ysl at gmail.com> writes:

    Sean> Hi Colin The following code probably would do what I wanted
    Sean> to do.

    Sean> play_move :: IORef Game_state -> IO () play_move
    Sean> game_state_ior = do (_, state, _) <- readIORef
    Sean> game_state_ior putStr "Playing AI: " start_time <-
    Sean> getCurrentTime let move = recommended_move state end_time <-
    Sean> move `seq` (modifyIORef game_state_ior $!
    Sean> update_interactive_from_move move) `seq` getCurrentTime
    Sean> putStrLn $ show $ (diffUTCTime end_time start_time)

    Sean> Due to the non-strictness of Haskell, the evaluation of the
    Sean> expressions between start_time and end_time is deferred
    Sean> until there is a need.  By using `seq` and ($!), the
    Sean> strictness can be forced.

It certainly causes a time delay, and a non-zero time is printed, but
the state doesn't get modified correctly now.

??

I will ponder Daniel's suggestion.
-- 
Colin Adams
Preston Lancashire