[Haskell-cafe] about learning haskell

[Albert Y. C. Lai]

On 13-10-26 08:34 AM, swrangsar basumatary wrote:
> i know what is a monad now. but i still have problems understanding the
> continuation monad and arrows.

When one day you become interested in a problem that can be suitably 
solved by the continuation monad, you will understand the continuation 
monad. Ditto for arrows.

> Also is it necessary to know category theory to be a good haskell
> programmer?

I will use a parable. Does a successful businessman know economics 
theory? (Allow me to define "successful businessman" as "maximizes 
profit under constraints from reality, laws, culture, and even a bit of 
morality".)

That depends on what is meant by "know economics theory".

To some people, it requires knowing the words "maximize profit under 
constraints". Then the businessman probably doesn't "know economics 
theory" --- he/she probably doesn't know what that idea is called.

To some other people, it means knowing the idea, not necessarily the 
wording, of maximizing profit under constraints. Then the businessman 
not only knows that idea, he/she is also implementing it, and 
implementing it right.