Enabling Contributions to the Visual F# IDE Tools (opens in new tab)

(blogs.msdn.com)

39 pointspcj11y ago11 comments

11 comments

kvb11y ago

It's an exciting time to be an F# programmer. The community really seems to be stepping up and getting ready to make important contributions.

jackfoxy11y ago

For those interested in contributing to the F# language itself and the compiler, the F# Open Engineering Group has an article on that topic http://fsharp.github.io/2014/06/18/fsharp-contributions.html

xvilka11y ago

Just Microsoft's rebrand and restricted version of OCaml. And, imho, it is much better to use original language (since it have much more features), especially with Core library.

kvb11y ago

While F# was definitely strongly influenced by OCaml, their features have diverged significantly. For example, F# has type providers, active patterns, and units of measure (though you're also right that OCaml has lots of features that F# doesn't, like first class modules).

Note also that this blog post is about accepting contributions to the Visual Studio IDE components for F#, not for the language itself (which has been open source for many years, and has already been accepting contributions from the community for a little while).

CmonDev11y ago

Aren't units of measure just a compilation trick, leveraging the existing capabilities of OCAML (algebraic data types) and .NET (attributes)?

I just learned that they could be implemented in C# relatively easily (although maybe not to same extent): http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/413750/Units-of-Measure-...

1 more reply

zem11y ago

i just want to note that as far as i've seen, the ocaml community has little to no animosity towards f#. there are lots of ML dialects out there and the prevailing mood seems to be one of cooperation rather than competition - it's nice to see people explore the design space.

brandonbloom11y ago

I mean, sure, you can use OCaml... unless you want/have to interop with .NET, then it doesn't matter how much you like OCaml, it's not going to solve your problem.

CmonDev11y ago

Please tell us how much time would it take you to build an OCAML app that would target: web, Android, iOS, Mac, Linux, Windows (desktop, store, phone), PS4 etc.?

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

11 comments

kvb11y ago

It's an exciting time to be an F# programmer. The community really seems to be stepping up and getting ready to make important contributions.

jackfoxy11y ago

xvilka11y ago

Just Microsoft's rebrand and restricted version of OCaml. And, imho, it is much better to use original language (since it have much more features), especially with Core library.

kvb11y ago

CmonDev11y ago

Aren't units of measure just a compilation trick, leveraging the existing capabilities of OCAML (algebraic data types) and .NET (attributes)?

I just learned that they could be implemented in C# relatively easily (although maybe not to same extent): http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/413750/Units-of-Measure-...

1 more reply

zem11y ago

brandonbloom11y ago

I mean, sure, you can use OCaml... unless you want/have to interop with .NET, then it doesn't matter how much you like OCaml, it's not going to solve your problem.

CmonDev11y ago

Please tell us how much time would it take you to build an OCAML app that would target: web, Android, iOS, Mac, Linux, Windows (desktop, store, phone), PS4 etc.?

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse