Get Programming with F# : A Guide for .NET Developers

Summary Get Programming with F#: A guide for .NET Developers shows you how to upgrade your .NET development skills by adding a touch of functional programming in F#. In just 43 bite-sized chunks, you'll learn how to use F# to tackle the most common .NET programming tasks.Examples use the familiar Visual Studio environment, so you'll be instantly comfortable. Packed with enlightening examples, real-world use cases, and plenty of easy-to-digest code, this easy-to-follow tutorial will make you wonder why you didn't pick up F# years ago! FForewords by Dustin Campbell of Microsoft and Tomas Petricek of fsharpWorks. Purchase of the print book includes a free eBook in PDF, Kindle, and ePub formats from Manning Publications. About the Technology Your .NET applications need to be good for the long haul. F#'s unique blend of functional and imperative programming is perfect for writing code that performs flawlessly now and keeps running as your needs grow and change. It takes a little practice to master F#'s functional-first style, so you may as well get programming! About the Book Get Programming with F#: A guide for .NET developers teaches F# through 43 example-based lessons with built-in exercises so you can learn the only way that really works: by practicing. The book upgrades your .NET skills with a touch of functional programming in F#. You'll pick up core FP principles and learn techniques for iron-clad reliability and crystal clarity. You'll discover productivity techniques for coding F# in Visual Studio, functional design, and integrating functional and OO code. What's Inside Learn how to write bug-free programs Turn tedious common tasks into quick and easy ones Use minimal code to work with JSON, CSV, XML, and HTML data Integrate F# with your existing C# and VB.NET applications Create web-enabled applications About the Reader Written for intermediate C# and Visual Basic .NET developers. No experience with F# is assumed. About the Author Isaac Abraham is an experienced .NET developer and trainer. He's an F# MVP for his contributions to the .NET community. Get Programming with F# Contents Foreword Preface Acknowledgments About this book Who should read this book How this book is organized About the code Book forum About the author Welcome to Get Programming with F#! What is F#, and why does it matter? F# and .NET Summary Unit 1 F# and Visual Studio Lesson 1 The Visual Studio experience 1.1 Installing VS2015 with F# 1.2 Configuring Visual Studio for F# 1.3 Getting the best out of VS 2015 and F# Summary Lesson 2 Creating your first F# program 2.1 F# project types 2.2 Debugging applications in F# 2.3 Writing your first F# program Summary Lesson 3 The REPL—changing how we develop 3.1 Code-focused developer processes 3.2 Enter the REPL 3.3 F# scripts in Visual Studio Summary Unit 2 Hello F# Lesson 4 Saying a little, doing a lot 4.1 Binding values in F# 4.2 Scoping values Summary Lesson 5 Trusting the compiler 5.1 Type inference as we know it 5.2 F# type-inference basics 5.3 Following the breadcrumbs Summary Lesson 6 Working with immutable data 6.1 Working with mutable data—a recap 6.2 Being explicit about mutation 6.3 Modeling state Summary Lesson 7 Expressions and statements 7.1 Comparing statements and expressions 7.2 Using expressions in F# 7.3 Forcing statement-based evaluation Summary Lesson 8 Capstone 1 8.1 Defining the problem 8.2 Some advice before you start 8.3 Starting small 8.4 Implementing core logic 8.5 Testing in scripts 8.6 Moving to a full application Summary Unit 3 Types and functions Lesson 9 Shaping data with tuples 9.1 The need for tuples 9.2 Tuple basics 9.3 More-complex tuples 9.4 Tuple best practices Summary Lesson 10 Shaping data with records 10.1 POCOs done right: records in F# 10.2 Doing more with records 10.3 Tips and tricks with records Summary Lesson 11 Building composable functions 11.1 Partial function application 11.2 Constraining functions 11.3 Composing functions together Summary Lesson 12 Organizing code without classes 12.1 Using namespaces and modules 12.2 Moving from scripts to applications 12.3 Tips for working with modules and namespaces Summary Lesson 13 Achieving code reuse in F# 13.1 Reuse in the world of LINQ 13.2 Implementing higher-order functions in F# 13.3 Dependencies as functions Summary Lesson 14 Capstone 2 14.1 Defining the problem 14.2 Some advice before you start... 14.3 Getting started 14.4 Creating a domain 14.5 Creating behaviors 14.6 Abstraction and reuse through higher-order functions 14.7 Writing a console application 14.8 Referencing files from scripts Summary Unit 4 Collections in F# Lesson 15 Working with collections in F# 15.1 F# collection basics 15.2 Collection types in F# Summary Lesson 16 Useful collection functions 16.1 Mapping functions 16.2 Grouping functions 16.3 More on collections Summary Lesson 17 Maps, dictionaries, and sets 17.1 Dictionaries 17.2 The F# Map 17.3 Sets Summary Lesson 18 Folding your way to success 18.1 Understanding aggregations and accumulators 18.2 Saying hello to fold 18.3 Composing functions with fold Summary Lesson 19 Capstone 3 19.1 Defining the problem 19.2 Removing mutability 19.3 Writing transactions to disk 19.4 Rehydrating an account from disk Summary Unit 5 The pit of success with the F# type system Lesson 20 Program flow in F# 20.1 A tour around loops in F# 20.2 Branching logic in F# 20.3 Flexible pattern matching 20.4 To match or not to match Summary Lesson 21 Modeling relationships in F# 21.1 Composition in F# 21.2 Discriminated unions in F# 21.3 Tips for working with discriminated unions 21.4 More about discriminated unions Summary Lesson 22 Fixing the billion-dollar mistake 22.1 Working with missing values 22.2 Improving matters with the F# type system 22.3 Using the Option module 22.4 Collections and options Summary Lesson 23 Business rules as code 23.1 Specific types in F# 23.2 Encoding business rules with marker types 23.3 Results vs. exceptions Summary Lesson 24 Capstone 4 24.1 Defining the problem 24.2 Stronger typing with discriminated unions 24.3 Applying Option types with the outside world 24.4 Implementing business rules with types Summary Unit 6 Living on the .NET platform Lesson 25 Consuming C# from F# 25.1 Referencing C# code in F# 25.2 The Visual Studio experience 25.3 Working with OO constructs Summary Lesson 26 Working with NuGet packages 26.1 Using NuGet with F# 26.2 Working with Paket Summary Lesson 27 Exposing F# types and functions to C# 27.1 Using F# types in C# 27.2 More on F# interoperability 27.3 Summarizing F# to C# interoperability Summary Lesson 28 Architecting hybrid language applications 28.1 Crossing language boundaries 28.2 Case study—WPF monopoly Summary Lesson 29 Capstone 5 29.1 Defining the problem 29.2 Plugging in a third-party NuGet package 29.3 Connecting F# code to a WPF front end 29.4 Common fields on discriminated unions 29.5 Polishing up F# APIs for consumers 29.6 Working with pure functions in a mutable world Summary Unit 7 Working with data Lesson 30 Introducing type providers 30.1 Understanding type providers 30.2 Working with your first type provider Summary Lesson 31 Building schemas from live data 31.1 Working with JSON 31.2 Avoiding problems with live schemas 31.3 Mixing local and remote datasets Summary Lesson 32 Working with SQL 32.1 Creating a basic database 32.2 Introducing the SqlClient project 32.3 Using the SQLProvider Summary Lesson 33 Creating type provider-backed APIs 33.1 Creating a tightly coupled type provider API 33.2 Creating a decoupled API Summary Lesson 34 Using type providers in the real world 34.1 Securely accessing connection strings with type providers 34.2 Manually passing connection strings 34.3 Continuous integration with type providers Summary Lesson 35 Capstone 6 35.1 Defining the problem 35.2 Hooking up a SQL database 35.3 Creating a SQL data access layer 35.4 Making a pluggable data access layer Summary Unit 8 Web programming Lesson 36 Asynchronous workflows 36.1 Comparing synchronous and asynchronous models 36.2 Introducing asynchronous workflows 36.3 Composing asynchronous values 36.4 Using fork/join 36.5 Using tasks and async workflows Summary Lesson 37 Exposing data over HTTP 37.1 Getting up and running with the ASP .NET Web API 37.2 Abstracting the Web API from F# 37.3 Working with Async 37.4 Introducing Suave Summary Lesson 38 Consuming HTTP data 38.1 Using FSharp.Data to work with HTTP endpoints 38.2 Working with HTTP.fs 38.3 Using the Swagger type provider Summary Lesson 39 Capstone 7 39.1 Defining the problem 39.2 Adding Web API support to your application 39.3 Consuming data with Swagger 39.4 Enriching the API Summary Unit 9 Unit testing Lesson 40 Unit testing in F# 40.1 Knowing when to unit test in F# 40.2 Performing basic unit testing in F# 40.3 Testing DSLs in F# Summary Lesson 41 Property-based testing in F# 41.1 Understanding property-based testing 41.2 Introducing FsCheck 41.3 Controlling data generation Summary Lesson 42 Web testing 42.1 Web automation with Canopy 42.2 Web tests with Canopy Summary Lesson 43 Capstone 8 43.1 Defining the problem 43.2 Writing API tests 43.3 Testing the Web API tier 43.4 Using property-based tests Summary Unit 10 Where next? Appendix A The F# community A.1 The F# community A.2 Coding in the open source world A.3 A real-world example of open source contributions Summary Appendix B F# in my organization B.1 Introducing F# to others B.2 Introducing F# to your code base Summary Appendix C Must-visit F# resources C.1 Websites C.2 Social networks C.3 Projects and language Summary Appendix D Must-have F# libraries D.1 Libraries D.2 The F# toolchain Summary Appendix E Other F# language features E.1 Object-oriented support E.2 Exception handling E.3 Resource management E.4 Casting E.5 Active patterns E.6 Computation expressions E.7 Code quotations E.8 Units of measure E.9 Lazy computations E.10 Recursion Index Symbols A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Summary Get Programming with F#: A guide for.NET developers teaches F# through 43 example-based lessons with built-in exercises so you can learn the only way that really works: by practicing. The book upgrades your.NET skills with a touch of functional programming in F#. You'll pick up core FP principles and learn techniques for iron-clad reliability and crystal clarity. You'll discover productivity techniques for coding F# in Visual Studio, functional design, and integrating functional and OO code. Purchase of the print book includes a free eBook in PDF, Kindle, and ePub formats from Manning Publications. About the Technology Your.NET applications need to be good for the long haul. F#'s unique blend of functional and imperative programming is perfect for writing code that performs flawlessly now and keeps running as your needs grow and change. It takes a little practice to master F#'s functional-first style, so you may as well get programming! What's Inside Learn how to write bug-free programs Turn tedious common tasks into quick and easy ones Use minimal code to work with JSON, CSV, XML, and HTML data Integrate F# with your existing C# and VB.NET applications Create web-enabled applications About the Reader Written for intermediate C# and Visual Basic.NET developers. No experience with F# is assumed. Table of Contents Unit 1 - F# AND VISUAL STUDIO Lesson 1 - The Visual Studio experience Lesson 2 - Creating your first F# program Lesson 3 - The REPL-changing how we develop Unit 2 - HELLO F# Lesson 4 - Saying a little, doing a lot Lesson 5 - Trusting the compiler Lesson 6 - Working with immutable data Lesson 7 - Expressions and statements Lesson 8 Capstone 1 Unit 3 - TYPES AND FUNCTIONS Lesson 9 - Shaping data with tuples Lesson 10 - Shaping data with records Lesson 11 - Building composable functions Lesson 12 - Organizing code without classes Lesson 13 - Achieving code reuse in F# Lesson 14 - Capstone 2 Unit 4 - COLLECTIONS IN F# Lesson 15 - Working with collections in F# Lesson 16 - Useful collection functions Lesson 17 - Maps, dictionaries, and sets Lesson 18 - Folding your way to success Lesson 19 - Capstone 3 Unit 5 - THE PIT OF SUCCESS WITH THE F# TYPE SYSTEM Lesson 20 - Program flow in F# Lesson 21 - Modeling relationships in F# Lesson 22 - Fixing the billion-dollar mistake Lesson 23 - Business rules as code Lesson 24 - Capstone 4 Unit 6 - LIVING ON THE.NET PLATFORM Lesson 25 - Consuming C# from F# Lesson 26 - Working with NuGet packages Lesson 27 - Exposing F# types and functionsto C# Lesson 28 - Architecting hybrid language applications Lesson 29 - Capstone 5 Unit 7 - WORKING WITH DATA Lesson 30 - Introducing type providers Lesson 31 - Building schemas from live data Lesson 32 - Working with SQL Lesson 33 - Creating type provider-backed APIs Lesson 34 - Using type providers in the real world Lesson 35 - Capstone 6 Unit 8 - WEB PROGRAMMING Lesson 36 - Asynchronous workflows Lesson 37 - Exposing data over HTTP Lesson 38 - Consuming HTTP data Lesson 39 - Capstone 7 Unit 9 - UNIT TESTING Lesson 40 - Unit testing in F# Lesson 41 - Property-based testing in F# Lesson 42 - Web testing Lesson 43 - Capstone 8 Unit 10 - WHERE NEXT? Appendix A - The F# community Appendix B - F# in my organization Appendix C - Must-visit F# resources Appendix D - Must-have F# libraries Appendix E - Other F# language feature Annotation F♯ leads to quicker development time and a lower total cost of ownership. Its powerful feature set allows developers to more succinctly express their intent, and encourages best practices - leading to higher quality deliverables in less time. This guide how to upgrade your .NET development skills by adding a touch of functional programming in F♯. In just 43 bite-size chunks, you'll learn to use F♯ to tackle the most common .NET programming tasks. You'll start with the basics of F♯ and functional programming, building on your existing skills in the .NET framework. Examples use the familiar Visual Studio environment, so you'll be instantly comfortable

Get Programming with F#: A guide for.NET Developers shows you how to upgrade your.NET development skills by adding a touch of functional programming in F#. In just 43 bite-sized chunks, you'll learn how to use F# to tackle the most common.NET programming tasks.Examples use the familiar Visual Studio environment, so you'll be instantly comfortable. Packed with enlightening examples, real-world use cases, and plenty of easy-to-digest code, this easy-to-follow tutorial will make you wonder why you didn't pick up F# years ago!