Imperative Quote by Chris Okasaki
![“The methodological benefits of functional languages are well known [Bac78, Hug89, HJ94], but still the vast majority of programs are written in imperative languages such as C. This apparent contradiction is easily explained by the fact that functional languages have historically been slower than…” quote by Chris Okasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cbf/chris-okasaki-67371_imperative_the-methodological-benefits-of-functiona_3005123.jpg)
““The methodological benefits of functional languages are well known [Bac78, Hug89, HJ94], but still the vast majority of programs are written in imperative languages such as C. This apparent contradiction is easily explained by the fact that functional languages have historically been slower than their more traditional cousins, but this gap is narrowing.””
About This Quote
The quote notes that functional programming offers clear methodological advantages, yet most software is still written imperatively because functional languages have historically been slower, though this performance gap is decreasing.
In simple terms: Functional languages are beneficial but slower, though they are catching up.
Key Takeaway
Consider using functional languages as performance improves.
Themes
software engineering
programming paradigms
technology adoption
computer science
Mood
pragmatic
optimistic
Type
strategic
informative
When to use this quote
- team decisions
- language selection
- project planning
- education curricula
Key Concepts
functional programming
imperative programming
performance optimization
Questions to Reflect On
- Will performance parity shift industry standards?
- What trade‑offs exist beyond speed?
A Different Perspective
Functional languages may have steep learning curves.
