Functional Programming: Are We There Yet?

Functional Programming: Are We There Yet?

From Picture Me Coding by Erik Aker and Mike Mull

January 23, 2026 · 53 min · Season 4 · Episode 90

About this episode

The episode discusses the relevance and evolution of functional programming in the context of AI and its historical significance.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Scheme, we decided to talk about functional programming: what it is, how's it going these days, and does it still matter in the era of AI. Although there's been 70 years of research into FP it still hasn't become mainstream. Will AI reverse or accelerate that trend? TIOBE Index The Next 700 Programming Languages An Introduction to Functional Programming Through Lambda Calculus Send us Fan Mail

People in this episode

Hosts: Erik Aker, Mike Mull

Topics covered

  • functional programming
  • Scheme anniversary
  • AI impact on programming
  • mainstream programming languages
  • TIOBE Index
  • lambda calculus

Keywords

  • functional programming
  • Scheme
  • AI
  • TIOBE Index
  • lambda calculus
  • programming languages
  • mainstream

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Scheme, AI

Books & works: The Next 700 Programming Languages, An Introduction to Functional Programming Through Lambda Calculus

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