Most books on data structures assume an imperative language such as C or C++. However, data structures for these languages do not always translate well to functional languages such as Standard ML, Haskell, or Scheme. This book describes data structures from the point of view of functional languages, with examples, and presents design techniques that allow programmers to develop their own functional data structures. The author includes both classical data structures, such as red-black trees and binomial queues, and a host of new data structures developed exclusively for functional languages. All source code is given in Standard ML and Haskell, and most of the programs are easily adaptable to other functional languages. This handy reference for professional programmers working with functional languages can also be used as a tutorial or for self-study.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Intro to the functional style and fun algorithmic content:
If you are beginning to learn functional programming, this is a good book to study. It focuses much on the "no assignment" aspect of the functional style; a good place to start. And does this on one data structure after another allowing it to be easily understood by readers with a procedural background. For the more advanced reader, the algorithmic content of the book is good reading and I find myself picking this book every year or so just to entertain myself. The applicability of the data structures is... more info
Strange choice of implementation languages:
The description of the book says it includes source code in both ML and Haskell. Unfortunately, the body of the text uses ML exclusively, and the Haskell code is banished to an appendix. I say "unfortunately", because many of the data structures used depend on lazy evaluation, which comes quite naturally to Haskell, and seems to require some sort of non-standard extension in ML. While the content is good, I wish it would have used Haskell as the primary exposition language.
An elegant book:
Okasaki's slim volume is one of the best expositions on implementing data structures & algorithms in a functional language. After taking an introductory course on functional programming, this would be the book which tells you where to go next. This book doesn't just present a rehash/rewrite of imperative data structures, only written in a functional language. Instead, Okasaki makes sure to emphasize benefits which only functional programming can bring to the table. For example, many functional data... more info
Hash Tables are included, briefly.:
A correction to another review: Hash Tables are included, briefly.
