Course Description

CS240h is an advanced computer science course that teaches students how to build functional systems using the Haskell programming language. The course covers a wide range of topics related to building efficient and reliable software systems in a functional programming paradigm. The course is divided into several modules, each of which focuses on a specific aspect of functional systems. In the first module, students learn the basics of functional programming in Haskell, including data types, functions, and pattern matching. They also learn how to use monads to handle side effects and stateful computations in a pure functional setting. In the second module, students learn how to build and compose higher-order functions and how to use them to solve problems in a concise and elegant way. They also learn how to use type classes to define abstractions and create generic code that can work with multiple data types. In the third module, students learn how to build concurrent and parallel systems in Haskell. They learn about the different types of concurrency models, including shared-memory and message-passing concurrency, and how to use them to build efficient and scalable systems. They also learn about software transactional memory (STM) and how it can be used to manage concurrent access to shared resources. In the fourth module, students learn how to build distributed systems in Haskell. They learn about network programming, protocols, and architectures, and how to use them to build reliable and fault-tolerant systems that can run across multiple machines. Throughout the course, students work on a series of programming assignments that help them apply the concepts they have learned to real-world problems. They also participate in class discussions and code reviews, which provide feedback and help them refine their programming skills. CS240h: Functional Systems in Haskell is an intensive and challenging course that requires a solid understanding of functional programming concepts and a strong background in computer science. However, for those who are up to the challenge, the course offers a unique opportunity to learn how to build efficient, reliable, and scalable software systems using Haskell. Author: Bryan O'Sullivan