Foreword

F# is a functional and object-oriented programming language with the power of the .NET Framework. This language has gained huge popularity among a broad range of programmers. With a focus on writing simple code to solve complex problems, F# is being used by data scientists, enterprise developers, and enterprise enthusiasts. In fact, its popularity has increased so much in recent times that according to the TIOBE index (ranked 11th as of March 2015), F# is all set to gain an esteemed position among the top 10 programming languages.

With the rise in interest and usage around F#, it's bound to continue to attract the attention of hobbyists who want to try out writing programs with F#. I am very excited about Adnan Masood's efforts and appreciative of his work, which focuses on the basics of functional programming, data structures, and algorithms. Adnan has followed a very structured approach to take you on a journey where you can discover and familiarize yourself with this powerful multiparadigm programming language. Starting with setting the context and discussing the basics of F# programming, Adnan gradually moves on to a more detailed and increasingly focused conversation surrounding data structures and algorithms. He also covers approaches related to testing bespoke data structures and algorithms. Towards the end, Adnan covers the implementation of modern and complex abstract data types (ADTs) and highlights how to use parallel programming and asynchrony within the F# setting.

I highly recommend this book and ask you to focus your energies on learning this amazing and powerful multiparadigm, open source, and cross-platform programming language. This book will help you tackle computing problems with a simple, maintainable, and robust code.

Happy F# Programming.

Hammad Rajjoub

Architect Advisor, Mobility Lead (Asia), Microsoft