Learning functional/Clojure programming - practical exercises? [closed]

Answer 1

As a once-upon-a-time LISP programmer, I found Clojure Koans https://github.com/functional-koans/clojure-koans extremely efficient and methodically sound.

Use a three window arrangement (editor + evaluator + repl) for instant feedback, documentation reference and on the fly experimenting.

The topics of the "tutorial" are well organized and gradually introduce more complex material. Certainly a good starting point if you have at least some LISP experience.

Answer 2

I would recommended studying the code in clojure.contrib on github.

As an exercise for learning FP I would recommend just writing the apps you're currently working on in Clojure, but try not to use any Refs or loops. Be dedicated to solving your problems functionally using recursion. If you think you have to use a Ref or a loop make sure you can explain why that is.

Answer 3

I strongly recommend Hackerrank, it has functional programming domain: https://www.hackerrank.com/domains/fp/intro

You may check your skills not only with clojure, but haskell, scala, erlang and many more

Answer 4

I would recommend doing the Project Euler exercises:

http://projecteuler.net/

Project Euler is a series of challenging mathematical/computer programming problems that will require more than just mathematical insights to solve. Although mathematics will help you arrive at elegant and efficient methods, the use of a computer and programming skills will be required to solve most problems.

Because many programmers are solving Project Euler exercises, you can compare the solutions to other (non-functional) programming languages, but also Clojure solutions are available: http://clojure-euler.wikispaces.com/, so you can contrast imperative vs. functional/idiomatic Clojure.

Of course you will learn the most by first doing the exercises yourself, without consulting any of the solutions.

Answer 5

Try 99 Lisp Problems. The solutions aren't in clojure, but it should be easy to translate.

Answer 6

http://exercism.io/ has several not-so-trivial exercises, they give you a test and a description, you submit a solution and you refactor by looking at other people's code I highly recommend it, plus it's polyglot you can do the exercises in any programming language they support.

As others have mentioned Project Euler is a great place to start. But pick a good book that will teach you the fundamentals and the rationale for clojure's implementation, Programming Clojure by Stuart Halloway comes to mind.

Once you're done with that Timothy Baldridge offers several video tutorials where he dissects core.async, transducers, logic programming and lots of other fun stuff to play around with at: https://tbaldridge.pivotshare.com/