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Scala for the Impatient

Written by Cay S. Horstmann

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1,480 pages, about 30 hours of reading

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About this book

Scala 3--A Clear, Concise Guide Scala 3 is concise, consistent, flexible, robust, and efficient, but there's a lot to learn and navigating features and improvements can be challenging. Scala for the Impatient, Third Edition, is a complete yet concise guide that reflects the major enhancements of Scala 3, from improved syntax and revamped type system to powerful contextual abstractions. This indispensable tutorial offers a faster, easier pathway for learning today's Scala. Horstmann--author of the programming classic, Core Java--covers everything working developers need to know, focusing on hands-on solutions, not academic theory. Given the size and scope of Scala 3, there's plenty to cover but it's presented in small chunks organized for quick access and easy understanding, with plenty of practical insights and focused sample code. Get started quickly with Scala 3 interpreter, syntax, tools, and current usage Master core language features: functions, arrays, maps, tuples, packages, imports, exception handling, and more Design and build better object-oriented code with Scala 3 Use Scala for real-world programming tasks: working with files, regular expressions, and processes Work with higher-order functions and the powerful Scala collections library Create concurrent programs with Scala futures Understand the Scala type system, including revamped enums, intersection and union types, and enhanced type inference Use contextual abstractions to easily extend class hierarchies, enrich existing classes, perform automatic conversions, and elegantly hide tedious details Apply advanced "power tools" such as annotations and given values Discover how to "program with types," analyzing and generating types at compile time Get a taste of what's now possible with Scala macros If you're a Java, Python, C++, or C# programmer who's new to Scala or functional programming--or even if you've already used earlier versions of Scala--this guide will help you write code that's more robust, more efficient, and more secure. Register your book for convenient access to downloads, updates, and/or corrections as they become available. See inside book for details.

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Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in Scala for the Impatient, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 8 hours
  • intermediate
  • instructive
  • practical
  • concise

''Scala for the Impatient'' is a highly focused and pragmatic guide designed for experienced programmers (Java, C++, C#) seeking a rapid introduction to the Scala programming language. Authored by Cay S. Horstmann, it prioritizes quick productivity over exhaustive coverage, distilling complex Scala concepts into digestible chunks. The book emphasizes Scala's hybrid functional and object-oriented paradigms, its JVM interoperability, and its features for concise and concurrent programming. Updated for Scala 2.12, it aims to equip readers with the fundamental knowledge and practical skills needed to effectively utilize Scala without getting bogged down in every intricate detail.

Scala embraces the functional programming style without abandoning the object-oriented paradigm.

Key themes

Conciseness and Expressiveness
This theme explores how Scala's design, combining functional and object-oriented features, allows developers to write more compact and readable code compared to verbose languages like Java. It's a core motivation for adopting Scala.
Functional-Object Hybrid Paradigm
This central theme showcases Scala's unique ability to blend the strengths of both functional programming (immutability, higher-order functions) and object-oriented programming (classes, inheritance, encapsulation) into a cohesive language.
Interoperability with Java
A fundamental aspect of Scala's appeal, this theme highlights its seamless integration with the vast Java ecosystem. Running on the JVM, Scala can effortlessly use existing Java libraries and frameworks, making adoption easier for Java developers.

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