Ask HN: Should an engineer try to understand type theory?

I'm studying to become a software engineer, and I was wondering if I should bother learning type theory. I have TAPL by Pierce in mind in particular.

What are the possible benefits if I successfully tackle the book?

Also, other readings (not as in-depth as the book) are also welcome.

PaulHoule 5y

Depends on your math background.

If you want to program in Rust (for example) I think the mathematically oriented intro material won't help you so much.

If you want to make something like Rust there is a lot of interesting literature at the graduate level and a fairly clear path that you write a PhD thesis and really do write a language but it is more like Cyclone or Alef, DIBOL or LISP 2 or something like that.

If you are solid on algorithm theory, combinatorics and similar subjects than type theory could be a good addition.

nikivi 5y

I collected many links here:

https://wiki.nikitavoloboev.xyz/math/type-theory

adder46OP5y

Awesome. :)

Comments