Taxonomy of Scala

A Taxonomy of Scala
StrangeLoop 2012

Jamie Allen
@jamie_allen
http://github.com/jamie-allen/taxonomy-of-scala

Agenda
• Goal
• Object-Oriented Features
• Pattern Matching
• Functional Programming
• Actors
• Futures
• Implicits
• Type Theory
• Macros
• Category Theory

Goal

Provide you with a reference point for many of
the terms you hear in the Scala community

How Programming in Scala Makes Me Feel

How I Write Programs
• Pre-Scala:
– Make it work
– Make it work well
– Make it work fast
• With Scala:
– Make it work and work well
– Make it work fast

Case Classes
case class Person(firstName: String = "Jamie",
lastName: String = "Allen")

val jamieDoe = Person(lastName = "Doe")
res0: Person = Person(Jamie,Doe)
• Data Transfer Objects (DTOs) done right
• By default, class arguments are immutable & public
• Should never be extended
• Provide equals(), copy(), hashCode() and toString()
implementations
• Don’t have to use new keyword to create instances
• Named Parameters and Default arguments give us Builder pattern
semantics

Lazy Definitions
lazy val calculatedValue = piToOneMillionDecimalPoints()

• Excellent for deferring expensive operations
until they are needed
• Reducing initial footprint
• Resolving ordering issues
• Implemented with a guard field and
synchronization, ensuring it is created when
necessary

Imports
import scala.collection.immutable.Map

class Person(val fName: String, val lName: String) {
import scala.collection.mutable.{Map => MMap}
val cars: MMap[String, String] = MMap()
...
}

• Can be anywhere in a class
• Allow for selecting multiple classes from a package or
using wildcards
• Aliasing
• Order matters!

Objects
object Bootstrapper extends App { Person.createJamieAllen }

object Person {
def createJamieAllen = new Person("Jamie", "Allen")
def createJamieDoe = new Person("Jamie", "Doe")
val aConstantValue = "A constant value”
}

class Person(val firstName: String, val lastName: String)

• Singletons within a JVM process
• No private constructor histrionics
• Companion Objects, used for factories and constants

The apply() method
Array(1, 2, 3)
res0: Array[Int] = Array(1, 2, 3)

res0(1)
res1: Int = 2

• In companion objects, it defines default
behavior if no method is called on it
• In a class, it defines the same thing on an
instance of the class

Tuples
def firstPerson = (1, Person(firstName = “Barbara”))
val (num: Int, person: Person) = firstPerson

• Binds you to an implementation
• Great way to group values without a DTO
• How to return multiple values, but wrapped in
a single instance that you can bind to specific
values

Pattern Matching Examples
name match {
case "Lisa" => println("Found Lisa”)
case Person("Bob") => println("Found Bob”)
case "Karen" | "Michelle" => println("Found Karen or Michelle”)
case Seq("Dave", "John") => println("Got Dave before John”)
case Seq("Dave", "John", _*) => println("Got Dave before John”)
case ("Susan", "Steve") => println("Got Susan and Steve”)
case x: Int if x > 5 => println("got value greater than 5: " + x)
case x => println("Got something that wasn't an Int: " + x)
case _ => println("Not found”)
}

• A gateway drug for Scala
• Extremely powerful and readable
• Not compiled down to lookup/table switch unless
you use the @switch annotation,

Immutability
• Extends beyond marking instances final
• You must not leak mutability

Referential Transparency
// Transparent
val example1 = "jamie".reverse
val example2 = example1.reverse
println(example1 + example2) // eimajjamie

// Opaque
val example1 = new StringBuffer("Jamie").reverse
val example2 = example1.reverse
println(example1 append example2) // jamiejamie

• An expression is transparent if it can be replaced by its
VALUE without changing the behavior of the program
• In math, all functions are referentially transparent

Scala Collections
val myMap = Map(1 -> "one", 2 -> "two", 3 -> "three")
val mySet = Set(1, 4, 2, 8)
val myList = List(1, 2, 8, 3, 3, 4)
val myVector = Vector(1, 2, 3...)

• You have the choice of mutable or immutable
collection instances, immutable by default
• Rich implementations, extremely flexible

Rich Collection Functionality
val numbers = 1 to 20 // Range(1, 2, 3, ... 20)

numbers.head // Int = 1
numbers.tail // Range(2, 3, 4, ... 20)
numbers.take(5) // Range(1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
numbers.drop(5) // Range(6, 7, 8, ... 20)

• There are many methods available to you in
the Scala collections library
• Spend 5 minutes every day going over the
ScalaDoc for one collection class

Higher Order Functions
val names = List("Barb", "May", "Jon")

names map(_.toUpperCase)
res0: List[java.lang.String] = List(BARB, MAY, JON)

• Really methods in Scala
• Applying closures to collections

Higher Order Functions
val names = List("Barb", "May", "Jon")

names map(_.toUpperCase)
res0: List[java.lang.String] = List(BARB, MAY, JON)

names flatMap(_.toUpperCase)
res1: List[Char] = List(B, A, R, B, M, A, Y, J, O, N)

names filter (_.contains("a"))
res2: List[java.lang.String] = List(Barb, May)

val numbers = 1 to 20 // Range(1, 2, 3, ... 20)

numbers.groupBy(_ % 3)
res3: Map[Int, IndexedSeq[Int]] = Map(1 -> Vector(1, 4, 7, 10, 13,
16, 19), 2 -> Vector(2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20), 0 -> Vector(3, 6, 9,
12, 15, 18))

For Comprehensions
val myNums = 1 to 20

for (i <- myNums) yield i + 1
myNums map(_ + 1)

for {
i <- myNums
j <- 1 to i
} yield i * j
myNums flatMap(i => 1 to i map (j => i * j))

• Used for composing higher-order functions
• As you chain higher-order functions, you may
find it easier to reason about them this way

Parallel Collections
scala> 1 to 1000000
res0: scala.collection.immutable.Range.Inclusive = Range(1, 2, 3,...

scala> res0.par
res1: s.c.parallel.immutable.ParRange = ParRange(1, 2, 3,...

scala> res1 map(_ + 1)
res2: s.c.parallel.immutable.ParSeq[Int] = ParVector(2, 3, 4,...

scala> res2.seq
res3: s.c.immutable.Range = Range(2, 3, 4,...

• You can easily parallelize the application of a function literal to your
collection by calling the par() method on a collection instance
• Uses JSR166 under the covers to fork/join for you
• Use the seq() method on the parallel collection to return to a
non-parallel instance

Partial Functions
class MyActor extends Actor {
def receive = {
case s: String => println("Got a String: " + s)
case i: Int => println("Got an Int: " + i)
case x => println("Got something else: " + x)
}
}

• A simple match without the match keyword
• The receive block in Akka actors is an excellent
example
• Is characterized by what "isDefinedAt" in the
case statements

Currying
def product(i: Int)(j: Int) = i * j
val doubler = product(2)_
doubler(3) // Int = 6
doubler(4) // Int = 8

val tripler = product(3)_
tripler(4) // Int = 12
tripler(5) // Int = 15

• Take a function that takes n parameters as separate argument lists
• “Curry” it to create a new function that only takes one parameter
• Fix on a value and use it to apply a specific implementation of a
product with semantic value
• Have to be defined explicitly as such in Scala
• The _ is what explicitly marks this as curried

Actors
import akka.actor._

class MyActor extends Actor {
def receive = {
case x => println(“Got value: “ + x)
}
}

• Based on concepts from Erlang/OTP
• Akka is replacing the core language actors
• Concurrency paradigm using networks of
independent objects that only communicate
via messaging and mailboxes

Futures
import scala.concurrent._

val costInDollars = Future {
webServiceProxy.getCostInDollars.mapTo[Int]
}

costInDollars map (myPurchase.setCostInDollars(_))

• Allows you to write asynchronous code, which
can be more performant than blocking
• Are not typed, hence the mapTo call above

Futures in Sequence
val customerPurchases = for (
costUSD <- Future{ proxy.getCostInDollars.mapTo[Int]}
totalPurchase <- Future{ proxy.addToTotal(costUSD).mapTo[Int]}
} yield ((customerId -> totalPurchase))

• Scala’s for comprehensions allow you to
compose higher-order functions, including
Futures
• By sequencing the expressions on multiple
lines, you can order dependencies

Futures in Parallel
val costUSD = Future{proxy.getCostInUSD(cost).mapTo[Int]}
val costCAD = Future{proxy.getCostInCAD(cost).mapTo[Int]}
val combinedCosts = for {
cUSD <- costUSD
cCAD <- costCAD
} yield (cUSD, cCAD)

val costs = for (
(costUSD, costCAD) <-
Future{proxy.getCostInUSD(cost).mapTo[Int]} zip
Future{proxy.getCostInCAD(cost).mapTo[Int]}
} yield (costUSD, costCAD)

• Define the futures separately and then compose
• Alternatively, the zip method allows you to
parallelize futures execution within a for
comprehension

Implicit Conversions
case class Person(firstName: String, lastName: String)
implicit def PersonToInt(p: Person) = p.toString.head.toInt

val me = Person("Jamie", "Allen")

val weird = 1 + me
res0: Int = 81

• Looks for definitions at compile time that will
satisfy type incompatibilities
• Modern IDEs will warn you with an underline
when they are in use
• Limit scope as much as possible (see Josh
Suereth's NE Scala 2011)

Implicit Parameters
def executeFutureWithTimeout(f: Future)(implicit t: Timeout)

implicit val t: Timeout = Timeout(20, TimeUnit.MILLISECONDS)
executeFutureWithTimeout(Future {proxy.getCustomer(id)})

• Allow you to define default parameter values
that are only overridden if you do so explicitly
• Handy to avoid code duplication

Implicit Classes
implicit class Person(name: String)

class Person(name: String)
implicit final def Person(name: String): Person = new Person(name)

• New to Scala 2.10
• Create extension methods to existing types
• Desugars at compile time into a class
definition with an implicit conversion

Type Inference
• Declaring a variable/value
• Return types of methods/functions
• See Daniel Spiewak's Philly ETE 2011 talk
• Good idea to show types on public interfaces
• Specify types when you want to type certainty

Type Classes I
case class Customer(id: Long, firstName: String, lastName: String)

trait CustomerOrderById extends Ordering[Customer] {
def compare(x: Customer, y: Customer): Int = { ... }
}
implicit object CustomerIdSort extends CustomerOrderById

val customers = List(Customer(1, "Jamie", "Allen"), Customer(5,
"John", "Doe"), Customer(2, "Jane", "Smith"))
val sortedCustomers = customers.sorted(CustomerIdSort)
sortedCustomers: List[Customer] = List(Customer(1,Jamie,Allen),
Customer(2,Jane,Smith), Customer(5,John,Doe))

• Allow you to layer in varying implementations
of behavior without changing an existing
inheritance structure

Type Classes II
case class Dog(name: String)
case class Ferret(name: String)
case class Cat(name: String)
abstract class OkayPets[T]
object OkayPets {
implicit object OkayDog extends OkayPets[Dog]
implicit object OkayFerret extends OkayPets[Ferret]
}
def getPet[T](t: T)(implicit p: OkayPets[T]) = t

val myDog = getPet(Dog("Sparky")) // Works
val myCat = getPet(Cat("Sneezy")) // Fails at compile time

• Allows you to generalize types that are
acceptable parameters for methods

Higher Kinded Types
Map[A, B] // Type constructor, not a type!

val myMap = Map[Int, String]() // Now it’s a type!

• Use other types to construct a new type
• Also called type constructors

Algebraic Data Types
sealed abstract class DayOfTheWeek
case object Sunday extends DayOfTheWeek
case object Monday extends DayOfTheWeek
...
case object Saturday extends DayOfTheWeek

val nextDay(d: DayOfTheWeek): DayOfTheWeek = d match {
case Sunday => Monday
case Monday => Tuesday
...
case Saturday => Sunday
}
}
• Allow you to model the world in finite terms, such as enumerations, but
also define behavior around them, with all of the power of case classes
• A finite number of possible subtypes, enforced by the "sealed" keyword
(must be defined in the same source file)

Macros
• New to Scala 2.10
• Macros are used for generating code at
compile time, similar to LISP macros
• Does not have compiler pragmas such as
#ifdef
• Are implemented as "hygenic" macros at the
point you call reify() – identifiers cannot
be closed over in a macro definition

ScalaLogging Macro
def debug(message: String): Unit = macro LoggerMacros.debug
private object LoggerMacros {
def debug(c: LoggerContext)(message: c.Expr[String]) = c.universe.reify(
if (c.prefix.splice.underlying.isDebugEnabled)
c.prefix.splice.underlying.debug(message.splice)
)
}

import com.typesafe.scalalogging.Logging
class MyClass extends Logging {
logger.debug("This won't occur if debug is not defined")
}

• Existing log libraries allow us to define logging statements and then
determine whether they result in output at runtime
• ScalaLogging allows a user to use a logging facility but decide at compile
time whether or not to include the logging statement based on log level.

Concepts and Arrows
val myIntToStringArrow: Int => String = _.toString

myIntToStringArrow(1100)
res0: String = 1100

• Concepts are types
• Arrows are functions that convert one concept
to another

Morphism
val number = 1000
val numericString = number.toString

• Morphisms change one value in a category to
another in the same category, from one type
to another where types are the category
• Simplified, it converts a type with one
property to a type with another property
• Must be pure, not side-effecting

Functor
val numbers = List(1, 2, 3, 4)
val numericStrings = numbers.map(_.toString)

• Functors are transformations from one
category to another that preserve morphisms
• Simplified, converts a type from one to
another while maintaining the conversion of a
type with one property to a type with another
property

Monad
val customerPurchases = for (
costUSD <- proxy.getCostInDollars
totalPurchase <- proxy.addToTotal(costUSD)
} yield ((customerId -> totalPurchase))

• Very ephemeral concept
• Must meet the laws of a monad to be one
• Combine functor applications because they can be
bound together, sequencing operations on the
underlying types
• flatMap() is the method the Scala compiler uses to
bind monads

Credits
• Sources
– Fast Track to Scala courseware by Typesafe
– Scala in Depth, by Josh Suereth
– DSLs in Action, Debasish Ghosh
– Wikipedia
– Runar Bjarnason's NE Scala 2011 talk
– Daniel Sobral's blog
– Brendan McAdams' blog

• Contributors
– Dave Esterkin, Chariot Solutions
– Josh Suereth, Typesafe

Taxonomy of Scala

More Related Content

What's hot (20)

Similar to Taxonomy of Scala (20)

More from shinolajla (18)

Recently uploaded (20)

Taxonomy of Scala

Editor's Notes