Re: [xsl] The real harm is in functions with side effects (Was: Re: Using Extension Functions - Its Efficiency)

[David Tolpin <dvd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Unfortunately, some functional languages (XSLT included) lack a built-in
> support for controlling side-effects.
>
> Haskell has the notion of a Monad class built-into the language and any
> programmer simply uses the IO (or any other suitable type) Monad, when
> this is necessary.

The only thing is that Monads are not built into the language. IO Monads
are built-in, but, in the same sense as print capabilities are built into
some languages, it does not mean that all functions are built-in. 
Monads are just continuation passing -- many things are expressed with Monads,
and can be done with any facility with first-order functions. 

Monads are as good in Java, Scheme, Ruby, and even in python as they are in Haskell,
the thing XSLT lacks is first-order functions, not Monads.

David Tolpin

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