but nobody uses it because "function composition" reads the other way and tends to be preferable i.e.
(g ∘ f)(x) = g (f(x)) // math
(g . f) x = g (f x) // haskell
g f x g f x // see how the g f x order always matches with the default application and composition notation.
you can mess with the order and "turn the order of application "inside-out" but then you have to switch modes from left-to-right and right-to-left more often. Or you can try to write in a style that prefers right-to-left.
I got used to this in Haskell, but I have to say that Elm's solution is pretty elegant:
Elm: Haskell:
f <| g <| x == f $ g $ x -- application
f << g == f . g -- composition
x |> g |> f == x & g & f -- reverse application
g >> f == g >>> f -- reverse composition
It's nice to be able to change between composition and application by changing between | and < in the operator. I've actually done this quite a lot when refactoring code in Elm lately, there's something visual and intutive about it that I like. It makes it easier to mix left-to-right and right-to-left in the same code, while keeping it obvious what's going on.
I've found that certain parts, that scan/read better as imperative steps (think chains of List.map, Maybe.map, <MonadlikeModule>.andThen etc.) often benefit from a reverse application and/or composition. Sort of to simulate the look of do notation since Elm doesn't have that. Smaller functional parts are better with regular application/composition.
With the directional operators, this becomes quite ergonomical.
Probaly helps that I use (and enjoy, ymmv) a font with ligatures for these symbols.
I used to think that all these Haskell discussions were garbage. But now I get it.
It's still very inaccessible, in my opinion. But I'm working on something to help change all that.