[DrMagnus]

Functional programming is a concept, not a magic cure-all for bad programmers.

Java also supports functional elements (though I'm not implying it's a functional language in the slightest).

I could have an optimistic view of programmers, but I feel like that article is heavily slanted towards CS education, which is taught by people who intrinsically understand computer science. I work with people who are definitely not even approaching the middle of the bell curve in terms of skill and efficiency. They still produce work in imperative programming, and without introducing catastrophic levels of instability into the system.

[iLemming]

There's a lot more than just functional programming here. Use Clojure for a couple of years, and I guarantee: it spoils you, and you would never want to go back to your previous workflow - it would feel clunky and inefficient. Nothing is perfect, I know. I know that not from watching videos or reading blog posts - I have used many different languages "in anger." I like Clojure because it makes sense to me today. I'm sure someday it stops making sense or I'd have to use a different tool (better suited for some task). I keep looking around, and I still can't find a language that gives me the joy of delivering software without feeling miserable. Even with the most praised and loved languages - it sometimes feels like your machine is interrogating you and you are typing incantations to placate your computer's demands. With Clojure - you simply build things. You can focus on what's truly important for you to get the job done. It's not just a sense of familiarity. Clojure is far from being my first or second or even fifth PL. However, none of the languages I have previously used gave me that feeling of joy, curiosity, and confidence. It is not magic, no. Still, it is a well-designed programming language.