[grumpyprole]

F# was pitched by Microsoft to be used in areas where Python dominates, especially for scripting in the finance domain and "rapid application development". So it doesn't make sense at all that C# and Java are a "better comparison".

[ZenoArrow]

> F# was pitched by Microsoft to be used in areas where Python dominates

Haha, no. Microsoft barely talks about F# at all, and has largely left the evolution of the language up to the open source community that supports it. Furthermore, you shouldn't take your cues about what a language is best suited for from marketing types, you should evaluate it based on its strengths as a language and broader ecosystem. If you seriously doubt that C# is a better comparison to F# than Python, then I suspect you haven't used either C# or F# and you're basing your views on marketing fluff.

[grumpyprole]

Less of the personal attacks please, you know nothing about me. I actually think it is you that is missing context here. Don Syme personally visited and presented at a variety of investment banks. He was the creator not a marketing type. I was present at one of his pitches and met him. One bank, Credit Suisse ended up adopting it. Any comparisons he made to C# where based around readability and time to market (C# is very verbose and boilerplate heavy compared to both Python and F#). This was all on the 2010-2015 timeframe. Python ended up winning in these markets. My point has always been that this now puts it in a difficult position, it's simply not radical enough to disrupt but still carries the perceived "functional programming" barrier to entry.