What is your take on Scala vs Java 8?

[K Hein]

Scala is considered getting matured with better tools and community support these days, and I've been hearing stories about Scala adoption in enterprise. So what is your take on Scala with regard to new Java 8 lambda support? Will it be a huge blow to Scala with Java 8 native lambda support? Or more Java developer become accustom to FP ways of doing things due to Java 8 lambda and will it become a driving factor for Scala adoption?

[Campbell Ritchie]

I suspect most people who program Java® and are used to object‑orientation will take a long time to appreciate the new functional features. You may find that industry is reluctant to embrace new features, whereas Academia might be keener to leanr them.

[Cay Horstmann]

Scala is very good at what it is--on the scripting end with its REPL, on the high end with the Typesafe stack, and on the bleeding edge with cool features for building expressive libraries for all sorts of purposes. But there is no denying that Scala has a learning curve, and that its type system is not for the faint of heart. (There are moves to remove some of its gratuitous and organically grown complexity.)

The people who are likely to use Scala aren't going to be impressed by the Java 8 lambdas--there is so much more to Scala. But Java users should rejoice and embrace the way of the lambda. Of course, that will happen at Java speed. It will take years before everyone is at Java 8.

So, to answer your question, I believe that Java 8 and Scala will coexist for a good long time.

Cheers,

Cay

[Jeanne Boyarsky]

I like that Java 8 lets you use functional programming to replace smaller parts of a Java program/ Which means I can replace just some loops. Or design small parts of a program better. Or incrementally make it more functional without changing the whole flow.