We are not sheep.
So far, I have introduced three languages and three different programming paradigms. Scala will be the fourth, sort of. It’s a hybrid language, meaning that it intentionally tries to bridge the gaps between programming paradigms. In this case, the bridge is between object-oriented languages like Java and functional languages like Haskell. In this sense, Scala is a Frankenstein monster of sorts but not a monster. Think Edward Scissorhands.[10]
In this surreal Tim Burton movie, Edward was part boy, part machine, with scissors for hands, and was one of my favorite characters of all time. Edward was a fascinating character in a beautiful movie. He was often awkward, was sometimes amazing, but always had a unique expression. Sometimes, his scissors let him do incredible things. Other times, he was awkward and humiliated. As with anything new or different, he was often misunderstood, accused of “straying too far from the path of righteousness.” But in one of his stronger moments, the shy kid offers, “We are not sheep.” Indeed.