In the technical keynote address for JavaOne 2013, Mark Reinhold, chief architect for the Java Platform Group at Oracle, described lambda expressions as the single largest upgrade to the Java programming model ever. While there are many applications for lambda expressions, this article focuses on a specific example that occurs frequently in mathematical applications; namely, the need to pass a function to an algorithm.
As a gray-haired geek, I have programmed in numerous languages over the years, and I have programmed extensively in Java since version 1.1. When I started working with computers, almost no one had a degree in computer science. Computer professionals came mostly from other disciplines such as electrical engineering, physics, business, and mathematics. In my own former life I was a mathematician, and so it should come as no surprise that my initial view of a computer was that of a giant programmable calculator. I've broadened my view of computers considerably over the years, but I still welcome the opportunity to work on applications that involve some aspect of mathematics.
Previous Topic
