Overview
Master F# step-by-step. This directory contains the complete F# Full Set tutorial series - a comprehensive learning path from installation to expert mastery. Choose your starting point based on your experience level.
Where F# Fits in Your Learning Journey
F# is a recommended language for functional programming on .NET, data science, domain modeling, and scalable systems. Best learned as a second or third language after Python or alongside C#.
Why F#? F# represents Microsoft’s functional-first approach to .NET - combining powerful type inference with immutability by default, pattern matching with algebraic data types, railway-oriented programming with computation expressions, and seamless .NET interoperability. The language prioritizes correctness, expressiveness, and maintainability.
What makes F# special? F# excels at domain modeling (type-driven design), data science (type providers), financial applications (precision and correctness), concurrent systems (immutability eliminates race conditions), web services (Giraffe, Saturn frameworks), and scripting (.fsx scripts). Type providers enable compile-time access to external data sources, computation expressions provide custom control flow, and the interactive REPL (F# Interactive) enables rapid prototyping.
Prerequisites recommended: Familiarity with at least one programming language (Python or C#) helps you appreciate F#’s functional approach. Experience with C# provides useful context for .NET ecosystem features. See Programming Languages Overview for the complete learning path.
Getting Started
Before diving into comprehensive tutorials, get up and running:
- Initial Setup - Install .NET SDK, configure your environment, verify your setup
- Quick Start - Your first F# program, basic syntax touchpoints, essential concepts
These foundational tutorials (0-30% coverage) prepare you for the complete learning path.
By Example Track (Code-First Learning)
The by-example track provides 85 heavily annotated code examples achieving 95% language coverage:
By Example
- Coverage: 0-95% (Comprehensive code-first approach)
- What you’ll learn: F# through 85 self-contained, heavily annotated examples
- Goal: Achieve comprehensive F# mastery through working code
- Best for: Experienced developers who prefer learning by reading and running code
Structure:
- Beginner (Examples 1-30): Fundamentals and core syntax
- Intermediate (Examples 31-60): Production patterns and framework features
- Advanced (Examples 61-85): Expert mastery and optimization
How to Choose Your Starting Point
Choose based on your experience level:
| Experience Level | Recommended Path |
|---|---|
| No programming experience | Quick Start → By Example (Beginner → Advanced) |
| Experienced programmer, new to F# | By Example (Beginner → Advanced) |
| Familiar with some F#, want depth | By Example (Intermediate → Advanced) |
| Building production systems now | By Example (Intermediate → Advanced) |
| Seeking expert mastery | By Example (Advanced, review earlier as needed) |
| Need a specific pattern? | Search By Example for relevant topics |
Tutorial Structure
Each tutorial follows the Diátaxis framework principles for learning-oriented content:
- Learning-oriented: Designed to help learners master F# by doing
- Step-by-step: Clear, sequential progression with increasing complexity
- Practical: Hands-on examples with working, runnable F# code
- Self-contained: Examples include all necessary code and explanations
- Production-focused: Real-world patterns and best practices
What You’ll Learn
Language Fundamentals (0-40%)
- Immutable values and bindings
- Functions and function composition
- Pattern matching and discriminated unions
- Lists, sequences, and collection operations
- Piping and forward composition
- Option types and error handling
- Records and tuples
- Recursion and tail recursion
- Modules and namespaces
- Type inference and type annotations
Production Patterns (40-75%)
- Computation expressions (async, result, option)
- Railway-oriented programming
- Active patterns
- Type providers (SQL, JSON, CSV)
- Units of measure
- Object programming (classes, interfaces)
- Async workflows and task-based programming
- Testing with Expecto and FsUnit
- Domain modeling with types
- Parser combinators
- Web development (Giraffe, Saturn)
Expert Mastery (75-95%)
- Advanced type system features (GADTs, phantom types)
- Custom computation expressions
- Reflection and quotations
- Type-level programming
- Advanced async patterns (mailbox processors, agents)
- Performance optimization (value types, inline)
- Interop with C# and .NET libraries
- Code generation and metaprogramming
- Domain-specific languages (DSLs)
- Category theory applications (functors, monads)
Key F# Concepts
Immutability by Default
Values in F# are immutable unless explicitly declared mutable. This eliminates entire categories of bugs and enables safe concurrent programming.
Type Inference
F# infers types without explicit annotations, providing type safety without verbosity. The compiler validates types at compile time while code reads like dynamic languages.
Pattern Matching
Pattern matching provides exhaustive case analysis with compiler verification, enabling robust error handling and data transformation.
Railway-Oriented Programming
Compose error-handling pipelines using Result types, making success and failure paths explicit and composable.
Computation Expressions
Custom syntax for control flow patterns (async, validation, parsing) through compiler-supported builder patterns.
Type Providers
Compile-time access to external data sources (databases, JSON APIs, CSV files) with IntelliSense support and type safety.
Learning Path Progression
%% Color Palette: Blue #0173B2, Orange #DE8F05, Teal #029E73, Purple #CC78BC, Brown #CA9161
graph TD
A["Initial Setup<br/>0-5%"]
B["Quick Start<br/>5-30%"]
C["By Example: Beginner<br/>0-40%"]
D["By Example: Intermediate<br/>40-75%"]
E["By Example: Advanced<br/>75-95%"]
A --> B
B --> C
C --> D
D --> E
style A fill:#0173B2,stroke:#000,color:#fff
style B fill:#DE8F05,stroke:#000,color:#fff
style C fill:#029E73,stroke:#000,color:#fff
style D fill:#CC78BC,stroke:#000,color:#fff
style E fill:#CA9161,stroke:#000,color:#fff
Related Languages
- C# - Object-oriented sibling on .NET platform
- Elixir - Functional language with similar immutability emphasis
- Haskell - Pure functional language influencing F# design
- OCaml - ML-family language that F# derives from
External Resources
- Official F# Documentation - F# Software Foundation resources
- F# Language Guide - Microsoft’s comprehensive F# documentation
- F# for Fun and Profit - Comprehensive F# learning site by Scott Wlaschin
- F# API Reference - FSharp.Core library documentation
Version Information
These tutorials target .NET 8 (LTS - Long Term Support) and F# 8, the latest stable versions as of 2024. Examples use modern F# features including computation expressions, type providers, active patterns, and units of measure.
Migration notes: If using older versions (.NET Framework, .NET Core 3.1, .NET 5-7), most examples work with minor adjustments. Version-specific features are clearly marked.