Why learn F#? This multi-paradigm language not only offers you an enormous productivity boost through functional programming, it also lets you develop applications using your existing object-oriented and imperative programming skills. With Programming F#, you'll quickly discover the many advantages of Microsoft's new language, which includes access to all the great tools and libraries of the.NET platform. Learn how to reap the benefits of functional programming for your next project -- whether it's quantitative computing, large-scale data exploration, or even a pursuit of your own. With this comprehensive guide, F# team member Chris Smith gives you a head start on the fundamentals and advanced concepts of the F# language. * Get a clear understanding of functional programming, and how you can use it to simplify code * Gain a solid understanding of the language's core syntax, including object-oriented and imperative styles * Simplify concurrent and parallel programming with F# Asynchronous Workflows and the Parallel Extensions to.NET * Learn advanced F# concepts, such as quotations and computation expressions "This book emphasizes simple, clear explanations of the foundational elements of F#, always with an eye on the enjoyment that comes from programming in general, and programming with F# in particular."Don Syme, Principal Researcher and F# Designer, Microsoft Research