Ask HN: Should an engineer try to understand type theory?

2 points by adder46 ↗ HN
I'm studying to become a software engineer, and I was wondering if I should bother learning type theory. I have TAPL by Pierce in mind in particular.

What are the possible benefits if I successfully tackle the book?

Also, other readings (not as in-depth as the book) are also welcome.

4 comments

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Depends on your math background.

If you want to program in Rust (for example) I think the mathematically oriented intro material won't help you so much.

If you want to make something like Rust there is a lot of interesting literature at the graduate level and a fairly clear path that you write a PhD thesis and really do write a language but it is more like Cyclone or Alef, DIBOL or LISP 2 or something like that.

If you are solid on algorithm theory, combinatorics and similar subjects than type theory could be a good addition.