Comment by dirkt
10 hours ago
The point is that algebraic data types are common in functional languages. "Maybe" is just an example of an algebraic data type, there's tons more.
If the article says "functional programmers should take a look at Zig", and Zig makes algebraic data types hard, then maybe they shouldn't use it.
If you even say "the annoyingness is a feature, use zig the way it is intended to be used" then that's another signal for functional programmers that they won't be able to use zig the same way they use functional languages.
zig doesnt make algebraic types hard. algebraic types are exceptionally easy and also safe. and unlike rust, named in a way thats friendly to c devs.
zig makes stupid metaprogramming tricks on algebraic types annoying (not hard).
so, being precise: zig is not necessarily annoying for fp programmers (my main tool of trade in Elixir). zig is made to be annoying for architecture astronauts.