Skip to main content

Functional Programming in Haskell

This is an introductory course on functional programming in Haskell. It is designed for first year computing students in Nottingham, but the lectures are also made available on YouTube.

The course is based on part I of Programming in Haskell.
It is recommended for following the course, to purchase the below textbook, watch the youtube videos, slides are provided below to follow along, and then to try out to programming examples with resources below as well.
All resources and links are provided at the bottom of the page.

All credit goes to the Graham Hutton, University of Nottingham.

What This Course Covers​

The course is based on Part I of Graham Hutton’s textbook Programming in Haskell and introduces foundational topics such as:

  • Basic syntax and functions
  • Recursion and higher-order functions
  • Custom data types and pattern matching
  • List comprehensions
  • Lazy evaluation and interactive programs

The full lecture series is available free on YouTube, accompanied by slides and example code.

Step-by-Step Learning Path​

Step 1: Bookmark the Main Page​

This is your hub. It includes the video lectures, downloadable slides, and example code.

Step 2: Watch Lectures in Order​

Each lecture builds on the last. Follow the sequence exactly:

  1. Start with Lecture 1 (Course Overview + Demo)
  2. Work through Lectures 2–17, one at a time
  3. Take notes, pause often, and try coding along

Step 3: Read the Book (Optional but Helpful)​

Programming in Haskell (2nd edition) fills in background and provides exercises not covered in the videos.

Use it to:

  • Reinforce concepts
  • Get deeper explanations
  • Practice with written exercises

Step 4: Code Along with Examples​

Download the example code (linked on the course site) and run them in your local Haskell environment or an online interpreter like replit or Try Haskell.

Experiment with:

  • Modifying functions
  • Creating your own recursive patterns
  • Implementing mini-projects like the Countdown game

Step 5: Do the Exercises​

Some lectures include hands-on exercises (especially Recursion and IO). Try solving them yourself before checking any solutions.

Tools You’ll Need​

  • GHC (Glasgow Haskell Compiler)
    Install from haskell.org
  • Editor: Use VS Code with the Haskell extension or any editor that supports Haskell
  • Hoogle: Use Hoogle to search for functions, types, and documentation

Tips for Success​

  • Watch each video at 1x speed—these are concept-heavy lectures
  • Type everything manually, even if code is provided
  • Don’t skip recursion or lazy evaluation—they're core to Haskell
  • Use GitHub to track your progress or share your code

Bonus: What to Do After This Course​

Once you’ve finished:

  • Continue to Part II of the textbook (monads, functors, etc.)
  • Explore other Haskell resources like:
    • Learn You a Haskell for Great Good
    • Real World Haskell
    • Haskell Programming from First Principles

Lectures​

  1. Course Overview
  2. Haskell Demo
  3. Introduction
  4. First Steps
  5. Types and Classes
  6. Defining Functions
  7. List Comprehensions
  8. Recursive Functions
  9. Exercises on Recursion
  10. Higher-Order Functions
  11. How To Think Recursively
  12. Declaring Types and Classes
  13. The Countdown Problem
  14. Interactive Programming
  15. Exercises on Interaction
  16. Lazy Evaluation
  17. Course Wrap Up

Additional material:

Resources​