Clarify relationship to Functional Reactive Programming

[conal]

I just heard of this project today. Looks cool.

I'm confused, however, about how you came to call it "Functional Reactive Programming". I see that you've read and shared my "What is Functional Reactive Programming" answer on Stack Overflow and perhaps the more succinct "Specification for a Functional Reactive Programming language" answer (plus pointers).

I'm hoping to better understand how the term "Functional Reactive Programming" gets applied to systems that are so far from the original definition and principles (continuous time with precise & simple mathematical meaning). I'm glad that people are exploring a diversity of approaches, and I hope we can all discuss them in a way that better supports clarity about these differences.

Thanks and good luck. -- Conal

[joshaber]

Hi Conal!

The conflation is probably my fault.

In the early days I wanted to give some context for the ideas behind ReactiveCocoa. I really, really want to push Objective-C developers out of their comfort zone. Going from RAC to FRP is a way of creating a road between two worlds that otherwise don't share much connection.

ReactiveCocoa is certainly not FRP, but it certainly is inspired by it. Somewhere along the passage of time that distinction was lost.

I'm happy to change the README and wherever else to include this distinction.

Does "inspired by" seem accurate to you?

[conal]

Hi Josh. Oh, hey. I'm happy to hear that FRP was an inspiration to you! Always gratifying. And I'm glad to hear the "FRP" label for ReactiveCocoa was just a mix-up and that you're not attached to keeping the conflation. If "inspired by" is accurate (and you'd know better than I do), then by all means say that (with my appreciation). I'm grateful for your help in reversing the confusion in its present and future forms (as it will probably continue to arise).

[conal]

Hm. I wonder what to do about the confusion generated by the title of the ReactiveCocoa book.

[kastiglione]

cc @ashfurrow

[conradwt]

@conal @ashfurrow Gives a good definition on episode #52 on the iPhreaks Podcast where they ask him for a definition. http://iphreaksshow.com/052-iphreaks-show-book-club-functional-reactive-programming-with-ash-furrow/

[conal]

@conradwt Thanks. I skimmed through the transcript and found @ashfurrow's answer starting with "Yeah, it’s a big term." Looks like an independent meaning, disconnected from the already-established one. @ashfurrow -- did/do you intend a connection with the earlier meaning (from the late '90s)?

[joshaber]

I've opened #1344 to change our README to say that RAC is inspired by FRP.

[conal]

Thanks for the doc tweaks.

[joshaber]

My pleasure @conal. Thanks for all your work!