In the rush toward AI agents, an important voice is often drowned out: functional programming. A new essay argues Haskell offers something agentic coding can't—mathematical certainty in an uncertain world. 🧮

While AI generates probabilistic code that 'probably works,' Haskell programs are provably correct. In an era where AI hallucinations can cause real damage, that distinction matters more than ever.

The Haskell advantage:

  • ✅ No side effects (predictable behavior)
  • ✅ Type safety catches errors at compile time
  • ✅ Mathematical foundations enable formal verification
  • ✅ Immutable data eliminates entire classes of bugs

The essay argues agentic coding and functional programming aren't competitors—they're complements. AI generates possibilities; functional programming verifies correctness.

For Gen Z learning to code, the message is clear: don't just chase the shiny new thing. Understanding foundational concepts—functional programming, type theory, formal logic—will matter long after today's frameworks are obsolete.