learning_scala.org

If you want to learn Scala, I’d suggest:

• Install IntelliJ + Scala Plugin
• Don’t do the Coursera courses yet.
• Don’t do the “red book” Functional Programming in Scala yet.
• Do: http://underscore.io/books/
  • Essential Scala
  • Essential Play
  • Essential Slick
• Do Scala for the Impatient: https://www.amazon.com/Scala-Impatient-Cay-S-Horstmann/dp/0321774094
• The Neophyte’s Guide to Scala http://danielwestheide.com/scala/neophytes.html
• Write Scala code for a few weeks/months.
• Do pair programming with experienced Scala devs.
• Install and configure scalafmt http://scalameta.org/scalafmt/
  • Just focus on the code, not the style.
• Go to gitter channels, people are really nice there.
  • https://gitter.im/scala/scala

Improving Scala/FP/Reactive Programming

• Akka
  • Akka in Action https://www.manning.com/books/akka-in-action
  • Effective Akka http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920028789.do
  • More: http://doc.akka.io/docs/akka/current/scala/additional/books.html
• Read about SBT (but not too much)
  • Keep your build.sbt simple, the less, the better.
• Install ammonite
• Stop using IntelliJ compiler, it’ll eventually lie to you. Always compile on SBT.
• Start reading the “red book” https://www.manning.com/books/functional-programming-in-scala
• Don’t throw Exceptions, use ADTs, Either
• Do Advanced Scala with Cats (underscore)
• Keep reading the “red book”
• Keep and eye on: Functional Programming in Scala for Mortals
  • https://leanpub.com/fp-scala-mortals
• Functional and Reactive Domain Modeling
  • https://www.manning.com/books/functional-and-reactive-domain-modeling
• Keep reading the “red book”
• Read more blogs, twitter about Scala.
  • From time to time, they will fight, just ignore them.
• read.andThen(practice).recoverWith(read)
• If you have plenty of time do the Coursera Courses (not sure if it’d worth it)

Read more about FP, Cats/Scalaz, Akka Streams, Monix, CQRS, and all the cool libs/patterns out there.

Update: 2017-08-01: Added Scala for the Impatient https://twitter.com/d1egoaz/status/892564253751758848

I would add : if you do java, do more java. Use final everywhere to force yourself to use immutability. Use copy constructors. Also don't use exceptions. Don't use null, but option. Don't use foreach loops but use the java 8 stream features to manipulate collections.

It will come handy to get into Scala mindset

I would also recommend to have a look at @twitter's Scala School: https://twitter.github.io/scala_school/ ;)

@d1egoaz, out of curiosity, what about the coursera course makes it a less than ideal starting point?

@CADBOT It's a kind of thing that needs plenty of practices. Teachers are talking, you're just listening, this model, however, is not working so well. Just doing more is better. Anyway , there're many good books out there for you to explore.

@d1egoaz usted es diabólico! What do you think about using Akka-Http instead Play (especially when you don't need UI, just expose REST services)? Maybe merits adding it, I say. Gracias por el post parcero.

@d1egoaz, I'm interested in why you didn't list Odersky's Programming in Scala? Are the underscore books a better introduction?