Creating convenient syntax for retrying an unreliable operation, using Try, currying, call-by-name (and @tailrec, if you really need lots of retries!) This is a Scala Eclipse worksheet, so won't run standalone without a minor tweak.

retry.scala

import scala.annotation.tailrec
import scala.util.Random
import scala.util.{ Try, Success, Failure }

object retry {
  { // extra block is a workaround for Scala worksheet bug with @tailrec

    @tailrec
    def withRetry[T](attempts: Int)(f: => T): T = {
      println("Attempts remaining: " + attempts)
      Try(f) match {
        case Success(t)                 => t
        case Failure(_) if attempts > 1 => withRetry(attempts - 1)(f)
        case Failure(e)                 => throw e
      }
    }

    def unreliable(x: Int) = {
      println("Unreliable")
      val r = new Random()
      if (r.nextInt(x) == 1) 1 else throw new Exception("Oops!")
    }

    // ---------------------------------------------

    withRetry(3) {
      unreliable(3)
    }
  }