Why Options suck less... Ref: https://twitter.com/gideondk/status/328124728730611714

gistfile1.scala

/* Null based */
def fetchUser(userId: String): User = db.user.fetch(userId)
def fetchOrganization(organizationId: String): Organization = db.organization.fetch(organizationId)
def fetchCase(caseId: String): Case = db.case.fetch(caseId)

def fetchCasesForUser(userId: String): List[Case] = {
  val user = fetchUser(userId)
  if (user != null) {
    val organization = fetchOrganization(user)
    if (organization != null) {
       organization.caseIds.map(x => fetchCase(x)).filter(_ != null)
    } else List[Case]()
  } else List[Case]()
}


/* Option based */
def fetchUser(userId: String): Option[User] = db.user.fetch(userId)
def fetchOrganization(organizationId: String): Option[Organization] = db.organization.fetch(organizationId)
def fetchCase(caseId: String): Option[Case] = db.case.fetch(caseId)


def fetchCasesForUser(userId: String): Option[List[Case]] = for {
  user <- fetchUser(userId)
  org <- fetchOrganization(user.organizationId)
} yield org.caseIds.flatMap(x => fetchCase(x))

The yield part can be expressed more succinctly as org.caseIds flatMap fetchCase. Also, the method returns Option[List[Case]].

Good example, though.

You're right, leaving the explicit function notations for the non-Scala programmers among us...