FP Paradigm

Functional Programming (FP) is a programming paradigm that treats computation as the application of functions, making it a powerful complement to Object-Oriented Programming (OOP). While OOP structures programs around objects and their interactions, FP focuses on decomposing problems into reusable functions that operate on data.

Board games provide an excellent setting for combining OOP and FP. They use stateful objects (OOP) to represent game elements while relying on functions (FP) to define behaviors, rules, and interactions, creating a structured yet flexible approach to game development.

Decomposing Programs as Functions

Throughout this book, user-defined functions serve as a fundamental tool for structuring programs. By breaking down complex logic into small, reusable functions, we enhance modularity, readability, and maintainability.

Passing Functions as Parameters

In JavaScript, functions are first-class citizens, meaning they can be stored in variables, passed as arguments, and returned from other functions. A key example of this is the visitQuadrille function, which introduces anonymous arrow functions to dynamically manipulate a quadrille (grid structure).

Higher-Order Functions

Higher-order functions are functions that take other functions as arguments or return functions as results. This concept is applied in quadrille cells, where each cell can be filled with user-defined functions that determine its drawing behavior. The Platonic Cells demo illustrates this approach, using function-based cell definitions to enable dynamic and flexible rendering.