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package/skills/fp-ts-pragmatic/SKILL.md

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+---
+name: fp-ts-pragmatic
+description: A practical, jargon-free guide to fp-ts functional programming - the 80/20 approach that gets results without the academic overhead. Use when writing TypeScript with fp-ts library.
+risk: safe
+source: https://github.com/whatiskadudoing/fp-ts-skills
+---
+
+# Pragmatic Functional Programming
+
+**Read this first.** This guide cuts through the academic jargon and shows you what actually matters. No category theory. No abstract nonsense. Just patterns that make your code better.
+
+## When to Use This Skill
+
+- When starting with fp-ts and need practical guidance
+- When writing TypeScript code that handles nullable values, errors, or async operations
+- When you want cleaner, more maintainable functional code without the academic overhead
+- When refactoring imperative code to functional style
+
+## The Golden Rule
+
+> **If functional programming makes your code harder to read, don't use it.**
+
+FP is a tool, not a religion. Use it when it helps. Skip it when it doesn't.
+
+---
+
+## The 80/20 of FP
+
+These five patterns give you most of the benefits. Master these before exploring anything else.
+
+### 1. Pipe: Chain Operations Clearly
+
+Instead of nesting function calls or creating intermediate variables, chain operations in reading order.
+
+```typescript
+import { pipe } from 'fp-ts/function'
+
+// Before: Hard to read (inside-out)
+const result = format(validate(parse(input)))
+
+// Before: Too many variables
+const parsed = parse(input)
+const validated = validate(parsed)
+const result = format(validated)
+
+// After: Clear, linear flow
+const result = pipe(
+  input,
+  parse,
+  validate,
+  format
+)
+```
+
+**When to use pipe:**
+- 3+ transformations on the same data
+- You find yourself naming throwaway variables
+- Logic reads better top-to-bottom
+
+**When to skip pipe:**
+- Just 1-2 operations (direct call is fine)
+- The operations don't naturally chain
+
+### 2. Option: Handle Missing Values Without null Checks
+
+Stop writing `if (x !== null && x !== undefined)` everywhere.
+
+```typescript
+import * as O from 'fp-ts/Option'
+import { pipe } from 'fp-ts/function'
+
+// Before: Defensive null checking
+function getUserCity(user: User | null): string {
+  if (user === null) return 'Unknown'
+  if (user.address === null) return 'Unknown'
+  if (user.address.city === null) return 'Unknown'
+  return user.address.city
+}
+
+// After: Chain through potential missing values
+const getUserCity = (user: User | null): string =>
+  pipe(
+    O.fromNullable(user),
+    O.flatMap(u => O.fromNullable(u.address)),
+    O.flatMap(a => O.fromNullable(a.city)),
+    O.getOrElse(() => 'Unknown')
+  )
+```
+
+**Plain language translation:**
+- `O.fromNullable(x)` = "wrap this value, treating null/undefined as 'nothing'"
+- `O.flatMap(fn)` = "if we have something, apply this function"
+- `O.getOrElse(() => default)` = "unwrap, or use this default if nothing"
+
+### 3. Either: Make Errors Explicit
+
+Stop throwing exceptions for expected failures. Return errors as values.
+
+```typescript
+import * as E from 'fp-ts/Either'
+import { pipe } from 'fp-ts/function'
+
+// Before: Hidden failure mode
+function parseAge(input: string): number {
+  const age = parseInt(input, 10)
+  if (isNaN(age)) throw new Error('Invalid age')
+  if (age < 0) throw new Error('Age cannot be negative')
+  return age
+}
+
+// After: Errors are visible in the type
+function parseAge(input: string): E.Either<string, number> {
+  const age = parseInt(input, 10)
+  if (isNaN(age)) return E.left('Invalid age')
+  if (age < 0) return E.left('Age cannot be negative')
+  return E.right(age)
+}
+
+// Using it
+const result = parseAge(userInput)
+if (E.isRight(result)) {
+  console.log(`Age is ${result.right}`)
+} else {
+  console.log(`Error: ${result.left}`)
+}
+```
+
+**Plain language translation:**
+- `E.right(value)` = "success with this value"
+- `E.left(error)` = "failure with this error"
+- `E.isRight(x)` = "did it succeed?"
+
+### 4. Map: Transform Without Unpacking
+
+Transform values inside containers without extracting them first.
+
+```typescript
+import * as O from 'fp-ts/Option'
+import * as E from 'fp-ts/Either'
+import * as A from 'fp-ts/Array'
+import { pipe } from 'fp-ts/function'
+
+// Transform inside Option
+const maybeUser: O.Option<User> = O.some({ name: 'Alice', age: 30 })
+const maybeName: O.Option<string> = pipe(
+  maybeUser,
+  O.map(user => user.name)
+)
+
+// Transform inside Either
+const result: E.Either<Error, number> = E.right(5)
+const doubled: E.Either<Error, number> = pipe(
+  result,
+  E.map(n => n * 2)
+)
+
+// Transform arrays (same concept!)
+const numbers = [1, 2, 3]
+const doubled = pipe(
+  numbers,
+  A.map(n => n * 2)
+)
+```
+
+### 5. FlatMap: Chain Operations That Might Fail
+
+When each step might fail, chain them together.
+
+```typescript
+import * as E from 'fp-ts/Either'
+import { pipe } from 'fp-ts/function'
+
+const parseJSON = (s: string): E.Either<string, unknown> =>
+  E.tryCatch(() => JSON.parse(s), () => 'Invalid JSON')
+
+const extractEmail = (data: unknown): E.Either<string, string> => {
+  if (typeof data === 'object' && data !== null && 'email' in data) {
+    return E.right((data as { email: string }).email)
+  }
+  return E.left('No email field')
+}
+
+const validateEmail = (email: string): E.Either<string, string> =>
+  email.includes('@') ? E.right(email) : E.left('Invalid email format')
+
+// Chain all steps - if any fails, the whole thing fails
+const getValidEmail = (input: string): E.Either<string, string> =>
+  pipe(
+    parseJSON(input),
+    E.flatMap(extractEmail),
+    E.flatMap(validateEmail)
+  )
+
+// Success path: Right('user@example.com')
+// Any failure: Left('specific error message')
+```
+
+**Plain language:** `flatMap` means "if this succeeded, try the next thing"
+
+---
+
+## When NOT to Use FP
+
+Functional programming is not always the answer. Here's when to keep it simple.
+
+### Simple Null Checks
+
+```typescript
+// Just use optional chaining - it's built into the language
+const city = user?.address?.city ?? 'Unknown'
+
+// DON'T overcomplicate it
+const city = pipe(
+  O.fromNullable(user),
+  O.flatMap(u => O.fromNullable(u.address)),
+  O.flatMap(a => O.fromNullable(a.city)),
+  O.getOrElse(() => 'Unknown')
+)
+```
+
+### Simple Loops
+
+```typescript
+// A for loop is fine when you need early exit or complex logic
+function findFirst(items: Item[], predicate: (i: Item) => boolean): Item | null {
+  for (const item of items) {
+    if (predicate(item)) return item
+  }
+  return null
+}
+
+// DON'T force FP when it doesn't help
+const result = pipe(
+  items,
+  A.findFirst(predicate),
+  O.toNullable
+)
+```
+
+### Performance-Critical Code
+
+```typescript
+// For hot paths, imperative is faster (no intermediate arrays)
+function sumLarge(numbers: number[]): number {
+  let sum = 0
+  for (let i = 0; i < numbers.length; i++) {
+    sum += numbers[i]
+  }
+  return sum
+}
+
+// fp-ts creates intermediate structures
+const sum = pipe(numbers, A.reduce(0, (acc, n) => acc + n))
+```
+
+### When Your Team Doesn't Know FP
+
+If you're the only one who can read the code, it's not good code.
+
+```typescript
+// If your team knows this pattern
+async function getUser(id: string): Promise<User | null> {
+  try {
+    const response = await fetch(`/api/users/${id}`)
+    if (!response.ok) return null
+    return await response.json()
+  } catch {
+    return null
+  }
+}
+
+// Don't force this on them
+const getUser = (id: string): TE.TaskEither<Error, User> =>
+  pipe(
+    TE.tryCatch(() => fetch(`/api/users/${id}`), E.toError),
+    TE.flatMap(r => r.ok ? TE.right(r) : TE.left(new Error('Not found'))),
+    TE.flatMap(r => TE.tryCatch(() => r.json(), E.toError))
+  )
+```
+
+---
+
+## Quick Wins: Easy Changes That Improve Code Today
+
+### 1. Replace Nested Ternaries with pipe + fold
+
+```typescript
+// Before: Nested ternary nightmare
+const message = user === null
+  ? 'No user'
+  : user.isAdmin
+    ? `Admin: ${user.name}`
+    : `User: ${user.name}`
+
+// After: Clear case handling
+const message = pipe(
+  O.fromNullable(user),
+  O.fold(
+    () => 'No user',
+    (u) => u.isAdmin ? `Admin: ${u.name}` : `User: ${u.name}`
+  )
+)
+```
+
+### 2. Replace try-catch with tryCatch
+
+```typescript
+// Before: try-catch everywhere
+let config
+try {
+  config = JSON.parse(rawConfig)
+} catch {
+  config = defaultConfig
+}
+
+// After: One-liner
+const config = pipe(
+  E.tryCatch(() => JSON.parse(rawConfig), () => 'parse error'),
+  E.getOrElse(() => defaultConfig)
+)
+```
+
+### 3. Replace undefined Returns with Option
+
+```typescript
+// Before: Caller might forget to check
+function findUser(id: string): User | undefined {
+  return users.find(u => u.id === id)
+}
+
+// After: Type forces caller to handle missing case
+function findUser(id: string): O.Option<User> {
+  return O.fromNullable(users.find(u => u.id === id))
+}
+```
+
+### 4. Replace Error Strings with Typed Errors
+
+```typescript
+// Before: Just strings
+function validate(data: unknown): E.Either<string, User> {
+  // ...
+  return E.left('validation failed')
+}
+
+// After: Structured errors
+type ValidationError = {
+  field: string
+  message: string
+}
+
+function validate(data: unknown): E.Either<ValidationError, User> {
+  // ...
+  return E.left({ field: 'email', message: 'Invalid format' })
+}
+```
+
+### 5. Use const Assertions for Error Types
+
+```typescript
+// Create specific error types without classes
+const NotFound = (id: string) => ({ _tag: 'NotFound' as const, id })
+const Unauthorized = { _tag: 'Unauthorized' as const }
+const ValidationFailed = (errors: string[]) =>
+  ({ _tag: 'ValidationFailed' as const, errors })
+
+type AppError =
+  | ReturnType<typeof NotFound>
+  | typeof Unauthorized
+  | ReturnType<typeof ValidationFailed>
+
+// Now you can pattern match
+const handleError = (error: AppError): string => {
+  switch (error._tag) {
+    case 'NotFound': return `Item ${error.id} not found`
+    case 'Unauthorized': return 'Please log in'
+    case 'ValidationFailed': return error.errors.join(', ')
+  }
+}
+```
+
+---
+
+## Common Refactors: Before and After
+
+### Callback Hell to Pipe
+
+```typescript
+// Before
+fetchUser(id, (user) => {
+  if (!user) return handleNoUser()
+  fetchPosts(user.id, (posts) => {
+    if (!posts) return handleNoPosts()
+    fetchComments(posts[0].id, (comments) => {
+      render(user, posts, comments)
+    })
+  })
+})
+
+// After (with TaskEither for async)
+import * as TE from 'fp-ts/TaskEither'
+
+const loadData = (id: string) =>
+  pipe(
+    fetchUser(id),
+    TE.flatMap(user => pipe(
+      fetchPosts(user.id),
+      TE.map(posts => ({ user, posts }))
+    )),
+    TE.flatMap(({ user, posts }) => pipe(
+      fetchComments(posts[0].id),
+      TE.map(comments => ({ user, posts, comments }))
+    ))
+  )
+
+// Execute
+const result = await loadData('123')()
+pipe(
+  result,
+  E.fold(handleError, ({ user, posts, comments }) => render(user, posts, comments))
+)
+```
+
+### Multiple null Checks to Option Chain
+
+```typescript
+// Before
+function getManagerEmail(employee: Employee): string | null {
+  if (!employee.department) return null
+  if (!employee.department.manager) return null
+  if (!employee.department.manager.email) return null
+  return employee.department.manager.email
+}
+
+// After
+const getManagerEmail = (employee: Employee): O.Option<string> =>
+  pipe(
+    O.fromNullable(employee.department),
+    O.flatMap(d => O.fromNullable(d.manager)),
+    O.flatMap(m => O.fromNullable(m.email))
+  )
+
+// Use it
+pipe(
+  getManagerEmail(employee),
+  O.fold(
+    () => sendToDefault(),
+    (email) => sendTo(email)
+  )
+)
+```
+
+### Validation with Multiple Checks
+
+```typescript
+// Before: Throws on first error
+function validateUser(data: unknown): User {
+  if (!data || typeof data !== 'object') throw new Error('Must be object')
+  const obj = data as Record<string, unknown>
+  if (typeof obj.email !== 'string') throw new Error('Email required')
+  if (!obj.email.includes('@')) throw new Error('Invalid email')
+  if (typeof obj.age !== 'number') throw new Error('Age required')
+  if (obj.age < 0) throw new Error('Age must be positive')
+  return obj as User
+}
+
+// After: Returns first error, type-safe
+const validateUser = (data: unknown): E.Either<string, User> =>
+  pipe(
+    E.Do,
+    E.bind('obj', () =>
+      typeof data === 'object' && data !== null
+        ? E.right(data as Record<string, unknown>)
+        : E.left('Must be object')
+    ),
+    E.bind('email', ({ obj }) =>
+      typeof obj.email === 'string' && obj.email.includes('@')
+        ? E.right(obj.email)
+        : E.left('Valid email required')
+    ),
+    E.bind('age', ({ obj }) =>
+      typeof obj.age === 'number' && obj.age >= 0
+        ? E.right(obj.age)
+        : E.left('Valid age required')
+    ),
+    E.map(({ email, age }) => ({ email, age }))
+  )
+```
+
+### Promise Chain to TaskEither
+
+```typescript
+// Before
+async function processOrder(orderId: string): Promise<Receipt> {
+  const order = await fetchOrder(orderId)
+  if (!order) throw new Error('Order not found')
+
+  const validated = await validateOrder(order)
+  if (!validated.success) throw new Error(validated.error)
+
+  const payment = await processPayment(validated.order)
+  if (!payment.success) throw new Error('Payment failed')
+
+  return generateReceipt(payment)
+}
+
+// After
+const processOrder = (orderId: string): TE.TaskEither<string, Receipt> =>
+  pipe(
+    fetchOrderTE(orderId),
+    TE.flatMap(order =>
+      order ? TE.right(order) : TE.left('Order not found')
+    ),
+    TE.flatMap(validateOrderTE),
+    TE.flatMap(processPaymentTE),
+    TE.map(generateReceipt)
+  )
+```
+
+---
+
+## The Readability Rule
+
+Before using any FP pattern, ask: **"Would a junior developer understand this?"**
+
+### Too Clever (Avoid)
+
+```typescript
+const result = pipe(
+  data,
+  A.filter(flow(prop('status'), equals('active'))),
+  A.map(flow(prop('value'), multiply(2))),
+  A.reduce(monoid.concat, monoid.empty),
+  O.fromPredicate(gt(threshold))
+)
+```
+
+### Just Right (Prefer)
+
+```typescript
+const activeItems = data.filter(item => item.status === 'active')
+const doubledValues = activeItems.map(item => item.value * 2)
+const total = doubledValues.reduce((sum, val) => sum + val, 0)
+const result = total > threshold ? O.some(total) : O.none
+```
+
+### The Middle Ground (Often Best)
+
+```typescript
+const result = pipe(
+  data,
+  A.filter(item => item.status === 'active'),
+  A.map(item => item.value * 2),
+  A.reduce(0, (sum, val) => sum + val),
+  total => total > threshold ? O.some(total) : O.none
+)
+```
+
+---
+
+## Cheat Sheet
+
+| What you want | Plain language | fp-ts |
+|--------------|----------------|-------|
+| Handle null/undefined | "Wrap this nullable" | `O.fromNullable(x)` |
+| Default for missing | "Use this if nothing" | `O.getOrElse(() => default)` |
+| Transform if present | "If something, change it" | `O.map(fn)` |
+| Chain nullable operations | "If something, try this" | `O.flatMap(fn)` |
+| Return success | "Worked, here's the value" | `E.right(value)` |
+| Return failure | "Failed, here's why" | `E.left(error)` |
+| Wrap throwing function | "Try this, catch errors" | `E.tryCatch(fn, onError)` |
+| Handle both cases | "Do this for error, that for success" | `E.fold(onLeft, onRight)` |
+| Chain operations | "Then do this, then that" | `pipe(x, fn1, fn2, fn3)` |
+
+---
+
+## When to Level Up
+
+Once comfortable with these patterns, explore:
+
+1. **TaskEither** - Async operations that can fail (replaces Promise + try/catch)
+2. **Validation** - Collect ALL errors instead of stopping at first
+3. **Reader** - Dependency injection without classes
+4. **Do notation** - Cleaner syntax for multiple bindings
+
+But don't rush. The basics here will handle 80% of real-world scenarios. Get comfortable with these before adding more tools to your belt.
+
+---
+
+## Summary
+
+1. **Use pipe** for 3+ operations
+2. **Use Option** for nullable chains
+3. **Use Either** for operations that can fail
+4. **Use map** to transform wrapped values
+5. **Use flatMap** to chain operations that might fail
+6. **Skip FP** when it hurts readability
+7. **Keep it simple** - if your team can't read it, it's not good code