Matthew Watt presents ways C# developers can leverage F# in their .NET projects, from building components to contributing to open source, showcasing inclusive strategies for using F# effectively.

Smatterings of F#: Integrating F# in a C#-Focused World

Speaker: Matthew Watt
Event: .NET Conf 2025

Overview

Are you a .NET developer tethered to C# or VB.NET? Matthew Watt’s talk explores the often-overlooked power of F#—a functional-first language in the .NET family. Whether you are a seasoned F# advocate or a C# fanatic curious about new paradigms, this session encourages inclusive experimentation and pragmatic use of F# in C#-dominated environments.

Key Takeaways

  • Expanding Beyond C#: C# is central to .NET, but F# offers different ways of thinking that can enhance your programming arsenal.
  • Accessibility: You don’t need to convince your whole team to migrate or wear an “F# Developer” badge to bring some F# into your work.

Practical Examples

  • Astro Blog Enhancements: Matthew discusses building a simple commenting system and other frontend components using F# alongside an Astro-based blog, showing how F# can augment existing projects without requiring a rewrite.
  • Open Source Contributions: Tips for making meaningful contributions to F# projects—from fixing missing functionality to improving documentation—demonstrate that getting involved doesn’t require groundbreaking changes.

Strategies for Adoption

  • Small Wins: Use “smatterings” of F# in supportive roles to add value without disrupting established C# workflows.
  • Community Engagement: Share your F# experiences and give back through open source.
  • Mindset Shift: Exploring F# concepts can improve your C# code, promote new ways of solving problems, and foster innovation.

Who Should Watch?

  • C# developers curious about F# and wanting to experiment safely.
  • Secret F# fans hesitant to introduce it at work.
  • Anyone seeking practical steps to combine functional programming with their .NET work.

Resources

Matthew encourages developers to explore F# at their own pace, integrating it incrementally, and showing that adding functional paradigms to your toolkit can be enjoyable and rewarding.