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Re:Why functional programming matters (1990) [pdf] by tome on Wednesday May 13, 2015 @04:03AM (#9537445)
Before using the word "pure" it should be mandatory to define the sense in which you are using it. There are at least two senses, and people talk at cross purposes and get awfully antagonistic.

Sense (1): The return value of f can only depend on x, and not y (or anything else)

    x   = ...
    y   = ...
    ret = f x
Sense (2): A program written in the language can't interact with the outside world.

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