Haskell comes in various implementations. The implementation used in this book is the Glasgow Haskell Compiler (GHC). Refer to the installation instructions for your specific platform, e.g. FreeBDS, Linux, macOS, Windows. Many operating systems provide GHC as part of their respective package managers. The main benefit of installing GHC via the native package manager of your platform is that you do not need to worry about installing any other dependencies required by GHC. However, the downside is that the version offered by the package manager is usually out of date. Alternatively, you can use GHCup to install the latest, or a specific, version of GHC.

Some websites allow you to try out Haskell without having to install GHC on your own computer. The official site of the Haskell language has a playground where you can write Haskell code and run the code in your browser. Tutorials Point has a similar playground for you to write, compile, and execute your Haskell code in a web browser.

Exercises

Exercise 1. Use the package manager of your operating system to install GHC.

Exercise 2. Install GHCup on your computer.

Exercise 3. Search online for websites that allow you to write and run Haskell code within a web browser.

Exercise 4. Stack is a tool to help you manage your Haskell project. Browse through the user guide to get a general sense of what Stack can do for you.

Exercise 5. Read more about the Glasgow Haskell Compiler.