F# scripts are reusable snippets of code for direct or interactive execution. They provide a lightweight starting point for trying ideas, learning with FSI, and building useful code before committing to a full application project. section 2.5 section 2.8
Use scripts and the stateful REPL as an exploratory workspace rather than a program that must run from top to bottom every time. Load expensive data or required types once, bind the results to symbols, then keep separate scratchpad areas for shaping, validating, and acting on that data. section 10.1.3 section 10.7
let orders = ... #1 orders #2 |> Array.map calculateOrderPrice |> Array.sum orders #3 |> Array.groupBy summarizeOrder |> Array.map toPrintableLabel
A single loaded orders value can support several independent analyses: calculate total prices in one scratchpad expression, then group orders and create printable labels in another. section 10.1.3
Scripts can grow into console applications when the work needs a dedicated executable and user input. Move reusable logic into a module, add its file to the project, and call it from the application entry point; file order matters because earlier files cannot access later ones. section 6.2.3
Low-risk operational utilities
A script or utility program can compile, test, and bundle an application for deployment, or clear a local developer database, read static CSV data, and reseed it. Such focused tasks offer a small practical way to build confidence with F#. section 16.1.5
Start with scripts for snippets, exploration, and utilities; migrate when an application boundary becomes useful. The same F# code can move between these modes, making scripts a natural place to begin. section 2.8 section 6.2.3
