Tony Morris

Regardless of what you think of stack, it has its place. I'd never have learned Haskell if stack hadn't made getting started simple.

Yes you would have :)

On my old computer I couldn't install haskell globally due to a combination of things, stack allowed local installs that got around issues.

GHC can be installed locally without stack. Been doing it for 15 years.

Right but I wouldn't have figured it out, my point is that beginners are deterred easily; I couldn't initially figure it out.

I've been teaching beginners for * years. I'm certain stack has never helped anyone. It's easy to make the mistake of believing otherwise.

I find that hard to believe. Almost everyone I’ve introduced to #Haskell has been through stack. I’m not aware of any friendlier alternative

The absence of stack is an improvement, especially for beginners. The poor beginner who I am helping right now agrees. And hundreds before.