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    OK, I'll look into that (and comment on it later). But what do you think about the idea of using the pattern? Commented Aug 13, 2013 at 23:17
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    @tieTYT I think the pattern itself is a very good idea; the State monad in general is a useful code-structuring tool for pseudo-mutable algorithms (algorithms that are immutable but emulate mutability). Commented Aug 14, 2013 at 0:05
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    +1 for noting that this pattern is essentially a Monad. However, I disagree that it is good idea in a language that actually have mutability. Monad is a way to provide the capability of globals/mutable state in a language that does not allow mutation. IMO, in a language that does not enforce immutability, the Monad pattern is just mental masturbation. Commented Aug 14, 2013 at 1:15
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    @LieRyan Monads in general actually have nothing at all to do with mutability or globals; only the State monad specifically does (because that's what it in particular is designed to do). I also disagree that the State monad is not useful in a language with mutability, although an implementation relying on mutability underneath might be more efficient than the immutable one I gave (although I'm not at all sure about that). The monadic interface can provide high-level capabilities that are not otherwise easily accessible, the stateBind combinator I gave is a very simple example of that. Commented Aug 14, 2013 at 3:32
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    @LieRyan I second Ptharien's comment -- most monads are not about state or mutability, and even the one that is, is specifically not about global state. Monads actually work quite well in OO/imperative/mutable languages. Commented Aug 14, 2013 at 14:11