[swift-evolution] [Pitch] separate syntax of class inheritance and protocol conformance

[Leonardo Pessoa]

I don't see this as an issue and I'm sure not comfortable in being
more verbose here or complicating the language unnecessarily. This is
not a change that will bring either benefit or consistency as there
are no other cases to compare the use of colon but these and variable
declarations (which also use only one).

Perhaps a change to Xcode so it could colour differently classes and
protocols could be more benefic with no impact to the language. That
would solve the problem.

L

On 22 July 2016 at 12:13, Karl via swift-evolution
<swift-evolution at swift.org> wrote:
> What about if we defined subclasses with the “subclass” keyword instead of “class”? So you knew the first parameter was always going to be a base class?
>
> That way we keep the single “:” everywhere else - where clauses, generic constraints lists, etc.
>
>> On 22 Jul 2016, at 15:14, Vladimir.S via swift-evolution <swift-evolution at swift.org> wrote:
>>
>> I remember that this was discussed, but can't find any decision regarding this.. So, as a last chance, don't we want in Swift 3.0, as big source breaking change, separate class inheritance and protocol conformance in syntax?
>>
>> Sorry if there was a decision about this suggestions. Please let know in this case.
>>
>> I.e. when I see the following I can't understand if the class inherits from base class and conforms to protocols or just conforms to two protocols:
>>
>> class MyClass : First, Second, Third {
>> }
>>
>> We don't have a rule to name protocols with 'Protocol'/other suffix/prefix, or classes with 'T'/'C' prefix or something like this, so I believe to improve the clarity of code we should separate in syntax inheritance and conformance.
>>
>> As I understand we should discuss changes in these areas:
>>
>> 1. class inheritance :
>> class Child: BaseClass
>>
>> 2. class conformance :
>> class Child: SomeProtocol1, SomeProtocol2
>>
>> 3. class inheritance + conformance :
>> class Child: BaseClass, SomeProtocol1, SomeProtocol2
>>
>> 4. protocol conformance for structs:
>> struct Struct: SomeProtocol1, SomeProtocol2
>>
>> 5. protocol inheritance:
>> protocol Child: BaseProtocol1, BaseProtocol2
>>
>>
>> My suggestions:
>>
>> I) separate inheritance with double colon :
>>
>> 1. class inheritance :
>> class Child:: BaseClass
>>
>> 2. class conformance :
>> class Child: SomeProtocol1, SomeProtocol2
>>
>> 3. class inheritance + conformance :
>> class Child:: BaseClass : SomeProtocol1, SomeProtocol2
>>
>> 4. protocol conformance for structs:
>> struct Struct: SomeProtocol1, SomeProtocol2
>>
>> 5. protocol inheritance:
>> protocol Child:: BaseProtocol1, BaseProtocol2
>>
>>
>> II) in class definition use parenthesis to separate inheritance and conformance :
>>
>> 1. class inheritance :
>> class Child: BaseClass
>>
>> 2. class conformance :
>> class Child: (SomeProtocol1, SomeProtocol2)
>>
>> 3. class inheritance + conformance :
>> class Child: BaseClass (SomeProtocol1, SomeProtocol2)
>>
>> 4. protocol conformance for structs:
>> struct Struct: SomeProtocol1, SomeProtocol2
>> or
>> struct Struct: (SomeProtocol1, SomeProtocol2)
>> should be discussed
>>
>> 5. protocol inheritance:
>> protocol Child: BaseProtocol1, BaseProtocol2
>>
>>
>> III) special word like 'conforms'
>>
>> 1. class inheritance :
>> class Child: BaseClass
>>
>> 2. class conformance :
>> class Child: conforms SomeProtocol1, SomeProtocol2
>> or
>> class Child conforms SomeProtocol1, SomeProtocol2
>>
>> 3. class inheritance + conformance :
>> class Child: BaseClass conforms SomeProtocol1, SomeProtocol2
>>
>> 4. protocol conformance for structs:
>> struct Struct: conforms SomeProtocol1, SomeProtocol2
>> or
>> struct Struct conforms SomeProtocol1, SomeProtocol2
>>
>> 5. protocol inheritance:
>> protocol Child: BaseProtocol1, BaseProtocol2
>>
>>
>> Thoughts?
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>
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