[swift-evolution] Value Subtypes and Generalized Enums, a manifesto

[Karl Wagner]

> On 17 Feb 2017, at 00:00, Karl Wagner <karl.swift at springsup.com> wrote:
> 
> 
>> On 16 Feb 2017, at 23:44, Matthew Johnson via swift-evolution <swift-evolution at swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution at swift.org>> wrote:
>> 
>> I have been thinking a lot about enums and value subtyping lately and decided to write down the ideas I’ve been thinking about.  The result is a manifesto-style document that explores a broad landscape of features that could eventually lead to proposals (at the right time, of course).
>> 
>> I’m presenting this document to the list now mostly because I am not sure which of these features (if any) might be relevant to ABI stability, particularly with respect to standard library APIs.  I do not wish to distract the list from the focus on Swift 4, phase 1.  Let’s try not to get distracted by exciting ideas that won’t be in scope until at least phase 2.  Feel free to send feedback off list if you’re interested in discussing ideas that may not be relevant to Swift evolution at this time.
>> 
>> Because this document covers a pretty broad range of topics it might be a good idea to start a new thread before jumping in to discussion about a specific aspect of it.  Please consider doing that if it is relevant before responding directly to this thread.
>> 
>> As this is a relatively large document I am only providing a link: https://gist.github.com/anandabits/5b7f8e3836387e893e3a1197a4bf144d <https://gist.github.com/anandabits/5b7f8e3836387e893e3a1197a4bf144d>
>> 
>> To whet your appetite, the topics covered include:
>> 
>> * Definition of value subtyping
>>   * Transitivity of value subtypes
>>   * Generic supertype constraints
>> * Axiomatic value subtype relationships
>> * Enums: Value Subtype Relationships by definition
>>   * Nominal case types
>>   * Nominal unions
>>   * Generic enums and Optional
>>        * Cases with unbound generic arguments
>>   * Structural Unions
>>   * Enum subtypes
>>   * Inline enum subtypes
>>   * Inline generic enum subtypes
>>   * Conditional cases (and GADTs)
>>   * Inline case types
>>   * Nominal cases with inline types
>>   * Case type implementation sharing
>>        * Shared stored properties
>>            * Subenum stored properties
>>        * Shared methods and computed properties
>> * User-defined case patterns
>> _______________________________________________
>> swift-evolution mailing list
>> swift-evolution at swift.org <mailto:swift-evolution at swift.org>
>> https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution
> 
> 
> 
> 
> enum IntOrString: Int | String {
>   case Int
>   case String
> }
> 
> func takesAnonymousUnion(intOrString: Int | String) {}
> 
> Haven’t been through it all, just pointing out that “Structural unions” and anonymous unions have been suggested and rejected before.
> 
> - Karl

(maybe I should elaborate on that, because you do point it out in the document)

What I mean is that the reason this was rejected before was that people should be using protocols instead, and building semantic contracts. “Int” and “String” may have a method that looks the same but behaves very differently - the union provides no guarantees about _behaviour_. Protocols *do* give you guarantees about behaviour.

Basically, the correct way to write this (today) is:

protocol CommonIntAndStringMethods {
    func doSomething()
}

enum IntOrString {
    case integer(Int)
    case string(String)
}
extension Int: CommonIntAndStringMethods {}
extension String: CommonIntAndStringMethods {}

func myFunc(_ x: IntOrString) {
    let val: CommonIntAndStringMethods
    if case .integer(let i) = x     { val = i }
    else if case .string(let s) = x { val = s }

    val.doSomething()
}

What you are proposing looks superficially similar, but isn’t. We call “doSomething” on a single type, with guaranteed same semantics.

- Karl

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.swift.org/pipermail/swift-evolution/attachments/20170217/b548ae5e/attachment.html>