[swift-evolution] Inconsistencies in recursive types

[Dimitri Racordon]

Hello swift-evolution,

I noticed there’s some inconsistencies with recursive types and how the compiler handles them. Consider the following cases:


1. Swift is right to refuse compiling this, since there’s no way to initialise an instance of `First `:

struct First {
    let item: First
}
// Error: Value type 'First' cannot have a stored property that references itself

However, the message suggests more a compiler limitation rather than the actual impossibility to initialize the declared type.


2. Swift is also right not to compile this, but the error messages are even less insightful:

struct First {
    let item: Second
}
// Error: Value type 'First' cannot have a stored property that references itself


struct Second {
    let item: First
}
// Error: Value type 'Second' cannot have a stored property that references itself

The problem isn’t that the value types reference themselves. Instead, the problem is that there’s a cyclic dependency between `First` and `Second` that makes it impossible for neither of these structures to be instantiated.


3. Swift should let me do that:

struct First {
    let item: First?
}

The compiler prevents me to declare the above struct, even if there actually is a way to initialise an instance of `First` (e.g. `First(item: nil)`). The message is identical to that of case #1 (maybe it actually is a compiler limitation after all?)


4. Swift shouldn’t compile this:

class First {
    let item: First
    init(item: First) {
        self.item = item
    }
}

Like in case #1, there’s no way to instantiate `First`. The fact that it’s a reference rather than a value doesn’t change the problem.


5. Similarly to case #4, Swift shouldn’t compile this:

indirect enum First {
    case item(First)
}


6. Cases #4 #5 could be written like case #2, and should also raise compilation errors.


Does someone know if these issues have already been discussed and/or addressed?

Thanks,
Dimitri Racordon

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