[swift-evolution] [Idea] [Pitch] Add `match` statement as `switch`-like syntax alternative to `if case` pattern matching
Benjamin Garrigues
benjamin.garrigues at gmail.com
Sun Nov 19 07:25:13 CST 2017
> Le 18 nov. 2017 à 23:47, Xiaodi Wu <xiaodi.wu at gmail.com> a écrit :
>
>> On Sat, Nov 18, 2017 at 16:25 Benjamin G <benjamin.garrigues at gmail.com> wrote:
>> I think because it's not immediately obvious with multiple if statement, that they all try to compare the same expression to different patterns.
>>
>> match exp {
>> case 1
>> case 2
>> }
>> vs
>> if case 1 = exp
>> if case 2 = anotherexp
>
> And this is a problem that requires a new syntax because...?
i don't think the reason is that different from creating "switch" : you can very well use "ifs" instead, it's just more convenient . It may provide exhaustive check in the case of optionset one day. But we can live without it ( much like we lived without switch before).
Actually i think there's a nice symetry betwen enum & switch on one side and optionset & match on the other hand. It's interesting but i don't know if it's useful in practice TBH.
>
> Consider that “exp” can be mutated in case 1; now reflect whether the proposed syntax facilitates or hinders correct code.
>
>
>>> On Sat, Nov 18, 2017 at 10:43 PM, Xiaodi Wu via swift-evolution <swift-evolution at swift.org> wrote:
>>>> On Sat, Nov 18, 2017 at 3:12 PM, Peter Kamb <peterkamb at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> A high bar for new syntax is fair and expected, and by posting I was hoping to maybe find an alternative in the comments here.
>>>>
>>>> But AFAIK there's currently no ability in Swift to:
>>>>
>>>> "Evaluate a *single* control expression against all of these patterns, and execute any and all cases that match"
>>>>
>>>> Multiple `if-case` statements, each re-stating the control expression, are ok.
>>>>
>>>> But that's definitely not as clear or concise as a switch-like construct with the single control expression at the top. Or perhaps some other alternative such as the mentioned `continue` or somehow enumerating a set of cases.
>>>
>>> You're simply restating your proposed new syntax as the thing that's missing. But what is the use case that motivates this construct? In what way are multiple if-case statements "not as clear"?
>>>
>>>>> On Sat, Nov 18, 2017 at 11:18 AM, Xiaodi Wu <xiaodi.wu at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> Robert is quite right--I'm not sure what we're designing for here. There's a very high bar for introducing new syntax and a distaste for the existing syntax is not a motivating use case.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> On Sat, Nov 18, 2017 at 12:53 PM, Kevin Nattinger via swift-evolution <swift-evolution at swift.org> wrote:
>>>>>> There have been earlier suggestions for an alternative to `fallthrough` that would continue matching cases; I think that is much more likely to get support than a whole new construct with only a subtle difference from an existing one—would that be an acceptable alternative to you?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> > On Nov 17, 2017, at 12:06 PM, Peter Kamb via swift-evolution <swift-evolution at swift.org> wrote:
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > ## Title
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > Add `match` statement as `switch`-like syntax alternative to `if case` pattern matching
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > ## Summary:
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > The syntax of the `switch` statement is familiar, succinct, elegant, and understandable. Swift pattern-matching tutorials use `switch` statements almost exclusively, with small sections at the end for alternatives such as `if case`.
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > However, the `switch` statement has several unique behaviors unrelated to pattern matching. Namely:
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > - Only the *first* matching case is executed. Subsequent matching cases are not executed.
>>>>>> > - `default:` case is required, even for expressions where a default case does not make sense.
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > These behaviors prevent `switch` from being used as a generic match-patterns-against-a-single-expression statement.
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > Swift should contain an equally-good pattern-matching statement that does not limit itself single-branch switching.
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > ## Pitch:
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > Add a `match` statement with the same elegant syntax as the `switch` statement, but without any of the "branch switching" baggage.
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > ```
>>>>>> > match someValue {
>>>>>> > case patternOne:
>>>>>> > always executed if pattern matches
>>>>>> > case patternTwo:
>>>>>> > always executed if pattern matches
>>>>>> > }
>>>>>> > ```
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > The match statement would allow a single value to be filtered through *multiple* cases of pattern-matching evaluation.
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > ## Example:
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > ```
>>>>>> > struct TextFlags: OptionSet {
>>>>>> > let rawValue: Int
>>>>>> > static let italics = TextFlags(rawValue: 1 << 1)
>>>>>> > static let bold = TextFlags(rawValue: 1 << 2)
>>>>>> > }
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > let textFlags: TextFlags = [.italics, .bold]
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > // SWITCH STATEMENT
>>>>>> > switch textFlags {
>>>>>> > case let x where x.contains(.italics):
>>>>>> > print("italics")
>>>>>> > case let x where x.contains(.bold):
>>>>>> > print("bold")
>>>>>> > default:
>>>>>> > print("forced to include a default case")
>>>>>> > }
>>>>>> > // prints "italics"
>>>>>> > // Does NOT print "bold", despite .bold being set.
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > // MATCH STATEMENT
>>>>>> > match textFlags {
>>>>>> > case let x where x.contains(.italics):
>>>>>> > print("italics")
>>>>>> > case let x where x.contains(.bold):
>>>>>> > print("bold")
>>>>>> > }
>>>>>> > // prints "italics"
>>>>>> > // prints "bold"
>>>>>> > ```
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > ## Enum vs. OptionSet
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > The basic difference between `switch` and `match` is the same conceptual difference between `Emum` and an `OptionSet` bitmask.
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > `switch` is essentially designed for enums: switching to a single logical branch based on the single distinct case represented by the enum.
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > `match` would be designed for OptionSet bitmasks and similar constructs. Executing behavior for *any and all* of the following cases and patterns that match.
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > The programmer would choose between `switch` or `match` based on the goal of the pattern matching. For example, pattern matching a String. `switch` would be appropriate for evaluating a String that represents the rawValue of an enum. But `match` would be more appropriate for evaluating a single input String against multiple unrelated-to-each-other regexes.
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > ## Existing Alternatives
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > `switch` cannot be used to match multiple cases. There are several ways "test a value against multiple patterns, executing behavior for each pattern that matches", but none are as elegant and understandable as the switch statement syntax.
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > Example using a string of independent `if case` statements:
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > ```
>>>>>> > if case let x = textFlags, x.contains(.italics) {
>>>>>> > print("italics")
>>>>>> > }
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > if case let x = textFlags, x.contains(.bold) {
>>>>>> > print("bold")
>>>>>> > }
>>>>>> > ```
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > ## `match` statement benefits:
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > - Allow filtering a single object through *multiple* cases of pattern matching, executing *all* cases that match.
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > - A syntax that exactly aligns with the familiar, succinct, elegant, and understandable `switch` syntax.
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > - The keyword "match" highlights that pattern matching will occur. Would be even better than `switch` for initial introductions to pattern-matching.
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > - No need to convert between the strangely slightly different syntax of `switch` vs. `if case`, such as `case let x where x.contains(.italics):` to `if case let x = textFlags, x.contains(.italics) {`
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > - Bring the "Expression Pattern" to non-branch-switching contexts. Currently: "An expression pattern represents the value of an expression. Expression patterns appear only in switch statement case labels."
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > - A single `match controlExpression` at the top rather than `controlExpression` being repeated (and possibly changed) in every single `if case` statement.
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > - Duplicated `controlExpression` is an opportunity for bugs such as typos or changes to the expression being evaluated in a *single* `if case` from the set, rather than all cases.
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > - Reduces to a pretty elegant single-case. This one-liner is an easy "just delete whitespace" conversion from standard multi-line switch/match syntax, whereas `if case` is not.
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > ```
>>>>>> > match value { case pattern:
>>>>>> > print("matched")
>>>>>> > }
>>>>>> > ```
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > - Eliminate the boilerplate `default: break` case line for non-exhaustible expressions. Pretty much any non-Enum type being evaluated is non-exhaustible. (This is not the *main* goal of this proposal.)
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > ## Prototype
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > A prototype `match` statement can be created in Swift by wrapping a `switch` statement in a loop and constructing each case to match only on a given iteration of the loop:
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > ```
>>>>>> > match: for eachCase in 0...1 {
>>>>>> > switch (eachCase, textFlags) {
>>>>>> > case (0, let x) where x.contains(.italics):
>>>>>> > print("italics")
>>>>>> > case (1, let x) where x.contains(.bold):
>>>>>> > print("bold")
>>>>>> > default: break }
>>>>>> > }
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > // prints "italics"
>>>>>> > // prints "bold"
>>>>>> > ```
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > ## Notes / Discussion:
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > - Other Languages - I've been unable to find a switch-syntax non-"switching" pattern-match operator in any other language. If you know of any, please post!
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > - Should `match` allow a `default:` case? It would be easy enough to add one that functioned like switch's default case: run if *no other* cases were executed. But, conceptually, should a "match any of these patterns" statement have an else/default clause? I think it should, unless there are any strong opinions.
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > - FizzBuzz using proposed Swift `match` statement:
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > ```
>>>>>> > for i in 1...100 {
>>>>>> > var output = ""
>>>>>> > match 0 {
>>>>>> > case (i % 3): output += "Fizz"
>>>>>> > case (i % 3): output += "Buzz"
>>>>>> > default: output = String(i)
>>>>>> > }
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > print(output)
>>>>>> > }
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > // `15` prints "FizzBuzz"
>>>>>> > ```
>>>>>> > _______________________________________________
>>>>>> > swift-evolution mailing list
>>>>>> > swift-evolution at swift.org
>>>>>> > https://lists.swift.org/mailman/listinfo/swift-evolution
>>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
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