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D - Proposal: automatic type deduction

reply Matthias Becker <Matthias_member pathlink.com> writes:
Proposal: automatic type deduction

This proposal is inteded to save the user from a lot of redundant
code-repetition and is mainly used for convenience and readability (similar to
why a foreach-loop was introduced).


I propose to add a keyword 'let'. The usage looks like the following:

let identifier = expression;

This code is the same as:

typeof(expression) identifier = expression;



'let' prevents from code-repetition, especialy in template-code.

let var = foo * bar + quer;
vs.
typeof(foo * bar + quer) var = foo * bar + quer;

It helps maintainig the code. If you change the code on the right, you have to
change the code on the left as well.



But even on very simple common constructs like

SomeClass foo = new SomeClass ();

it can save you from repeating the type:

let foo = new SomeClass ();

Lines looking like this can be found very often, so it helps .




Additionaly 'let' could, but does not neccesarily be useable for automaticaly
deducing functions:

void function (let x, let y)
{
..
}

If you need to create further objects of the same type as the arguments, typeof
can bee used. The only problem I see is the return-type, as the arguments aren't
in socope (are they?) I suppose something like

typeof (x*y) mul (let x, let y)
{
..
}

is illegal, but I'm still no expert in D, so I don't know. If the arguments
aren't in scope of the return type, and this isn't going to change, it's eigther
impossible or another synthax of specifying the return-type would be needed:

let mul (let x, let y) : typeof (x*y)
{
..
}


If the return-type is 'let' the real return-type will be defined after a colon
behind the parameters. An alternate synthax would be using a -> or a notation
without any special synthax. I used a colon, as many languages use it in similar
cases.

This way any expression containing at least one of the arguments could be used
to deduce the type:

let function (let x, let y) : typeof (other(x))
{
..
}
Jan 17 2004
next sibling parent reply "Matthew" <matthew.hat stlsoft.dot.org> writes:
A very interesting idea. I can't think of a problem with what you've
described, and it's certainly appeal in a number of ways, so you've got my
tentative vote. :)

"Matthias Becker" <Matthias_member pathlink.com> wrote in message
news:bubbe9$1rmf$1 digitaldaemon.com...
 Proposal: automatic type deduction

 This proposal is inteded to save the user from a lot of redundant
 code-repetition and is mainly used for convenience and readability
(similar to
 why a foreach-loop was introduced).


 I propose to add a keyword 'let'. The usage looks like the following:

 let identifier = expression;

 This code is the same as:

 typeof(expression) identifier = expression;



 'let' prevents from code-repetition, especialy in template-code.

 let var = foo * bar + quer;
 vs.
 typeof(foo * bar + quer) var = foo * bar + quer;

 It helps maintainig the code. If you change the code on the right, you
have to
 change the code on the left as well.



 But even on very simple common constructs like

 SomeClass foo = new SomeClass ();

 it can save you from repeating the type:

 let foo = new SomeClass ();

 Lines looking like this can be found very often, so it helps .




 Additionaly 'let' could, but does not neccesarily be useable for
automaticaly
 deducing functions:

 void function (let x, let y)
 {
 ..
 }

 If you need to create further objects of the same type as the arguments,
typeof
 can bee used. The only problem I see is the return-type, as the arguments
aren't
 in socope (are they?) I suppose something like

 typeof (x*y) mul (let x, let y)
 {
 ..
 }

 is illegal, but I'm still no expert in D, so I don't know. If the
arguments
 aren't in scope of the return type, and this isn't going to change, it's
eigther
 impossible or another synthax of specifying the return-type would be
needed:
 let mul (let x, let y) : typeof (x*y)
 {
 ..
 }


 If the return-type is 'let' the real return-type will be defined after a
colon
 behind the parameters. An alternate synthax would be using a -> or a
notation
 without any special synthax. I used a colon, as many languages use it in
similar
 cases.

 This way any expression containing at least one of the arguments could be
used
 to deduce the type:

 let function (let x, let y) : typeof (other(x))
 {
 ..
 }
Jan 17 2004
parent reply Matthias Becker <Matthias_member pathlink.com> writes:
Walter, what about you?
Jan 19 2004
parent "Matthew" <matthew.hat stlsoft.dot.org> writes:
 Walter, what about you?
He'll be in stalker-mode. He let's us all argue about it for weeks, and if the consensus doesn't represent a material improvement on his own ideas, or the current situation, it dies. It's quite a good strategy, if you think about it. :)
Jan 19 2004
prev sibling next sibling parent reply "Ben Hinkle" <bhinkle4 juno.com> writes:
since this seems to only apply when there is an initializer then something
like
  typeof(=) <identifier> = <expression>;
or
"typeof(something-that-indicates-the-type-of-the-initializing-expression)"
could be used. I would guess, though, that something short is what you had
in mind.

Or are you also suggesting "let" be used without an initializer? That would
be a much bigger deal to work into the language. For example, would this
compile?
  let x;
  x = 0;

-Ben

"Matthias Becker" <Matthias_member pathlink.com> wrote in message
news:bubbe9$1rmf$1 digitaldaemon.com...
 Proposal: automatic type deduction

 This proposal is inteded to save the user from a lot of redundant
 code-repetition and is mainly used for convenience and readability
(similar to
 why a foreach-loop was introduced).


 I propose to add a keyword 'let'. The usage looks like the following:

 let identifier = expression;

 This code is the same as:

 typeof(expression) identifier = expression;



 'let' prevents from code-repetition, especialy in template-code.

 let var = foo * bar + quer;
 vs.
 typeof(foo * bar + quer) var = foo * bar + quer;

 It helps maintainig the code. If you change the code on the right, you
have to
 change the code on the left as well.



 But even on very simple common constructs like

 SomeClass foo = new SomeClass ();

 it can save you from repeating the type:

 let foo = new SomeClass ();

 Lines looking like this can be found very often, so it helps .




 Additionaly 'let' could, but does not neccesarily be useable for
automaticaly
 deducing functions:

 void function (let x, let y)
 {
 ..
 }

 If you need to create further objects of the same type as the arguments,
typeof
 can bee used. The only problem I see is the return-type, as the arguments
aren't
 in socope (are they?) I suppose something like

 typeof (x*y) mul (let x, let y)
 {
 ..
 }

 is illegal, but I'm still no expert in D, so I don't know. If the
arguments
 aren't in scope of the return type, and this isn't going to change, it's
eigther
 impossible or another synthax of specifying the return-type would be
needed:
 let mul (let x, let y) : typeof (x*y)
 {
 ..
 }


 If the return-type is 'let' the real return-type will be defined after a
colon
 behind the parameters. An alternate synthax would be using a -> or a
notation
 without any special synthax. I used a colon, as many languages use it in
similar
 cases.

 This way any expression containing at least one of the arguments could be
used
 to deduce the type:

 let function (let x, let y) : typeof (other(x))
 {
 ..
 }
Jan 17 2004
parent reply Matthias Becker <Matthias_member pathlink.com> writes:
since this seems to only apply when there is an initializer then something
like
  typeof(=) <identifier> = <expression>;
or
"typeof(something-that-indicates-the-type-of-the-initializing-expression)"
could be used. I would guess, though, that something short is what you had
in mind.
You mean 'typeof(=)' is what is 'let' in my proposal? I have no problem with this.
Or are you also suggesting "let" be used without an initializer? That would
be a much bigger deal to work into the language. For example, would this
compile?
  let x;
  x = 0;
No. This shouldn't be possible.
Jan 18 2004
parent reply Ian Johnston <Ian_member pathlink.com> writes:
In article <budtfl$2t1c$1 digitaldaemon.com>, Matthias Becker says...
since this seems to only apply when there is an initializer then something
like
  typeof(=) <identifier> = <expression>;
or
"typeof(something-that-indicates-the-type-of-the-initializing-expression)"
could be used. I would guess, though, that something short is what you had
in mind.
You mean 'typeof(=)' is what is 'let' in my proposal? I have no problem with this.
Or are you also suggesting "let" be used without an initializer? That would
be a much bigger deal to work into the language. For example, would this
compile?
  let x;
  x = 0;
No. This shouldn't be possible.
How about: identifier :: type ; identifier ::= expression ; identifier ::= auto classname ( parameters ) ; identifier ::= new classname ( parameters ) ; At the cost of a a small added complexity in the parser, this could address the type deduction and auto construction questions at the same time. The tokens mimic the definition token used in some other languages, e.g. dylan. Ian
Jan 20 2004
next sibling parent Matthias Becker <Matthias_member pathlink.com> writes:
How about:

identifier :: type ;
identifier ::= expression ;
identifier ::= auto classname ( parameters ) ;
identifier ::= new classname ( parameters ) ;

At the cost of a a small added complexity in the parser, this could address
the type deduction and auto construction questions at the same time.

The tokens mimic the definition token used in some other languages, e.g.
dylan.
I don't think it fits into D. This synthax is just too different. But that's only my opinion.
Jan 20 2004
prev sibling parent "Matthew" <matthew.hat stlsoft.dot.org> writes:
Sorry to bring it all back to where it started, but what's the problem with

    auto Class instance(args);

??

"Ian Johnston" <Ian_member pathlink.com> wrote in message
news:buj16f$23nj$1 digitaldaemon.com...
 In article <budtfl$2t1c$1 digitaldaemon.com>, Matthias Becker says...
since this seems to only apply when there is an initializer then
something
like
  typeof(=) <identifier> = <expression>;
or
"typeof(something-that-indicates-the-type-of-the-initializing-expression)"
could be used. I would guess, though, that something short is what you
had
in mind.
You mean 'typeof(=)' is what is 'let' in my proposal? I have no problem
with
this.


Or are you also suggesting "let" be used without an initializer? That
would
be a much bigger deal to work into the language. For example, would this
compile?
  let x;
  x = 0;
No. This shouldn't be possible.
How about: identifier :: type ; identifier ::= expression ; identifier ::= auto classname ( parameters ) ; identifier ::= new classname ( parameters ) ; At the cost of a a small added complexity in the parser, this could
address
 the type deduction and auto construction questions at the same time.

 The tokens mimic the definition token used in some other languages, e.g.
 dylan.

 Ian
Jan 20 2004
prev sibling parent Ilya Minkov <minkov cs.tum.edu> writes:
Matthias Becker wrote:

 Proposal: automatic type deduction
 
 This proposal is inteded to save the user from a lot of redundant
 code-repetition and is mainly used for convenience and readability (similar to
 why a foreach-loop was introduced).
I had already brought up such a proposition. Someone else also did. We know it from Sather programming language, where := is a normal assignment operator, and ::= is a type deduction convenience assignment operator. However, Sather has a few more shortcuts to save on, for example, you can let out the type in the new expression and it can be deduced as well. Those are all purely from the information available to compiler anyway, thus not complicating it much. For D, i had proposed either var keyword as replacement for type, or one of the assignment operators: var nv = <expr>; nv := <expr>; nv ::= <expr>; to mean typeof(<expr>) nv = <expr>;
 Additionaly 'let' could, but does not neccesarily be useable for automaticaly
 deducing functions:
 
 void function (let x, let y)
 {
 ..
 }
This would not be good. We have a requierement that function body need not be parsed to determine calling convention for a function, so that fast parsing and compilation can be used, as well as abridged modules which look like C++ headers. Sather seems to have done a few things right, since D also inherit property notion and array operator overloading semantics from it. I'm pretty much sure Walter is aware of the proposal, and at least so far he has not said anything against it. Maybe he's saving it for the future to have room for improvement, or waits for votes or for syntax to come up which which he would be satisfied. I can imagine the feature to pop out of a sudden in the compiler someday. Hey, it pops up on the newsgroup as often as other stuff did, which did make it into the language! -eye
Jan 23 2004