[Haskell-beginners] Tuples .vs Either Vs datatypes

[Christian Maeder]

Am 05.04.2011 19:41, schrieb Mike Meyer:
[...]
> data CharClass = Fail | Pattern String
> matchCharClass :: Pattern ->  Char ->  CharClass

As mentioned by Alex Rozenshteyn this CharClass is isomorphic to "Maybe 
String".

> This only required minor changes to the code, but made it easy to add
> "Error String" to the CharClass datatype later. That version can be

Replacing Fail (or Nothing) by "Error String" is like going to "Either 
String String".

Yet, user-defined data types (no type synonyms!) may increase 
readability (and type safety). However, one disadvantage is that some 
type class instances have to be redefined (or derived) if needed.

"Maybe" and "Either String" are fairly standard (and have Monad and what 
not instances), still your data type CharClass is perfect (if it serves 
the purpose).

HTH Christian

> seen at http://pastebin.com/eyre8795 (as always, critiques welcome).
>
> I'd like to hear what more experienced haskell programmers have to say
> about those three ways of returning multiple values.
>
>        Thanks,
>        <mike