Getting rid of -XImpredicativeTypes

[Baldur Blöndal]

Shot in the dark: Would extensions like QuantifiedConstraints or
ImplicationConstraints, if implemented, help with ImpredicativeTypes?

2016-09-30 15:29 GMT+00:00 Simon Peyton Jones via ghc-devs <
ghc-devs at haskell.org>:

> Alejandro: excellent point. I mis-spoke before.  In my proposal we WILL
> allow types like (Tree (forall a. a->a)).
>
>
>
> I’m trying to get round to writing a proposal (would someone else like to
> write it – it should be short), but the idea is this:
>
>
>
> *When you have -XImpredicativeTypes*
>
> ·         *You can write a polytype in a visible type argument; eg.  f
> @(forall a. a->a)*
>
> ·         *You can write a polytype as an argument of a type in a
> signature  e.g.  f :: [forall a. a->a] -> Int*
>
>
>
> *And that’s all.  A unification variable STILL CANNOT be unified with a
> polytype.  The only way you can call a polymorphic function at a polytype
> is to use Visible Type Application.*
>
>
>
> *So using impredicative types might be tiresome.  E.g.*
>
> *  type SID = forall a. a->a*
>
>
>
> *  xs :: [forall a. a->a]*
>
> *  xs = (:) @SID id ( (:) @SID id ([] @ SID))*
>
>
>
> *In short, if you call a function at a polytype, you must use VTA.
> Simple, easy, predictable; and doubtless annoying.  But possible*.
>
>
>
> Simon
>
>
>
> *From:* Alejandro Serrano Mena [mailto:trupill at gmail.com]
> *Sent:* 26 September 2016 08:13
> *To:* Simon Peyton Jones <simonpj at microsoft.com>
> *Cc:* ghc-users at haskell.org; ghc-devs at haskell.org
> *Subject:* Re: Getting rid of -XImpredicativeTypes
>
>
>
> What would be the story for the types of the arguments. Would I be allowed
> to write the following?
>
> > f (lst :: [forall a. a -> a]) = head @(forall a. a -> a) lst 3
>
> Regards,
>
> Alejandro
>
>
>
> 2016-09-25 20:05 GMT+02:00 Simon Peyton Jones via ghc-devs <
> ghc-devs at haskell.org>:
>
> Friends
>
>
>
> GHC has a flag -XImpredicativeTypes that makes a half-hearted attempt to
> support impredicative polymorphism.  But it is vestigial…. if it works,
> it’s really a fluke.  We don’t really have a systematic story here at all.
>
>
>
> I propose, therefore, to remove it entirely.  That is, if you use
> -XImpredicativeTypes, you’ll get a warning that it does nothing (ie.
> complete no-op) and you should remove it.
>
>
>
> Before I pull the trigger, does anyone think they are using it in a
> mission-critical way?
>
>
>
> Now that we have Visible Type Application there is a workaround: if you
> want to call a polymorphic function at a polymorphic type, you can
> explicitly apply it to that type.  For example:
>
>
>
> {-# LANGUAGE ImpredicativeTypes, TypeApplications, RankNTypes #-}
>
> module Vta where
>
>   f x = id @(forall a. a->a) id @Int x
>
>
>
> You can also leave out the @Int part of course.
>
>
>
> Currently we have to use -XImpredicativeTypes to allow the @(forall a.
> a->a).    Is that sensible?  Or should we allow it regardless?   I rather
> think the latter… if you have Visible Type Application (i.e.
> -XTypeApplications) then applying to a polytype is nothing special.   So I
> propose to lift that restriction.
>
>
>
> I should go through the GHC Proposals Process for this, but I’m on a
> plane, so I’m going to at least start with an email.
>
>
>
> Simon
>
>
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