[ghc-steering-committee] #668: Allow reserved identifiers as fields in OverloadedRecordDot, recommendation: accept

Jakob Brünker jakob.bruenker at gmail.com
Wed Apr 9 02:30:45 UTC 2025


Hi,

The updated proposal looks good to me!

Jakob

On Tue, Apr 8, 2025 at 11:00 AM Adam Gundry via ghc-steering-committee <
ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org> wrote:

> I have now updated this proposal on the basis of the vote:
>
> https://github.com/ghc-proposals/ghc-proposals/pull/668
>
> Please take a look and let me know if you are happy with the current
> state of the PR, or have any remaining concerns.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Adam
>
> P.S. I will be away on holiday over the next couple of weeks, so
> apologies in advance for any delays in response.
>
>
> On 07/04/2025 16:21, Adam Gundry via ghc-steering-committee wrote:
> > Thanks everyone for your responses to this. There seems to be a fairly
> > clear consensus that the preferred option is B. (5 votes have B in first
> > place, then 3 others either rate A and B equally or weakly prefer A to
> > B.) Thus I plan to revise the proposal accordingly.
> >
> > Adam
> >
> >
> >
> > On 02/04/2025 10:26, Matthías Páll Gissurarson via
> > ghc-steering-committee wrote:
> >> I have a slight preference for B over A. The point that [2] brings up
> >> is a good one, it seems better to allow row.“foo bar”, especially when
> >> reading CSV or JSON as they mention.
> >>
> >> So my preference is B>A>C>D
> >>
> >> /Matti Palli
> >>
> >>
> >> On Wed, Apr 2, 2025 at 07:56 Arnaud Spiwack via ghc-steering-committee
> >> <ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org
> >> <mailto:ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org>> wrote:
> >>
> >>     My preference is
> >>     A>B>C>D
> >>
> >>     Though my preference between A and B is weak. Whatever's easier
> >> really.
> >>
> >>     On Thu, 20 Mar 2025 at 19:04, Simon Marlow via
> >>     ghc-steering-committee <ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org
> >>     <mailto:ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org>> wrote:
> >>
> >>         I don't feel all that strongly except that C seems like a bad
> >>         idea. A = B > D > C
> >>
> >>         Cheers
> >>         Simon
> >>
> >>         On Wed, 19 Mar 2025 at 21:49, Adam Gundry via
> >>         ghc-steering-committee <ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org
> >>         <mailto:ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org>> wrote:
> >>
> >>             Hi everyone,
> >>
> >>             This proposal [0] has been lingering for quite some time,
> >>             unfortunately.
> >>             So we can make progress, I've tried to summarise our options
> >>             below;
> >>             please vote for your preferred option in the next week or
> >>             two.  Once we
> >>             have decided on our preferred course of action, I'll make
> >>             any necessary
> >>             editorial changes to the proposal.
> >>
> >>             To recap, the idea is to extend OverloadedRecordDot such
> >>             that it permits
> >>             record selection expressions such as
> >>
> >>                  foo.type   ->   getField @"type" foo
> >>
> >>             even though `type` is a keyword and hence not a valid record
> >>             field in a
> >>             traditional datatype declarations. This is primarily
> >>             motivated by the
> >>             use of OverloadedRecordDot in libraries such as `persistent`
> >>             (see [1]),
> >>             which will generate instances like this:
> >>
> >>                  instance HasField "type" SomeRecord SomeField1 where
> >>                    getField = ...
> >>
> >>                  instance HasField "bar" SomeRecord SomeField2 where
> >>                    getField = ...
> >>
> >>             Both these instances are accepted, so it is quite surprising
> >>             and
> >>             annoying that `foo.type` is a syntax error, even though
> >>             `foo.bar` will
> >>             be accepted (and turn into a call to `getField @"bar"`).
> >>
> >>             As a small syntactic change, the proposal has lead to quite
> >>             some
> >>             discussion and a few plausible alternatives:
> >>
> >>                A. Accept the proposal as it stands, since it is the
> >>             smallest change
> >>             that resolves the issue.
> >>
> >>                B. Extend the proposal to permit still wider syntax, e.g.
> >>             `foo.Uppercase` or `foo."quoted string"`, motivated by
> >>             consistency with
> >>             OverloadedLabels and use cases such as [2]. This seems
> >>             reasonable to me.
> >>
> >>                C. Extend the proposal to permit keywords such as `type`
> >>             to be used as
> >>             field names in traditional record syntax, e.g. `data Foo =
> >>             Foo { type ::
> >>             Int }`. In my view this is unnecessary complexity that
> >>             mistakenly
> >>             conflates OverloadedRecordDot with traditional record
> >>             syntax; the
> >>             motivation for keywords as selector names comes from uses of
> >>             OverloadedRecordDot that do not involve traditional record
> >>             syntax.
> >>
> >>                D. Reject the proposal entirely, e.g. due to worries
> >>             about syntax
> >>             highlighting.
> >>
> >>             Please reply with your preference order amongst these
> >>             options. My vote
> >>             is B > A > C > D.
> >>
> >>             Thanks,
> >>
> >>             Adam
> >>
> >>
> >>             [0] https://github.com/ghc-proposals/ghc-proposals/pull/668
> >>             <https://github.com/ghc-proposals/ghc-proposals/pull/668>
> >>
> >>             [1]
> >>
> >>
> https://github.com/ghc-proposals/ghc-proposals/pull/668#issuecomment-2561282397
> <
> https://github.com/ghc-proposals/ghc-proposals/pull/668#issuecomment-2561282397
> >
> >>
> >>             [2]
> >>
> >>
> https://github.com/ghc-proposals/ghc-proposals/pull/668#issuecomment-2564274901
> <
> https://github.com/ghc-proposals/ghc-proposals/pull/668#issuecomment-2564274901
> >
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>             On 05/11/2024 13:58, Arnaud Spiwack wrote:
> >>              > I have no opinion on this. But I've seen two points in
> >>             the thread which
> >>              > make sense: Vlad, our guardian of the parser, says that
> >>             it's a good
> >>              > idea, and the comparison with OverloadedLabel (made by
> >>             Vlad and others)
> >>              > is apt, and the symmetry is desirable. Ideally the
> >>             comparison with
> >>              > OverloadedLabel should be made in the Alternatives
> >>             section, but I don't
> >>              > feel like insisting about it :) .
> >>              >
> >>              > On Sat, 2 Nov 2024 at 21:21, Simon Peyton Jones
> >>              > <simon.peytonjones at gmail.com
> >>             <mailto:simon.peytonjones at gmail.com>
> >>             <mailto:simon.peytonjones at gmail.com
> >>             <mailto:simon.peytonjones at gmail.com>>> wrote:
> >>              >
> >>              >     I'm in support too, but I have made some substantive
> >>             suggestions on
> >>              >     the GitHub ticket that I'd like to see addressed
> >>             before we tie a bow
> >>              >     on this.
> >>              >
> >>              >     Simon
> >>              >
> >>              >     On Sat, 2 Nov 2024 at 09:25, Sebastian Graf
> >>             <sgraf1337 at gmail.com <mailto:sgraf1337 at gmail.com>
> >>              >     <mailto:sgraf1337 at gmail.com
> >>             <mailto:sgraf1337 at gmail.com>>> wrote:
> >>              >
> >>              >         I'm in support as well, but would like to see a
> >>             single
> >>              >         clarifying sentence added to the proposal.
> >>              >
> >>
> >>
> https://github.com/ghc-proposals/ghc-proposals/pull/668#discussion_r1826533003
> <
> https://github.com/ghc-proposals/ghc-proposals/pull/668#discussion_r1826533003>
> <
> https://github.com/ghc-proposals/ghc-proposals/pull/668#discussion_r1826533003
> <
> https://github.com/ghc-proposals/ghc-proposals/pull/668#discussion_r1826533003
> >>
> >>              >
> >>              >         Am Sa., 2. Nov. 2024 um 07:29 Uhr schrieb Erik de
> >>             Castro Lopo
> >>              >         <erikd at mega-nerd.com <mailto:erikd at mega-nerd.com
> >
> >>             <mailto:erikd at mega-nerd.com <mailto:erikd at mega-nerd.com>>>:
> >>              >
> >>              >
> >>              >
> >>              >             I am in support.
> >>              >
> >>              >             Erik
> >>              >
> >>              >             Matthías Páll Gissurarson wrote:
> >>              >
> >>              >              > I’m in support. No need to keep
> >>             reservations longer than
> >>              >             necessary.
> >>              >              >
> >>              >              > /Matti Palli
> >>              >              >
> >>              >              >
> >>              >              > On Fri, Nov 1, 2024 at 23:22 Malte Ott
> >>              >             <malte.ott at maralorn.de
> >>             <mailto:malte.ott at maralorn.de> <mailto:
> malte.ott at maralorn.de
> >>             <mailto:malte.ott at maralorn.de>>> wrote:
> >>              >              >
> >>              >              > >
> >>              >              > > On 2024-10-29 20:12, Adam Gundry wrote:
> >>              >              > > >
> >>              > https://github.com/ghc-proposals/ghc-proposals/pull/668
> >>             <https://github.com/ghc-proposals/ghc-proposals/pull/668>
> >>              >
> >>  <https://github.com/ghc-proposals/ghc-proposals/pull/668
> >>             <https://github.com/ghc-proposals/ghc-proposals/pull/668>>
> >>              >              > >
> >>              >              > > I’m in support.
> >>              >              > >
> >>              >              > > Best
> >>              >              > > Malte
> >>              >              > >
> >>             _______________________________________________
> >>              >              > > ghc-steering-committee mailing list
> >>              >              > > ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org
> >>             <mailto:ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org>
> >>              >             <mailto:ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org
> >>             <mailto:ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org>>
> >>              >              > >
> >>              >
> >>
> >>
> https://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ghc-steering-committee <
> https://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ghc-steering-committee>
> <https://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ghc-steering-committee
> <https://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ghc-steering-committee
> >>
> >>              >              > >
> >>              >
> >>              >
> >>              >             --
> >>              >
> >>  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >>              >             Erik de Castro Lopo
> >>              > http://www.mega-nerd.com/ <http://www.mega-nerd.com/>
> >>             <http://www.mega-nerd.com/ <http://www.mega-nerd.com/>>
> >>              >
> >>  _______________________________________________
> >>              >             ghc-steering-committee mailing list
> >>              > ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org
> >>             <mailto:ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org>
> >>              >             <mailto:ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org
> >>             <mailto:ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org>>
> >>              >
> >>
> >>
> https://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ghc-steering-committee <
> https://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ghc-steering-committee>
> <https://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ghc-steering-committee
> <https://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ghc-steering-committee
> >>
> >>              >
> >>              >         _______________________________________________
> >>              >         ghc-steering-committee mailing list
> >>              > ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org
> >>             <mailto:ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org>
> >>              >         <mailto:ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org
> >>             <mailto:ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org>>
> >>              >
> >>
> >>
> https://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ghc-steering-committee <
> https://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ghc-steering-committee>
> <https://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ghc-steering-committee
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> >>
> >>              >
> >>              >     _______________________________________________
> >>              >     ghc-steering-committee mailing list
> >>              > ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org
> >>             <mailto:ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org>
> >>              >     <mailto:ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org
> >>             <mailto:ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org>>
> >>              >
> >>
> >>
> https://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ghc-steering-committee <
> https://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ghc-steering-committee>
> <https://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ghc-steering-committee
> <https://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ghc-steering-committee
> >>
> >>              >
> >>              >
> >>              >
> >>              > --
> >>              > Arnaud Spiwack
> >>              > Director, Research at https://moduscreate.com
> >>             <https://moduscreate.com> <https://moduscreate.com
> >>             <https://moduscreate.com>>
> >>              > and https://tweag.io <https://tweag.io> <
> https://tweag.io
> >>             <https://tweag.io>>.
> >>              >
> >>              > _______________________________________________
> >>              > ghc-steering-committee mailing list
> >>              > ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org
> >>             <mailto:ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org>
> >>              >
> >>
> >>
> https://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ghc-steering-committee <
> https://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ghc-steering-committee>
> >>
> >>             --             Adam Gundry, Haskell Consultant
> >>             Well-Typed LLP, https://www.well-typed.com/
> >>             <https://www.well-typed.com/>
> >>
> >>             Registered in England & Wales, OC335890
> >>             27 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3AX, England
> >>
> >> <
> https://www.google.com/maps/search/27+Old+Gloucester+Street,+London+WC1N+3AX,+England?entry=gmail&source=g
> >
> >>
> >>             _______________________________________________
> >>             ghc-steering-committee mailing list
> >>             ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org
> >>             <mailto:ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org>
> >>
> >>
> https://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ghc-steering-committee <
> https://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ghc-steering-committee>
> >>
> >>         _______________________________________________
> >>         ghc-steering-committee mailing list
> >>         ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org
> >>         <mailto:ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org>
> >>
> >>
> https://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ghc-steering-committee <
> https://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ghc-steering-committee>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>     --     Arnaud Spiwack
> >>     Director, Research at https://moduscreate.com
> >>     <https://moduscreate.com> and https://tweag.io <https://tweag.io>.
> >>     _______________________________________________
> >>     ghc-steering-committee mailing list
> >>     ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org
> >>     <mailto:ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org>
> >>
> >>
> https://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ghc-steering-committee <
> https://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ghc-steering-committee>
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >> ghc-steering-committee at haskell.org
> >>
> https://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ghc-steering-committee
> >
>
> --
> Adam Gundry, Haskell Consultant
> Well-Typed LLP, https://www.well-typed.com/
>
> Registered in England & Wales, OC335890
> 27 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3AX, England
>
> _______________________________________________
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