[GHC] #835: Expose less type/class info in an interface file, to reduce recompilation

[GHC]

#835: Expose less type/class info in an interface file, to reduce recompilation
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    Reporter:  simonpj          |        Owner:         
        Type:  feature request  |       Status:  new    
    Priority:  normal           |    Milestone:         
   Component:  Compiler         |      Version:  6.4.2  
    Severity:  normal           |     Keywords:         
          Os:  Unknown          |   Difficulty:  Unknown
Architecture:  Unknown          |  
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John Meacham writes "However, whenever I change a data type or class even
 if they are not exported, it seems to force a full rebuild of everything
 that depends on that file. Is there any fundamental reason this can't be
 fixed? why do the non exported classes and data types end up in the hi
 file anyway (assuming they appear in no exported functions type signature
 of course)."

 Solution: Fix GHC so that it doesn't expose a data type at all if nothing
 about it is exported; and doesn't its constructors if they are not
 exported, and not used in any unfolding.

 Doing this would reduce recompilation changes.


 [http://www.haskell.org/pipermail/glasgow-haskell-users/2006-
 July/010596.html]

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Ticket URL: <http://hackage.haskell.org/trac/ghc/ticket/835>
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