[Haskell-cafe] Why does GHC limit stack size?

[Adrian Hey]

Hello,

 > Why is there a limitation on the stack size in GHC? Like heap where we
 > can limit the size by -M RTS option but the default is unlimited, why
 > not let the program use as big a stack as required? If not by default,
 > then by a separate option?
 >
 > Some of the functions that we write in recursive fashion will usually
 > cause a stack overflow, but will work fine if there is more stack
 > (suppose we are not worried about efficiency). And these functions
 > generally look nicer and compact than their tail recursive versions.
 >
 > Is this is a technical hurdle, or just a checkpoint for runaway
 > programs?

This was discussed a while ago on the ghc users mailing list.
I think there was general agreement that this was bad, but
that doing something better meant a lot of work for someone
(who could be trusted to "get it right" :-)

http://www.haskell.org/pipermail/glasgow-haskell-users/2007-May/012467.html

Regards
--
Adrian Hey