[Haskell-cafe] Re: Maybe to Either -- is there a better way?

[Tom Davies]

On 03/08/2010, at 10:09 PM, Ertugrul Soeylemez wrote:

> Tom Davies <tgdavies at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> I find it convenient sometimes to convert a Maybe value to an Either
>> thus (excuse the syntax, it's CAL, not Haskell):
>> 
>> maybeToEither :: a -> Maybe b -> Either a b;
>> maybeToEither errorValue = maybe (Left errorValue) (\x -> Right x);
> 
> As a side note, this is perfectly valid Haskell code, even though it's
> quite verbose.  The equivalent:
> 
>  maybeToEither :: a -> Maybe b -> Either a b
>  maybeToEither leftValue = maybe (Left leftValue) Right

I like that better, and CAL supports that, thanks.

> 
> Honestly I find this better than the completely points-free variants
> posted in the other subthread.  They demonstrate overusing points-free
> style.

I agree -- as an inexperienced functional programmer, but not a complete beginner, I found the points free versions incomprehensible!

Tom