Simon Peyton-Jones wrote:
I agree that if (n+k) patterns go, then so should k patterns. Both are
overloaded, and that's the root of their complexity.
Personally I think ~ patterns are great, and we are now talking about !
patterns, a kind of dual to ~ patterns. So at least I think we should
un-couple the two discussions.
I agree that it is sensible to decouple the two discussions, so just add
k patterns to n+k patterns.
However, ~ patterns are really currently the most complicated patterns
and ! patterns match them in their complexity. Personally I believe that
programmers should strive for more laziness, rarely for more strictness.
I do not like that you can add ! in lots of places where it doesn't make
any difference, e.g.
f [] !x = rhs1
f (y:ys) !x = rhs2
is the same as
f [] !x = rhs1
f (y:ys) x = rhs2
Your motivating example
f2 !x !y | g x = rhs1
| otherwise = rhs2
I would express as
f2 x y = x `seq` y `seq` if g x then rhs1 else rhs2
Now you will probably counter with a definition where you can fall
through the guard to the next equation. In my opinion that just shows
how horrible guards are (and I would propose their removal if I saw any
chance of success).
Ciao,
Olaf
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