One potential difference between the two is that the current behavior allows the `Main` module to import `main` from another module, while the new behavior would fail in that case.
For example, a file that has only a single line: import SomeOtherModule(main) This still seems like a fairly unusual corner case (with an obvious work around), so I don't think it matters much, but I thought I'd mention it so that we are aware of it. On Tue, May 16, 2017 at 7:18 AM, Joachim Breitner <m...@joachim-breitner.de> wrote: > Hi, > > a very small proposal to be considered for Haskell': > > Currently, the report states > > An abbreviated form of module, consisting only of the module body, > is permitted. If this is used, the header is assumed to be ‘module > Main(main) where’. > > I propose to change that to > > An abbreviated form of module, consisting only of the module body, > is permitted. If this is used, the header is assumed to be ‘module > Main where’. > > The rationale is that a main-less main module is still useful, e.g. > when you are working a lot in GHCi, and offload a few extensions to a > separate file. Currently, tools like hdevtools will complain about a > missing main function when editing such a file. > > It would also work better with GHC’s -main-is flag, and avoid problems > like the one described in https://ghc.haskell.org/trac/ghc/ticket/13704 > > > I don’t see any downsides. When compiling to a binary, implementations > are still able to detect that a Main module is not imported by any > other module and only the main function is used, and optimize as if > only main were exported. > > Greetings, > Joachim > > > > -- > Joachim “nomeata” Breitner > m...@joachim-breitner.de • https://www.joachim-breitner.de/ > XMPP: nome...@joachim-breitner.de • OpenPGP-Key: 0xF0FBF51F > Debian Developer: nome...@debian.org > _______________________________________________ > Haskell-prime mailing list > Haskell-prime@haskell.org > http://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/haskell-prime > >
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