Re: [Caml-list] labels and optional arguments in 3.06

[Jacques Garrigue <garrigue@kurims.kyoto-u.ac.jp>]

From: Chris Hecker <checker@d6.com>
> >val f : ~a:float -> ?a:float -> float -> float
> 
> Why would this even be legal?  Is there some reason to allow multiple 
> labels with the same name?

There is a good reason to have it legal: there is no way to make it
illegal.

Suppose you have a polymorphic function:
val g : f:'a -> a:int -> 'a
# g ~f:(fun ~a -> not a);;
- : a:int -> a:bool -> bool

As long as we use normal type variables for function results, we must
allow it.

> Is there a problem with the behavior I want without duplicate labels?

Indeed, that would leave no ambiguity. So it might be ok to allow
mixing labelled optional arguments in an otherwise unlabelled
application, if there is no ambiguity on labels. But is it really
worth a strange definition, when the workaround is just to add
parentheses?

Jacques Garrigue
-------------------
To unsubscribe, mail caml-list-request@inria.fr Archives: http://caml.inria.fr
Bug reports: http://caml.inria.fr/bin/caml-bugs FAQ: http://caml.inria.fr/FAQ/
Beginner's list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ocaml_beginners