Re: [Caml-list] Generalized Algebraic Datatypes

[Dario Teixeira <darioteixeira@yahoo.com>]

Hi,

> Don't take the syntax from my 2008 CUG talk too seriously, it was just
> a mock-up for the purpose of the talk.  Besides, it's too early for a
> syntax war :-)

Indeed.  There's just something about syntax that tickles the more
primitive parts of the programmer's brain... :-)


> This said, Coq could be another source of syntactic inspiration: it
> has several equivalent syntaxes for inductive type declarations (a
> superset of GADTs), one Haskell-like, others more Caml-like.

I think we can all agree that ultimately the chosen syntax should be
one that is unambiguous and coherent.  Nevertheless, all other factors
being equal, it would be preferable to have a Camlish syntax that feels
"right at home" within the broader language.

My initial reticence to Jacques proposal syntax was based solely on it
having provoked a context-switch in my brain: the declarations only
made intuitive sense when I tried reading them as if they were Haskell.
In contrast, the CUG 2008 syntax made immediate sense, even if it
may require serious massaging before it can be deemed suitable.

But anyway, this syntax talk is all small potatoes.  The important thing
is that Ocaml is getting yet another killer feature...

Cheers,
Dario Teixeira