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From: "Krishnaswami, Neel" <neelk@cswcasa.com>
To: "'caml-list@inria.fr'" <caml-list@inria.fr>
Subject: [Caml-list] Why can't I use constructors as functions?
Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2001 14:51:07 -0400
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Hello,

I'm curious as to the reason why I can't use a datatype constructor
as a function. Eg, in SML I can write a function like this:

  datatype peano = Zero | Succ of peano

  fun fold succ zero n = 
    case n of
      Zero => zero
    | (Succ n') => succ (fold n')

  fun add a b = fold Succ a b (* Use the Succ constructor as a funtion *)

If I try something similar in Caml, 

  type peano = Zero | Succ of peano

  let rec fold succ zero n = 
    match n with
      | Zero -> zero
      | Succ(n') -> succ (fold succ zero n')

I can't write an add function like I can in SML:

  # let add a b = fold (Succ) a b;;
  Characters 20-24:
  The constructor Succ expects 1 argument(s),
  but is here applied to 0 argument(s)

Instead I need to wrap it in a function:

  # let add a b = fold (fun x -> Succ x) a b
  val add : peano -> peano -> peano = <fun>

Why was this design choice made? 

--
Neel Krishnaswami
neelk@cswcasa.com
 
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