Re: [Caml-list] Re: Void type?

[Brian Hurt <bhurt@spnz.org>]

Just to nail this thread shut, I have been convinced of the utility of a 
void type (as distinct from the unit type) in pragmatic code.  Consider 
the following module signature:

module type Req = sig
 	type a
 	type b
end;;

module Example(Base: Req) = struct
 	type a_or_b =
 		| A of Base.a
 		| B of Base.b
 	;;

 	let foo (x: a_or_b list) = ...

end;;

An important point to notice here is that the Example module signature can 
not be factored into a "a part" and a "b part" without losing important 
capabilities- for example, being able to pass in a list that contains both 
a's and b's.  Even assuming you have full control of the source code and 
time and inclination (if needed) to refactor the code, a refactoring is 
still not possible.  So my blythe "just refactor the module" doesn't 
apply.

So how do I use that module and say, in the type system, "I will never 
pass in a b"?  This is where the void type comes in.  I can declare:

module Myreq = struct
 	type a = whatever;;
 	type b = void;;
end;;

module Myexample = Example(Myreq);;

Note that I can still call function Myexample.foo- I can call it with an 
empty list, or with a list of as many A's as I want.  But it's impossible 
for me to create a B element.

Brian