Re: [Caml-list] Naming polymorphic variant types -- additional questions

["Nick Alexander" <nalexander@amavi.com>]

> From: "Nick Alexander" <nalexander@amavi.com>
>
>> module type TEST =
>>   sig
>>     type outer = [ `A | `B]
>>     and inner = [ `B]
>>     val x : outer -> outer
>>     val y : inner
>>   end
>> module Test : TEST
>> # let p = Test.y;;
>> val p : Test.inner = `B
>> # let q = Test.x p;;
>>                  ^
>> This expression has type Test.inner = [ `B] but is here used with type
>>   Test.outer = [ `A | `B]
>> The first variant type does not allow tag(s) `A
>>
>> I'm confused.  Can I get an explanation for why the parameter to a
>> function with a sum variant type needs all summands to be possible
>> arguments?
>
> Inner is a subtype of outer, but they cannot be unified (unification
> requires equality, not subtyping).
>
> You can get subtyping by writing explicit coercions:
>
> # let q = Test.x (p :> Test.outer);;
> val q : Test.outer = `A
>
> You can also give polymorphic types to your values in the interface:
>  val x : [< outer] -> outer
> and
>  val y : [> inner]
> are both valid, and one of them is enough to allow (Test.x p) without
> coercion. I.e., [< outer] can be unified with inner, and [> inner] can
> be unified with outer.

When I was trying this, I accidently tried:
type outer = [< 'A | 'B]
and was duly rewarded with
Unbound type parameter [..]

I understand that this is not what Jacques recommended!  I'm wondering if
someone can tell me what this means, and when this construction could
possibly be necessary.
I am also a neophyte polymorphic variants user.  It seems very intuitive
to me that [`A] is a subtype of [`A | `B].  Jacques informs me that
unification rejects the subtyping in favour of equality.  So, what is the
situation where [`A] is _not_ a subtype of [`A | `B]?  Ie, what common
construct, design pattern, or idiom reflects this?
Thanks for the great support,
Nick



-------------------
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