How to pass method of String as callable parameter? - scala

Question

Assume I have a function like:
private def throwUnlessValid[T](func: (String => T)): T = {
try {
func()
} catch {
case _: Throwable => throw new Error(s"""string: "${s}" is not a numeric""")
}
}
And I want to call it like:
implicit val intParser: TryParser[Int] = (s: String) => {
s.trim.isEmpty match {
case true => 0
case false => throwUnlessValid[Int](s.toInt)
}
}
This will fail as the result of s.toInt, which is the Int. Even though I want to pass in the callable function to be called in the other method.
How can I achieve this?

Answer 1

The syntax is _.toInt, which is a shorthand for s => s.toInt (or without type inference, (s: String) => s.toInt). Generally, search for "scala lambdas" for a lot more information on this.
But the problem is that you call func() without passing a string to it. There's also s in throw new Error(s"""string: "${s}" is not a numeric"""); if s is in your scope, you should have func(s) instead. Or maybe you want
private def throwUnlessValid[T](func: () => T): T = { ... }
throwUnlessValid(() => s.toInt)
Using by-name parameters, you can even write
private def throwUnlessValid[T](func: => T): T = { ... }
throwUnlessValid(s.toInt)

Answer 2

You can pass a callable function by using _.toInt, which is shorthand for the function x => x.toInt.
However this isn't going to help because your throwUnlessValid function doesn't work, for two reasons:
You don't give a String argument to func
You attempt to print s which is not a visible to this function
You have two choices:
Pass s to throwUnlessValid and give it to func
Make func into a => T parameter and remove the references to s from the Error string.

Answer 3

You need to fix your throwUnlessValid function.
Currently it accepts as argument a function which takes a string as argument:
throwUnlessValid[T](func: (String => T))
However then you are trying to call it without any argument: func() which obviously won't work. Besides that you also have reference to nonexisting variable s: ${s} which also should produce error.
In order to fix the throwUnlessValid function you can pass toInt as by-name argument:
private def throwUnlessValid[T](code: => T): T = {
try {
code
} catch {
case ex: Throwable => throw new Error(s"""string: "${ex.getMessage}" is not a numeric""")
}
}
In other words you don't need to change your existing intParser implementation (including throwUnlessValid[Int](s.toInt) call), you only need to change implementation of throwUnlessValid).

Answer 4

If i understant correctly, you are looking for this.
Actually the problem is that you are not passing string to your function (func) hence it's not working.
import scala.util.{Failure, Success, Try}
object Solution1 extends App {
private def throwUnlessValid[T](func: (String => T)): T = {
Try {
func("1")
} match {
case Success(_) => //do Something which return T
case Failure(ex) => throw new Error(s"""string: "${ex}" is not a numeric""")
}
}
implicit val intParser: String => Int = (s: String) => {
if (s.trim.isEmpty) {
0
} else {
throwUnlessValid[Int](_ => s.toInt)
}
}
}