Generalized type constraints with Swift - swift

As an exercise, I'm trying to extend Array in Swift to add a sum() member function. This should be type safe in a way that I want a call to sum() to compile only if the array holds elements that can be added up.
I tried a few variants of something like this:
extension Array {
func sum<U : _IntegerArithmeticType where U == T>() -> Int {
var acc = 0
for elem in self {
acc += elem as Int
}
return acc
}
}
The idea was to say, “OK, this is a generic function, the generic type must be something like an Int, and must also be the same as T, the type of the elements of the array”. But the compiler complains: “Same-type requirement make generic parameters U and T equivalent”. That's right, and they should be, with the additional contraint T : _IntegerArithmeticType.
Why isn't the compiler letting me do this? How can I do it?
(I know that I should later fix how things are added up and what the return type exactly is, but I'm stuck at the type constraint for now.)

As per Martin R's comment, this is not currently possible. The thing I'm tempted to use in this particular situation would be an explicit passing of a T -> Int conversion function:
extension Array {
func sum(toInt: T -> Int?) -> Int {
var acc = 0
for elem in self {
if let i = toInt(elem) {
acc += i
}
}
return acc
}
}
Then I can write stuff like this:
func itself<T>(t: T) -> T {
return t
}
let ss = ["1", "2", "3", "4", "five"].sum { $0.toInt() }
let si = [1, 2, 3, 4].sum(itself)
An explicit function has to be passed, though. The (itself) part can of course be replaced by { $0 }. (Others have called the itself function identity.)
Note that an A -> B function can be passed when A -> B? is needed.

Related

Is is possible to callAsFunction() variable that is Any?

Recently I have encountered a need of creating an Array of Functions. Unfortunately, Swift language does not provide a top level type for functions, but instead they must be declared by their specific signature (...)->(...). So I tried to write a wrapper that can hold any function and later specialize it to hold only closures having Void return type and any number of arguments.
struct AnyFunction {
let function: Any
init?(_ object: Any){
switch String(describing: object){
case let function where function == "(Function)":
self.function = object
default:
return nil
}
}
func callAsFunction(){
self.function()
}
}
As I was progressing, I have found out that it is not trivial and possibly requires some hacks with introspection, but I failed to find solution, despite of my attempt. The Compiler messaged:
error: cannot call value of non-function type 'Any'
So how would you make this trick that is, to clarify, to define an Object that can hold any functional type?
Clarification:
What I would prefer is defining something like:
typealias SelfSufficientClosure = (...)->Void
var a, b, c = 0
let funcs = FunctionSequence
.init(with: {print("Hi!")}, {a in a + 3}, {b in b + 3}, { a,b in c = a + b})
for f in funcs { f() }
print([a, b, c])
//outputs
//"Hi"
//3, 3, 6
PS This question has relation to this one (Any or a trouble with sequence of functions)
A function is a mapping from inputs to outputs. In your examples, your inputs are void (no inputs), and your outputs are also void (no outputs). So that kind of function is precisely () -> Void.
We can tell that's the right type because of how you call it:
for f in funcs { f() }
You expect f to be a function that takes no inputs and returns no outputs, which is exactly the definition of () -> Void. We can get exactly the input and output you expect by using that type (and cleaning up a few syntax errors):
var a = 0, b = 0, c = 0
let funcs: [() -> Void] = [{print("Hi!")}, {a = a + 3}, { b = b + 3}, { c = a + b}]
for f in funcs { f() }
print(a, b, c, separator: ",")
//outputs
//Hi!
//3, 3, 6
When you write a closure like {a in a + 3}, that doesn't mean "capture a" (which I believe you are expecting). It means "This is a closure that accepts a parameter that will be called a (completely unrelated to the global variable of the same name) and returns that value plus 3." If that's what you meant, then when you called f(), you would need to pass it something and do something with the return value.
You can use an enum to put various functions into the Array and then extract the functions with a switch.
enum MyFuncs {
case Arity0 ( Void -> Void )
case Arity2 ( (Int, String) -> Void)
}
func someFunc(n:Int, S:String) { }
func boringFunc() {}
var funcs = Array<MyFuncs>()
funcs.append(MyFuncs.Arity0(boringFunc))
funcs.append( MyFuncs.Arity2(someFunc))
for f in funcs {
switch f {
case let .Arity0(f):
f() // call the function with no arguments
case let .Arity2(f):
f(2,"fred") // call the function with two args
}
}

Why are the arguments to this function still a tuple?

I have an extension to Dictionary that adds map, flatMap, and filter. For the most part it's functional, but I'm unhappy with how the arguments to the transform and predicate functions must be specified.
First, the extension itself:
extension Dictionary {
init<S:SequenceType where S.Generator.Element == Element>(elements: S) {
self.init()
for element in elements {
self[element.0] = element.1
}
}
func filter(#noescape predicate:(Key, Value) throws -> Bool ) rethrows -> [Key:Value] {
return [Key:Value](elements:try lazy.filter({
return try predicate($0.0, $0.1)
}))
}
}
Now then, since the predicate argument is declared as predicate:(Key, Value), I would expect the following to work:
["a":1, "b":2].filter { $0 == "a" }
however, I have to actually use:
["a":1, "b":2].filter { $0.0 == "a" }
This is kind of confusing to use since the declaration implies that there are two arguments to the predicate when it's actually being passed as a single tuple argument with 2 values instead.
Obviously, I could change the filter function declaration to take a single argument (predicate:(Element)), but I really prefer it to take two explicitly separate arguments.
Any ideas on how I can actually get the function to take two arguments?
When you are using closures without type declaration, the compiler has to infer the type. If you are using only $0 and not $1, the compiler thinks that you are declaring a closure with only one parameter.
This closure then cannot be matched to your filter function. Simple fix:
let result = ["a":1, "b":2].filter { (k, _) in k == "a" }
Now also remember that tuples can be passed to functions and automatically match the parameters:
func sum(x: Int, _ y: Int) -> Int {
return x + y
}
let params = (1, 1)
sum(params)
Then the behavior with ["a":1, "b":2].filter { $0.0 == "a" } can be explained by type inferring. There are two possibilities and the compiler just chose the wrong one because it thought you want to have a closure with one argument only - and that argument had to be a tuple.
You can add a comparison function to allow you to compare a Dictionary.Element and a Key
func ==<Key: Hashable,Value>(lhs:Dictionary<Key,Value>.Element, rhs:Key) -> Bool {
return lhs.0 == rhs
}

Can I extend Tuples in Swift?

I'd like to write an extension for tuples of (e.g.) two value in Swift. For instance, I'd like to write this swap method:
let t = (1, "one")
let s = t.swap
such that s would be of type (String, Int) with value ("one", 1). (I know I can very easily implement a swap(t) function instead, but that's not what I'm interested in.)
Can I do this? I cannot seem to write the proper type name in the extension declaration.
Additionally, and I suppose the answer is the same, can I make a 2-tuple adopt a given protocol?
You cannot extend tuple types in Swift.
According to
Types, there are named types (which
can be extended) and compound types. Tuples and functions are compound
types.
See also (emphasis added):
Extensions
Extensions add new functionality to an existing
class, structure, or enumeration type.
As the answer above states, you cannot extend tuples in Swift. However, rather than just give you a no, what you can do is box the tuple inside a class, struct or enum and extend that.
struct TupleStruct {
var value: (Int, Int)
}
extension TupleStruct : Hashable {
var hashValue: Int {
return hash()
}
func hash() -> Int {
var hash = 23
hash = hash &* 31 &+ value.0
return hash &* 31 &+ value.1
}
}
func ==(lhs: TupleStruct, rhs: TupleStruct) -> Bool {
return lhs.value == rhs.value
}
As a side note, in Swift 2.2, tuples with up to 6 members are now Equatable.
Details
Xcode 11.2.1 (11B500), Swift 5.1
Solution
struct Tuple<T> {
let original: T
private let array: [Mirror.Child]
init(_ value: T) {
self.original = value
array = Array(Mirror(reflecting: original).children)
}
func getAllValues() -> [Any] { array.compactMap { $0.value } }
func swap() -> (Any?, Any?)? {
if array.count == 2 { return (array[1].value, array[0].value) }
return nil
}
}
Usage
let x = (1, "one")
let tuple = Tuple(x)
print(x) // (1, "one")
print(tuple.swap()) // Optional((Optional("one"), Optional(1)))
if let value = tuple.swap() as? (String, Int) {
print("\(value) | \(type(of: value))") // ("one", 1) | (String, Int)
}
If you wanted to be a Bad Person™ you can define custom operators on tuples, like this:
postfix operator <->
postfix func <-> <A, B>(lhs: (A, B)) -> (B, A) {
return (lhs.1, lhs.0)
}
let initial = (1, "one")
let reversed = initial<->
FWIW I can't think of a place where my 'clever' code trumps the readability of just writing your swap function.

Swift: reusing a closure definition (with typealias)

I'm trying to do create some closure definitions which I'm gonna use a lot in my iOS app. So I thought to use a typealias as it seemed the most promising ...
I did a small Playground example which shows my issue in detail
// Here are two tries for the Closure I need
typealias AnonymousCheck = (Int) -> Bool
typealias NamedCheck = (number: Int) -> Bool
// This works fine
var var1: AnonymousCheck = {
return $0 > 0
}
var1(-2)
var1(3343)
// This works fine
var var2: NamedCheck = {
return $0 > 0
}
var2(number: -2)
var2(number: 12)
// But I want to use the typealias mainly as function parameter!
// So:
// Use typealias as function parameter
func NamedFunction(closure: NamedCheck) {
closure(number: 3)
}
func AnonymousFunction(closure: AnonymousCheck) {
closure(3)
}
// This works as well
// But why write again the typealias declaration?
AnonymousFunction({(another: Int) -> Bool in return another < 0})
NamedFunction({(another: Int) -> Bool in return another < 0})
// This is what I want... which doesn't work
// ERROR: Use of unresolved identifier 'number'
NamedFunction({NamedCheck in return number < 0})
// Not even these work
// ERROR for both: Anonymous closure arguments cannot be used inside a closure that has exlicit arguments
NamedFunction({NamedCheck in return $0 < 0})
AnonymousFunction({AnonymousCheck in return $0 < 0})
Am I missing something or is it just not supported in Swift?
Thanks
EDIT/ADDITION:
The above is just a simple example. In real life my typealias is more complicated. Something like:
typealias RealLifeClosure = (number: Int, factor: NSDecimalNumber!, key: String, upperCase: Bool) -> NSAttributedString
I basically want to use a typealias as a shortcut so I don't have to type that much. Maybe typealias isn't the right choice... Is there another?
You aren't rewriting the typealias declaration in this code, you're declaring the parameters and return type:
AnonymousFunction({(another: Int) -> Bool in return another < 0})
Happily, Swift's type inference lets you use any of the following - pick the style that feels best to you:
AnonymousFunction( { (number: Int) -> Bool in number < 0 } )
AnonymousFunction { (number: Int) -> Bool in number < 0 }
AnonymousFunction { (number) -> Bool in number < 0 }
AnonymousFunction { number -> Bool in number < 0 }
AnonymousFunction { number in number < 0 }
AnonymousFunction { $0 < 0 }
I don't think you'll be able to do what you want. To simplify your example slightly, you can do this:
typealias NamedCheck = (number: Int) -> Bool
let f: NamedCheck = { $0 < 5 }
f(number: 1)
NamedFunction(f)
NamedFunction( { $0 < 5 } as NamedCheck)
But you can't do what you want, which is to rely on the fact that the tuple arg is called number to refer to it inside the closure without giving it as part of the closure:
// compiler error, no idea what "number" is
let g: NamedCheck = { number < 5 }
Bear in mind that you can name the parameter without giving it a type (which is inferred from the type of g):
let g: NamedCheck = { number in number < 5 }
but also, you can name it whatever you want:
let h: NamedCheck = { whatevs in whatevs < 5 }
NamedFunction(h)
Here's what I think is happening (this is partly guesswork). Remember how functions can have external and internal argument names:
func takesNamedArgument(#namedArg: Int) { etc... }
Or, to write it longhand:
func takesNamedArgument(namedArg namedArg: Int) { etc... }
But you can also give as the second, internal, name whatever you like:
func takesNamedArgument(namedArg whatevs: Int) { etc... }
I think this is what is happening with the closures with named tuples. The "external" name is "number", but you must give it an "internal" name too, which is what you must use in the function body. You can't make use of the external argument within your function. In case of closure expressions, if you don't give an internal name, you can use $0 etc, but you can't just skip it, any more than you can skip the internal name altogether and just rely on the external name when defining a regular function.
I was hoping that I could prove this theory by the following:
let f = { (#a: Int, #b: Int)->Bool in a < b }
resulting in f being of type (a: Int, b: Int)->Bool). This compiles, as does:
let g = { (number1 a: Int, number2 b: Int)->Bool in a < b }
but it doesn't look like the external names for the argument make it out to the type of f or g.
The syntax to create a closure is:
{ (parameters) -> return type in
statements
}
What's at the left of in is the closure signature (parameters and return value). In some cases the signature can be omitted or simplified when type inference is able to determine the number of parameters and their type, and the return value.
In your case it doesn't work because you are passing a type alias, but it is interpreted as a parameter name. The 3 lines work if either you:
name the parameter properly
NamedFunction({number in return number < 0})
AnonymousFunction({number in return number < 0})
use shorthand arguments:
NamedFunction({ return $0 < 0})
AnonymousFunction({ return $0 < 0})
use shorthand arguments and implicit return:
NamedFunction({ $0 < 0})
AnonymousFunction({ $0 < 0})

Why do curried functions require external parameter names?

Given this simple currying function:
func foo(x:Int)(y:Int)->String{
return "\(x) with \(y)"
}
I'd expect to be able to do something like this:
let bar = foo(1)
bar(2) //<- error: Missing argument label 'y:' in call
If I label the call to bar (as in bar(y:2)) everything works fine. But I don't understand why the parameter name is necessary. Is there any way to avoid it?
The obvious thing:
func foo(x:Int)(_ y:Int)->String ...
does not seem to work.
It's a bug, you should file a radar at bugreport.apple.com
As a confirmation, if you place an underscore, like this
func foo(x: Int)(_ y: Int) -> String
you get a warning
Extraneous '_' in parameter: 'y' has no keyword argument name
So it explicitly says that y has no external name, but it still requires one when called, which is clearly against the language specification.
I believe it is a compiler bug, your example should work as described in The Swift Programming Language book where they mention declaring curried functions:
func addTwoNumbers(a: Int)(b: Int) -> Int {
return a + b
}
addTwoNumbers(4)(5) // Returns 9
https://bugreport.apple.com
good find!
I am not sure I fully understand your currying. Here is my take on it. I have a function foo as follows:
func foo(x:Int, y:Int) -> String{
return "\(x) with \(y)"
}
let bar = foo(1, 2) // gives "1 with 2"
I wish to curry this function to 'fix' the value for x, so do so as follows:
func fooCurry(x:Int) -> (Int -> String) {
func curry(y:Int) -> String {
return foo(x, y)
}
return curry
}
The above returns a new function which can be used as follows:
let curriedFoo = fooCurry(1)
let barWithCurry = curriedFoo(2) // gives "1 with 2"
The function returned by fooCurry has the signature (Int -> String), which means that the parameter does not have an external name.
Not the best syntax, but if you want to get around it for now, you can use the following for basic curried functions:
func foo(x:Int) -> Int -> String {
return {
return "\(x) with \($0)"
}
}
Then you can just do:
let bar = foo(1)
bar(2) //-> 1 with 2
Now obviously the problem with this becomes obvious when you want to write a curried function for piping four Ints for example:
func makerAdders(a:Int)(b:Int)(c:Int)(d:Int) {...}
becomes like this:
func add(a:Int) -> Int -> Int -> Int -> Int {
return {
b in return {
c in return {
d in return a + b + c + d
}
}
}
}
The inner closures make it a bit better than using inner functions, but again it defeats the purpose of the nice func add(a:Int)(b:Int)(c:Int)(d:Int) {return a+b+c+d} syntax.
Definitely a bug in the compiler as far as I can tell. Until it's fixed you can get a properly curried version of any function using these functions (note that I've included cases for two and three arguments, extend at your leisure:
func curry<A,B,C>(f: (A, B) -> C) -> A -> B -> C {
return { a in { b in return f(a,b) } }
}
func curry<A,B,C,D>(f: (A, B, C) -> D) -> A -> B -> C -> D {
return { a in { b in { c in return f(a,b,c) } } }
}
Just use:
curry(addTwoNumbers)(1)(2)