While working with a dynamically typed lang, I came across this:

hash(password, algorithm, algorithmOptions)

Where algorithm is a constant signaling which hashing algorithm to use, and algorithmOptions is a dict whose keys depend on algorithm.

So I thought, can we dictate that if a previous parameter has this value, then this parameter has to have this other value?

E.g.

enum HashAlgo {
    Bcrypt,
    Argon2,
}

type BcryptOptions = {
    Int optionA,
    Int optionB,
}

type Argon2Options = {
    String optionC,
    String optionD,
}


// Here I make this type "depend" on an argument of type HashAlgo
type HashOptions = [HashAlgo] => {
    HashAlgo::Bcrypt => BcryptOptions,
    HashAlgo::Argon2 => Argon2Options,
}

fun hash(
    String password,
    HashAlgo algorithm,
    // Here I use HashOptions, passing the prev. argument
    HashOptions[algorithm] options,
)

This way the compiler can ensure the correct dict is used, based on the value of algorithm

Does something like this exist? I now realize that it would be impossible to type check in compile time based on a runtime value, but if it was allowed only for constants? What do you think?

  • fkn
    link
    21 year ago

    This is possible with c++ templates.