Traversable/Foldable of/empty issue

traversable foldable.js

Nothing.prototype.traverse = function(f) {
  return ?.of(Nothing()); //how to get pure if we can't call f?
}
Just.prototype.traverse = function(f) {
  return f(this.val).map(Just);
}
Nothing.prototype.foldl = function(f) {
  return ?.empty() // same prob as traverse - need to run f() to get correct empty
};
Just.prototype.foldl = function(f, acc) {
  return f(acc, this.val); 
};

// Sneaky solution
Array.prototype.traverse = function(f) {
  var cons_f = function(ys, x){
    var z = f(x).map(_.curry(function(x,y){ return y.concat(x); }));
    ys = ys || z.of([]); // sneaky get the correct point after we extract it from f(x)
    return z.ap(ys);
  }
  return this.reduce(cons_f, null); // use null since we don't have type hints for 'pure'
};


Array.prototype.foldl = function(f, acc) {
  return this.reduce(f, acc);
};


var foldMap = _.curry(function(f, fldable) {
  return fldable.foldl(function(acc, x) {
    var r = f(x)
    acc = acc || r.empty(); // cheat again to get empty of the correct instance
    return acc.concat(r);
  })
});

Hi Simon, I just saw this message (I have to turn on notifications or something...)

I'm torn.

One idea is that Option.None.sequence() mirrors an ambiguous type error that must be solved with a "type hint" so to speak. A type signature is a lot like an extra parameter: Option.None.sequence(Identity)

This extra parameter doesn't need to be there 99% of the time - it's there only if we can fail. So only in the case of Option/Either/Validation etc. do we actually need it.

Pros:

• It's simpler for the caller and catches most cases
• Less requires needed. In this example Identity would not have to be required unless you were working with a failure type

Cons

• Harder to implement on your fantasy type (see the sneaky array trick)
• Api is not 100% consistent

The other idea is to always pass in of or empty.

Pros:

• Easier for the fantasy type to implement
• Consistent API

Cons:

• Harder for the caller of traverse/fold
• Have to require types in order to pass in