[bitc-dev] DISCUSS: Name That Type Class!

[Swaroop Sridhar]

Jonathan S. Shapiro wrote:
> Today only! Be the first on your block to name your own language
> intrinsic!
> 
> Per section 4.4 of today's specification update
> 
> We have three intrinsic type classes in BitC at the moment:
> 
>   (ref-types 'a)   is (ref 'a) or (vector 'a) or String. That is:
>                    anything heap-allocated.
> 
>   (copy-compat 'a 'b)  describes any two types 'a, 'b that are
>                        compatible under assignment. That is 'a=='b
>                        ignoring shallow mutability.
> 
>   (top-copy-compat 'a 'b)  'a=='b, 'a==(mutable 'b), or (mutable 'a)==b.
>                        That is: 'a=='b ignoring outermost mutability.
> 
> 
> We need decent names for these. My personal inclinations are:
> 
>   ref-types => RefType?   (definitely remove plural, shift to word caps)
>   copy-compat => Compat?
> 
> but I have absolutely no useful thoughts for what to call
> top-copy-compat. I would like suggestions on that, and also suggestions
> on the others if you happen to have a favorite.

Maybe it is best to use symbols:
~= for top-copy-compat
~=~ for copy-compat

Swaroop.