dry-python/classes

Support `Any` as an alias for `object` to describe a default typeclass implementation

anatoly-scherbakov opened this issue · 0 comments

Context. In order to define a default implementation (the one used if no other implementation matches), we currently have to write something like this:

from classes import typeclass

@typeclass
def render(data_value) -> str:
    """Render a data value nicely."""

@render.instance(int)
def _render_int(data_value: int) -> str:
    return f'This is an integer: {data_value}'


@render.instance(object)
def _render_int(data_value: object) -> str:
    return f'No idea what this is: {data_value}'


assert render('BADOOM') == 'No idea what this is: BADOOM'

(this script should be runnable as-is.)

Decision. Support Any as a special case to replace object:

@render.instance(Any)
def _render_int(data_value: Any) -> str:    # type: ignore
    return f'No idea what this is: {data_value}'

Consequences.

  • Pro: The code will look a little bit more straightforward;
  • Contra: mypy with common settings might be unhappy about Any being used, but that can be silenced with type: ignore I suppose.