ruby/rbs

Method overload narrowing

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I request a notation for method overload narrowing, such that subtype args narrow supertype args.
The intent is so the return type of supertype overloads not longer need to explicitly include those of narrower overloads.

E.g., TrueClass#& example from prior brief discussion on Discord:

def &: (false? rhs) -> false
     | (untyped rhs) -> true

Contrast with our current compromise:

rbs/core/true_class.rbs

Lines 28 to 29 in 45b34bd

def &: (false | nil) -> false
| (untyped obj) -> bool

This new solution enables us to type the result for truthy args without needing a “difference type” type truthy = top - false?.
In fact, this is possibly the only practical use case for “difference types”.

I’ve considered moving this focus to Steep but decided that the entire RBS ecosystem could use this.
For example, #1874 (comment) finally encouraged me to formally file this issue.

Though it is backward-incompatible to change the semantics of | set by yore, we can instead introduce an new, alternative syntax, such as the tokens:

  • & (from #566)
  • : (from the aformentioned Discord discussion)
  • ||

  • Relates to, but does not resolve: #1822
  • Summon: @sampersand (replied to me in the aformentioned Discord)