[Haskell-cafe] Re: Small displeasure with associated type synonyms

[ChrisK]

Tom Schrijvers wrote:
> Stefan,
> 
>> I tried lexically scoped type variables, but to no avail:
>>
>> instance forall a b. (C a, C b) => C (a, b) where
>>   type T (a, b) = (T a, T b)
>>   val           = (val :: T a, val :: T b)
> 
> The problem is ambiguity. The type checker can't determine which val 
> function to use, i.e. which dictionary to pass to val. Assume:
> 
>   instance C Int where
>     type T Int = Int
>     val        = 0
> 
>   instance C Bool where
>     type T Bool = Int
>     val         = 1
> 
> Now, if you want some val :: Int, which one do you get? The one of C Int 
> of C Bool? Depending on the choice you may get a different result. We 
> can't have that in a deterministic functional language. Hence the error.
> Adding a type signature doesn't change the matter.

I don't see how your example explains this particular error.
I agree Int cannot be generalized to (T Int) or (T Bool).

I see Stefan's local type signature is not (val :: a) like your (val ::Int) but 
(val :: T a) which is a whole different beast.  And (T a) is the type that ghc 
should assign here.

The C (a,b) instance wants val :: T (a,b),  The T (a,b) is declared as "(T a, T 
b)".  The annotated val returns "(T a, T b)".  One never needs the sort of Int 
to (T Int) generalization.

So what is a better explanation or example to clarify why GHC cannot accept the 
original code?

-- 
Chris