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Algae provides a boilerplate-avoiding DSL for defining algebraic data types (ADTs),
plus several common structures
# Quickstart
Add Algae to your list of dependencies in `mix.exs`:
```elixir
def deps do
[{:algae, "~> 1.2"}]
end
```
# Table of Contents
- [Product Builder](#product-builder)
- [Definition DSL](#definition-dsl)
- [Constructor](#constructor)
- [Empty Tag](#empty-tag)
- [Sum Builder](#sum-builder)
- [Default Constructor](#default-constructor)
- [Tagged Unions](#tagged-unions)
- [A Sampling of ADTs](#a-sampling-of-adts)
- [`Id`](#algaeid)
- [`Maybe`](#algaemaybe)
- [`Tree.BinarySearch`](#algaetreebinarysearch)
---
> **NOTE**
> Please `import Algae` before trying out the examples below.
> The samples assume that is has already been done to remove
> the unnecessary clutter.
---
# Product Builder
Build a product type
Includes:
* Struct
* Type definition
* Constructor function (for piping and defaults)
* Implicit defaults for simple values
## Definition DSL
For convenience, several variants of the DSL are available.
### Standard
```elixir
defmodule Player do
# =============== #
# Data Definition #
# =============== #
defdata do
name :: String.t()
hit_points :: non_neg_integer()
experience :: non_neg_integer()
end
# =================== #
# Rest of Module #
# (business as usual) #
# =================== #
@spec attack(t(), t()) :: {t(), t()}
def attack(%{experience: xp} = player, %{hit_points: hp} = target) do
{
%{player | experience: xp + 50},
%{target | hit_points: hp - 10}
}
end
end
#=> %Player{name: "Sir Bob", hit_points: 10, experience: 500}
```
### Single Field Shorthand
Without any fields specified, Algae will default to a single field with
the same name as the module (essentially a "wrapper type"). You must still
provide the type for this field, however.
Embedded in another module:
```elixir
defmodule Id do
defdata any()
end
%Id{}
#=> %Id{id: nil}
```
Standalone:
```elixir
defdata Wrapper :: any()
%Wrapper{}
#=> %Wrapper{wrapper: nil}
```
## Constructor
A helper function, especially useful for piping. The order of arguments is
the same as the order that they are defined in.
```elixir
defmodule Person do
defdata do
name :: String.t()
age :: non_neg_integer()
end
end
Person.new("Rachel Weintraub")
#=> %Person{
# name: "Rachel Weintraub",
# age: 0
# }
```
### Constructor Defaults
Fields will automatically default to a sensible value (a typical "zero" for
that datatype). For example, `non_neg_integer()` will default to `0`,
and `String.t()` will default to `""`.
You may also overwrite these defaults with the `\\` syntax.
```elixir
defmodule Pet do
defdata do
name :: String.t()
leg_count :: non_neg_integer() \\ 4
end
end
Pet.new("Crookshanks")
#=> %Pet{
# name: "Crookshanks",
# leg_count: 4
# }
Pet.new("Paul the Psychic Octopus", 8)
#=> %Pet{
# name: "Paul the Psychic Octopus",
# leg_count: 8
# }
```
This overwriting syntax is _required_ for complex types:
```elixir
defdata Grocery do
item :: {String.t(), integer(), boolean()} \\ {"Orange", 4, false}
end
Grocery.new()
#=> %Grocery{
# item: {"Orange", 4, false}
# }
```
### Overwrite Constructor
The `new` constructor function may be overwritten.
```elixir
defmodule Constant do
defdata :: fun()
def new(value), do: %Constant{constant: fn _ -> value end}
end
fourty_two = Constant.new(42)
fourty_two.constant.(33)
#=> 42
```
## Empty Tag
An empty type (with no fields) is definable using the `none`() type
```elixir
defmodule Nothing do
defdata none()
end
Nothing.new()
#=> %Nothing{}
```
# Sum Builder
Build a sum (coproduct) type from product types
```elixir
defmodule Light do
# ============== #
# Sum Definition #
# ============== #
defsum do
defdata Red :: none()
defdata Yellow :: none()
defdata Green :: none()
end
# =================== #
# Rest of Module #
# (business as usual) #
# =================== #
def from_number(1), do: %Light.Red{}
def from_number(2), do: %Light.Yellow{}
def from_number(3), do: %Light.Green{}
end
Light.new()
#=> %Light.Red{}
```
## Embedded Products
Data with multiple fields can be defined directly as part of a sum
```elixir
defmodule Pet do
defsum do
defdata Cat do
name :: String.t()
claw_sharpness :: String.t()
end
defdata Dog do
name :: String.t()
bark_loudness :: non_neg_integer()
end
end
end
```
## Default Constructor
The first `defdata`'s constructor will be the default constructor for the sum
```elixir
defmodule Maybe do
defsum do
defdata Nothing :: none()
defdata Just :: any()
end
end
Maybe.new()
#=> %Maybe.Nothing{}
```
## Tagged Unions
Sums join existing types with tags: new types to help distinguish the context
that they are in (the sum type)
```elixir
defdata Book :: String.t() \\ "War and Peace"
defdata Video :: String.t() \\ "2001: A Space Odyssey"
defmodule Media do
defsum do
defdata Paper :: Book.t()
defdata Film :: Video.t() \\ Video.new("A Clockwork Orange")
end
end
media = Media.new()
#=> %Paper{
# paper: %Book{
# book: "War and Peace"
# }
# }
```
# A Sampling of ADTs
See [complete docs](https://hexdocs.pm/algae) for more
## `Algae.Id`
The simplest ADT: a simple wrapper for some data
```elixir
%Algae.Id{id: "hi!"}
```
## `Algae.Maybe`
Maybe represents the presence or absence of something.
Please note that `nil` is actually a value, as it can be passed to functions!
`nil` is not bottom!
```elixir
Algae.Maybe.new()
#=> %Algae.Maybe.Nothing{}
Algae.Maybe.new(42)
#=> %Algae.Maybe.Just{just: 42}
```
## `Tree.BinarySearch`
```elixir
alias Algae.Tree.BinarySearch, as: BTree
# 42
# / \
# 77 1234
# / \
# 98 32
BTree.Branch.new(
42,
BTree.Branch.new(77),
BTree.Branch.new(
1234,
BTree.Branch.new(98),
BTree.Branch.new(32)
)
)
#=> %Algae.Tree.BinarySearch.Branch{
# value: 42,
# left: %Algae.Tree.BinarySearch.Branch{
# value: 77,
# left: %Algae.Tree.BinarySearch.Empty{},
# right: %Algae.Tree.BinarySearch.Empty{}
# },
# right: %Algae.Tree.BinarySearch.Branch{
# value: 1234,
# left: %Algae.Tree.BinarySearch.Branch{
# value: 98,
# left: %Algae.Tree.BinarySearch.Empty{},
# right: %Algae.Tree.BinarySearch.Empty{}
# },
# right: %Algae.Tree.BinarySearch.Branch{
# value: 32,
# left: %Algae.Tree.BinarySearch.Empty{},
# right: %Algae.Tree.BinarySearch.Empty{}
# }
# }
# }
```