Re: Re: val initialization semantic is counterintuitive

Sébastien Doeraene <[email protected]> Sun, 11 Sep 2016 10:53:33 +0200
Newsgroups gmane.comp.lang.scala
Message-ID <CAJwkOg4khdJkAn9C9Qgcw1W1_JroLM1q413wJN3k7aVVLw66QQ@mail.gmail.com>
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Hello,

Fun fact: we even have a test in Scala.js that makes sure that it behaves
like that even for Scala.js-defined JS classes ^^
https://github.com/scala-js/scala-js/blob/v0.6.12/test-suite/js/src/test/sc=
ala/org/scalajs/testsuite/jsinterop/ScalaJSDefinedTest.scala#L359-L367

Btw, indeed, this is one of the 5 warnings that we get when compiling our
test suite (not counting deprecation warnings):

[warn] .../ScalaJSDefinedTest.scala:361: Reference to uninitialized value y
[warn]       val x =3D y
[warn]               ^

Cheers,
S=C3=A9bastien

On Sun, Sep 11, 2016 at 10:37 AM, Adriaan Moors <[email protected]>
wrote:

> Val initialization is confusing, I agree, but note that you do get a
> warning. I'm a bit concerned about making this an error as you could
> override `val x` in a subclass (it's still weird, but should it be an
> error?).
>
> Welcome to Scala 2.12.0-RC1 (Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM, Java
> 1.8.0_102).
> Type in expressions for evaluation. Or try :help.
>
> scala> class T {
>      |   val x =3D y // compiles OK, x =3D 0
>      |   val y =3D 5
>      | }
> *<console>:12: warning: Reference to uninitialized value y*
>          val x =3D y // compiles OK, x =3D 0
>                  ^
>
> On Sat, Sep 10, 2016 at 10:44 PM martin odersky <[email protected]> wrote=
:
>
>> I think that's a suggestion worth considering! In general it is extremel=
y
>> hard to detect uninitialized fields statically. But a scheme of disallow=
ing
>> direct forward references is easy to do and catches the most obvious bug=
s.
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>>  - Martin
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Sep 10, 2016 at 1:42 AM, Sofoklis Papasofokli <
>> [email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> Strange that nobody commented on this one for so long.
>>>
>>> I know its an old thread but i keep getting issues from this, I also
>>> believe there should be a compiler error in this situation, its totally
>>> unexpected behavior.
>>>
>>> Best Regards,
>>> Sofoklis
>>>
>>> On Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 5:14:16 PM UTC+2, Eugen Labun wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Hi all,
>>>>
>>>> eventually (or even surely) this is an old question but I haven't foun=
d
>>>> an explanation for this
>>>> simple situation (nor in Language Specification, nor in Scala-Book).
>>>>
>>>> (More complicated cases are described in this excellent faq from Paul:
>>>> https://github.com/paulp/scala-faq/wiki/Initialization-Order)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Constructions like
>>>>
>>>>   def m {
>>>>     val x =3D y // compile error "forward reference extends over
>>>> definition of value x"
>>>>     val y =3D 5
>>>>   }
>>>>
>>>> cause a compile error if used in methods,
>>>> but are accepted in constructors/initializers:
>>>>
>>>>   class/object T {
>>>>     val x =3D y // compiles OK, x =3D 0
>>>>     val y =3D 5
>>>>   }
>>>>
>>>> The 'x' in the code above gets initialized to 0 (!), not to 5.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Both -- acceptance by the compiler and initialization to 0 -- are
>>>> counterintuitive to me.
>>>> Would a compile error for the second case ("illegal forward reference"=
)
>>>> not be a more preferable?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I'm aware of '-Xcheckinit' compiler option. But this introduces only
>>>> *runtime* check and doesn't
>>>> prevent the code to compile.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> There was a ticket https://lampsvn.epfl.ch/trac/scala/ticket/399, but
>>>> it's closed. I cannot
>>>> understand the reason of closing (it cites one more example of such
>>>> counterintuitive behavior but
>>>> doesn't explain why this behavior can't be changed).
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Java handles a semantically analogous situation as expected:
>>>>
>>>>   class C {
>>>>     final int a =3D 3;
>>>>     {
>>>>       System.out.println("a: " + a); // OK
>>>>       System.out.println("y: " + y); // Error: illegal forward referen=
ce
>>>>     }
>>>>     final int x =3D y;  // Error: illegal forward reference
>>>>     final int y =3D 5;
>>>>
>>>>     public static void main(String[] args) {
>>>>       // final int x =3D y; // Error: cannot find symbol variable y
>>>>       final int y =3D 5;
>>>>     }
>>>>   }
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I understand that Scala vals do not map 1:1 to Java final variables,
>>>> and that generating bytecode
>>>> from Scala code is much more complicated (having in mind such things a=
s
>>>> unified access principle and
>>>> therefore introducing methods for vals/vars, mapping of Scala's primar=
y
>>>> constructor to constructors
>>>> and initializers in Java, inheritance and overriding val->def->var, ..=
.)
>>>>
>>>> But, despite how complicated can be the generated code, hopefully,
>>>> might it be possible to detect
>>>> such forward references in Scala parser and generate an error?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Regards,
>>>> Eugen
>>>>
>>>> --
>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
>>> Groups "scala-language" group.
>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
>>> an email to [email protected].
>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> Martin Odersky
>> EPFL and Lightbend
>>
>> --
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Group=
s
>> "scala-language" group.
>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send a=
n
>> email to [email protected].
>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
>>
> --
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<div dir=3D"ltr"><div><div><div><div>Hello,<br><br></div>Fun fact: we even =
have a test in Scala.js that makes sure that it behaves like that even for =
Scala.js-defined JS classes ^^<br><a href=3D"https://github.com/scala-js/sc=
ala-js/blob/v0.6.12/test-suite/js/src/test/scala/org/scalajs/testsuite/jsin=
terop/ScalaJSDefinedTest.scala#L359-L367">https://github.com/scala-js/scala=
-js/blob/v0.6.12/test-suite/js/src/test/scala/org/scalajs/testsuite/jsinter=
op/ScalaJSDefinedTest.scala#L359-L367</a><br></div><br>Btw, indeed, this is=
 one of the 5 warnings that we get when compiling our test suite (not count=
ing deprecation warnings):<br><br><span style=3D"font-family:monospace,mono=
space">[warn] .../ScalaJSDefinedTest.scala:361: Reference to uninitialized =
value y<br>[warn]=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 val x =3D y<br>[warn]=
=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=
=A0=C2=A0 ^</span><br><br></div>Cheers,<br></div>S=C3=A9bastien<br></div><d=
iv class=3D"gmail_extra"><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Sun, Sep 11, 201=
6 at 10:37 AM, Adriaan Moors <span dir=3D"ltr">&lt;<a href=3D"mailto:adriaa=
[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">[email protected]</a>&gt;</span> wro=
te:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-=
left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div>Val initializat=
ion is confusing, I agree, but note that you do get a warning. I&#39;m a bi=
t concerned about making this an error as you could override `val x` in a s=
ubclass (it&#39;s still weird, but should it be an error?).</div><div><font=
 face=3D"monospace"><br></font></div><div><font face=3D"monospace">Welcome =
to Scala 2.12.0-RC1 (Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM, Java 1.8.0_102).</f=
ont></div><div><font face=3D"monospace">Type in expressions for evaluation.=
 Or try :help.</font></div><div><font face=3D"monospace"><br></font></div><=
div><font face=3D"monospace">scala&gt; class T {</font></div><div><font fac=
e=3D"monospace">=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0| =C2=A0 val x =3D y // compiles OK, x =
=3D 0</font></div><div><font face=3D"monospace">=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0| =C2=
=A0 val y =3D 5</font></div><div><font face=3D"monospace">=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=
=A0| }</font></div><div><font face=3D"monospace"><b>&lt;console&gt;:12: war=
ning: Reference to uninitialized value y</b></font></div><div><font face=3D=
"monospace">=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0val x =3D y // compiles OK, x=
 =3D 0</font></div><div><font face=3D"monospace">=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=
=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0^</font></div></div><br><div class=3D=
"gmail_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr">On Sat, Sep 10, 2016 at 10:44 PM martin oder=
sky &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">odersky@gmai=
l.com</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"ma=
rgin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"lt=
r">I think that&#39;s a suggestion worth considering! In general it is extr=
emely hard to detect uninitialized fields statically. But a scheme of disal=
lowing direct forward references is easy to do and catches the most obvious=
 bugs.=C2=A0<div><br></div><div>Cheers</div><div><br></div><div>=C2=A0- Mar=
tin<br><div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div><div class=3D"gmail_extra"=
></div><div class=3D"gmail_extra"><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Sat, Se=
p 10, 2016 at 1:42 AM, Sofoklis Papasofokli <span dir=3D"ltr">&lt;<a href=
=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">[email protected]</a>=
&gt;</span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0=
 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr">Hi,<b=
r><br>Strange that nobody commented on this one for so long. <br><br>I know=
 its an old thread but i keep getting issues from this, I also believe ther=
e should be a compiler error in this situation, its totally unexpected beha=
vior.<br><br>Best Regards,<br>Sofoklis<br><br>On Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at=
 5:14:16 PM UTC+2, Eugen Labun wrote:<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" styl=
e=3D"margin:0;margin-left:0.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex=
">Hi all,<p>eventually (or even surely) this is an old question but I haven=
&#39;t found an explanation for this<br>simple situation (nor in Language S=
pecification, nor in Scala-Book).</p><p>(More complicated cases are describ=
ed in this excellent faq from Paul:<br><a href=3D"https://github.com/paulp/=
scala-faq/wiki/Initialization-Order" rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank">htt=
ps://github.com/paulp/<wbr>scala-faq/wiki/Initialization-<wbr>Order</a>)</p=
><p><br>Constructions like</p><p>=C2=A0 def m {<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 val x =3D =
y // compile error &quot;forward reference extends over definition of value=
 x&quot;<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 val y =3D 5<br>=C2=A0 }</p><p>cause a compile err=
or if used in methods,<br>but are accepted in constructors/initializers:</p=
><p>=C2=A0 class/object T {<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 val x =3D y // compiles OK, x =
=3D 0<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 val y =3D 5<br>=C2=A0 }</p><p>The &#39;x&#39; in the=
 code above gets initialized to 0 (!), not to 5.</p><p><br>Both -- acceptan=
ce by the compiler and initialization to 0 -- are counterintuitive to me.<b=
r>Would a compile error for the second case (&quot;illegal forward referenc=
e&quot;) not be a more preferable?</p><p><br>I&#39;m aware of &#39;-Xchecki=
nit&#39; compiler option. But this introduces only *runtime* check and does=
n&#39;t<br>prevent the code to compile.</p><p><br>There was a ticket <a hre=
f=3D"https://lampsvn.epfl.ch/trac/scala/ticket/399" rel=3D"nofollow" target=
=3D"_blank">https://lampsvn.epfl.ch/trac/<wbr>scala/ticket/399</a>, but it&=
#39;s closed. I cannot<br>understand the reason of closing (it cites one mo=
re example of such counterintuitive behavior but<br>doesn&#39;t explain why=
 this behavior can&#39;t be changed).</p><p><br>Java handles a semantically=
 analogous situation as expected:</p><p>=C2=A0 class C {<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 f=
inal int a =3D 3;<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 {<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 System.out.pri=
ntln(&quot;a: &quot; + a); // OK<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 System.out.println=
(&quot;y: &quot; + y); // Error: illegal forward reference<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0=
 }<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 final int x =3D y; =C2=A0// Error: illegal forward refe=
rence<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 final int y =3D 5;</p><p>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 public static=
 void main(String[] args) {<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 // final int x =3D y; /=
/ Error: cannot find symbol variable y<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 final int y =
=3D 5;<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 }<br>=C2=A0 }</p><p><br>I understand that Scala val=
s do not map 1:1 to Java final variables, and that generating bytecode<br>f=
rom Scala code is much more complicated (having in mind such things as unif=
ied access principle and<br>therefore introducing methods for vals/vars, ma=
pping of Scala&#39;s primary constructor to constructors<br>and initializer=
s in Java, inheritance and overriding val-&gt;def-&gt;var, ...)</p><p>But, =
despite how complicated can be the generated code, hopefully, might it be p=
ossible to detect<br>such forward references in Scala parser and generate a=
n error?</p><p><br><span><font color=3D"#888888">--<br>Regards,<br>Eugen<br=
></font></span></p><span><font color=3D"#888888"><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></=
p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>=
</p></font></span></blockquote></div><span><font color=3D"#888888">

<p></p>

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</font></span></blockquote></div><br><br clear=3D"all"><div><br></div></div=
><div class=3D"gmail_extra">-- <br><div data-smartmail=3D"gmail_signature">=
<br>Martin Odersky<br>EPFL and Lightbend</div><span class=3D"HOEnZb"><font =
color=3D"#888888">
</font></span></div><span class=3D"HOEnZb"><font color=3D"#888888">

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