[erlang-questions] Inconsistent shadowing of variables in a fun

[Robert Virding]

Yes, the variable bitsize variable must be bound. BUT it can also be bound
if it matched "earlier" from inside the same binary. So

b() -> fun (<<N, X:N, _/bitstring>>) -> {N,X} end.

and

1> c("bt").
{ok,bt}
2> F = bt:b().
#Fun<bt.2.81949596>
3> F(<<8,1,2,3,4>>).
{8,1}
4> F(<<5,1,2,3,4>>).
{5,0}

We see that N doesn't have to be imported. So variables in fun argument
patterns aren't imported except for the binary bitsize, which is
inconsistent and a bit hacky. Why that type?

Robert


On 30 January 2017 at 00:00, Michel Boaventura <michel.boaventura@REDACTED>
wrote:

> According to Joe's Programming Erlang(page 103): Size must be an
> expression that evaluates to an integer. In pattern matching, Size must be
> an integer or a bound variable whose value is an integer.
>
> So the N on the pattern match is not a new variable like X.
>
>
> Em 29 de jan de 2017 20:42, "José Valim" <jose.valim@REDACTED>
> escreveu:
>
> From my understanding, the N in this case can never be an unbound
> variable. If you rename N to M, then it won't compile, so it would not be
> possible for it to shadow anything.
>
> It is similar to map keys. They are always treated as values, even when
> inside patterns.
>
>
> On Sun, Jan 29, 2017 at 23:07 Robert Virding <rvirding@REDACTED> wrote:
>
>> When defining a fun the shadowing of variables occurring in arguments is
>> inconsistent. So with
>>
>> a(X, N) ->
>>     fun (<<X,Y:N,_/binary>>) -> {X,Y} end.
>>
>> the X in the fun arguments shadows the X from before it while the N is
>> imported and used. An example:
>>
>> 1> c(bt).
>> bt.erl:8: Warning: variable 'X' is unused
>> bt.erl:9: Warning: variable 'X' shadowed in 'fun'
>> {ok,bt}
>> 2> f(G),G=bt:a(34,8).
>> #Fun<bt.1.1070726>
>> 3> G(<<1,2,3,4,5>>).
>> {1,2}
>> 4> f(G),G=bt:a(34,16).
>> #Fun<bt.1.1070726>
>> 5> G(<<1,2,3,4,5>>).
>> {1,515}
>>
>> Why the difference? Shouldn't we be consistent in shadowing all variables?
>>
>> Robert
>>
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>>
> --
>
>
> *José Valim*
> www.plataformatec.com.br
> Skype: jv.ptec
> Founder and Director of R&D
>
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