#8624: -ddump-splices-file ------------------------------------+------------------------------------- Reporter: GregWeber | Owner: Type: feature request | Status: new Priority: normal | Milestone: Component: Compiler | Version: 7.6.3 Keywords: | Operating System: Unknown/Multiple Architecture: Unknown/Multiple | Type of failure: None/Unknown Difficulty: Unknown | Test Case: Blocked By: | Blocking: Related Tickets: | ------------------------------------+------------------------------------- I am proposing an additional feature, `-ddump-splices-file` that generates a corresponding `.hs.th` file for every `.hs` file that uses Template Haskell. `-ddump-splices` is an invaluable but a frustrating way to look at generated Haskell code. If TH generation were some kind of error message, the current output would make sense. However, TH is generating code that we rely on and would be easier to comprehend if we could see it in a way the most similar to our existing Haskell code. There is a valid complaint that when TH defines something you can't just grep for it, you have to know what TH is defining by reading documentation and imagining something that isn't in front of you. If you have a file `Foo.hs` `-ddump-splices-file` will generate `Foo.hs.th`. Then whenever someone greps after buliding they will find the declaration. If you check these files in they can grep even before building. Similarly, an IDE can show these files as the source of a declaration. Also, if the TH generation changes in some way when a TH function changes, that will be visible. This seems like a relatively easy feature to add. Any pointers on where to get started? -- Ticket URL: http://ghc.haskell.org/trac/ghc/ticket/8624 GHC http://www.haskell.org/ghc/ The Glasgow Haskell Compiler