#11431: GHC instantiates levity-polymorphic type variables with foralls -------------------------------------+------------------------------------- Reporter: gridaphobe | Owner: Type: bug | Status: new Priority: normal | Milestone: Component: Compiler | Version: 8.1 Keywords: | Operating System: Unknown/Multiple Architecture: | Type of failure: None/Unknown Unknown/Multiple | Test Case: | Blocked By: Blocking: | Related Tickets: Differential Rev(s): | Wiki Page: -------------------------------------+------------------------------------- Consider the following use of `error`. {{{ ghci> :t error error :: forall (v :: GHC.Types.Levity) (a :: TYPE v). (?callStack::GHC.Stack.Types.CallStack) => [Char] -> a ghci> :t error "bad" :: (forall a. a -> a) -> a error "bad" :: (forall a. a -> a) -> a :: (?callStack::GHC.Stack.Types.CallStack) => (forall a1. a1 -> a1) -> a }}} GHC is instantiating the type variable `a` in the output with `(forall a. a -> a) -> a`, which requires impredicative polymorphism. So this example should actually be rejected by the type checker. Note that GHC also does this with open-kinded type variables, so the behavior with `error` and `undefined` has been around for a while. There are tests that depend on it, and a Note that describes the decision to accept these programs. Still, Simon PJ says perhaps we should really just reject these programs. So here's a ticket to discuss the matter. For more information, see the discussion starting at https://phabricator.haskell.org/D1739#51408. -- Ticket URL: http://ghc.haskell.org/trac/ghc/ticket/11431 GHC http://www.haskell.org/ghc/ The Glasgow Haskell Compiler