New subject: Is it possible to print out types of instances in scope

16 Jan 2005

      Hello,

Is it possible to write a function that would display all the instances
of a class currently in scope[1]?

For example, for 'Show a' it should output something like:

The instances of 'Show a' currently in scope are:
Show Int
Show Float
Show Char
Show ...

Depending on what modules are imported at compile time, the list would
grow or shrink.

I am willing to accept all sorts of restrictions at this point in time
such as:

 ~ Yes, but only if the classes are declared in this way (but not for
   ones declared in the standard library)

 ~ Yes, but it requires template haskell

It is currently my belief that the compiler "knows" the answer, but
there is no way to get the list from the compiler...

I would be interested in any information, links, examples, papers,
etc, that you can provide that would tell me:

 ~ Yes it can be done
 ~ It could be done with a compiler extension
 ~ It could never be done
 ~ It could be done, but it would be a really horrible idea, and here's why

So don't hold back :)

Thanks!
Jeremy Shaw.

[1] I suppose by 'currently in scope' I mean all the instances that
type checker is considering when it type checks the function at
compile time. But I am really not picky about what I mean right now as
I can't get anything remotely ressembling this to happen.

Is it possible to print out types of instances in scope

Jeremy Shaw

Lemmih

Jeremy Shaw

Keean Schupke

Lemmih

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