- instance C [Int] where c = [37]
-
- main = print (d :: [Int])
-\end{pseudocode}
-
-What do you think `main' prints (assuming we have overlapping instances, and
-all that turned on)? Well, the instance for `D' at type `[a]' is defined to
-be `c' at the same type, and we've got an instance of `C' at `[Int]', so the
-answer is `[37]', right? (the generic `C [a]' instance shouldn't apply because
-the `C [Int]' instance is more specific).
-
-Ghc-4.04 gives `[37]', while ghc-4.06 gives `[17]', so 4.06 is wrong. That
-was easy ;-) Let's just consult hugs for good measure. Wait - if I use old
-hugs (pre-September99), I get `[17]', and stranger yet, if I use hugs98, it
-doesn't even compile! What's going on!?
-
-What hugs complains about is the `D [a]' instance decl.
-
-\begin{pseudocode}
- ERROR "mj.hs" (line 10): Cannot build superclass instance
- *** Instance : D [a]
- *** Context supplied : D a
- *** Required superclass : C [a]
-\end{pseudocode}
-
-You might wonder what hugs is complaining about. It's saying that you
-need to add `C [a]' to the context of the `D [a]' instance (as appears
-in comments). But there's that `C [a]' instance decl one line above
-that says that I can reduce the need for a `C [a]' instance to the
-need for a `C a' instance, and in this case, I already have the
-necessary `C a' instance (since we have `D a' explicitly in the
-context, and `C' is a superclass of `D').
-
-Unfortunately, the above reasoning indicates a premature commitment to the
-generic `C [a]' instance. I.e., it prematurely rules out the more specific
-instance `C [Int]'. This is the mistake that ghc-4.06 makes. The fix is to
-add the context that hugs suggests (uncomment the `C [a]'), effectively
-deferring the decision about which instance to use.
-
-Now, interestingly enough, 4.04 has this same bug, but it's covered up
-in this case by a little known `optimization' that was disabled in
-4.06. Ghc-4.04 silently inserts any missing superclass context into
-an instance declaration. In this case, it silently inserts the `C
-[a]', and everything happens to work out.
-
-(See `basicTypes/MkId:mkDictFunId' for the code in question. Search for
-`Mark Jones', although Mark claims no credit for the `optimization' in
-question, and would rather it stopped being called the `Mark Jones
-optimization' ;-)
-
-So, what's the fix? I think hugs has it right. Here's why. Let's try
-something else out with ghc-4.04. Let's add the following line:
-
- d' :: D a => [a]
- d' = c