Algebraic Types are not Scary
2 days ago
- #programming
- #type-systems
- #algebraic-types
- Algebraic types are simple and helpful concepts, not advanced topics.
- Types can be thought of as sets of possible values.
- Product types combine two types into a pair, similar to structs or classes.
- Sum types allow values to be from one type or another, like logical OR.
- Sum types are useful for modeling optional values (Option/Maybe) and error handling (Result).
- Algebraic types simplify modeling real-world data and reduce cognitive load.
- Pattern matching with algebraic types is more readable than inheritance or visitor patterns.
- Product and sum types are fundamental for combining types in programming.