Switch <> back to []

active/0000-square-brackets.md

@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+- Start Date: 2014-06-30
+- RFC PR #: (leave this empty)
+- Rust Issue #: (leave this empty)
+
+# Summary
+
+Switching (back) the current type parameter syntax from `<>` to `[]`.
+
+# Motivation
+
+Recently there has been a lot of talks on simplifying the syntax. Starting from removing the sigils `@` and `~` and making lifetimes less syntax heavy (through various proposals). I think changing the current generic syntax to `[]` will make it that much better and clearer (I think `[]` is much easier to read).
+
+1. We would remove the current ambiguities surround the current syntax `<>`. That means, we could be able to have:
+
+```rust
+struct Vec[T] {
+    // ...
+}
+
+fn foo[T]() -> Vec[T] {
+    // ...
+}
+
+fn main() {
+    let something = foo[int]();
+}
+```
+
+2. `[]` composes **much** better than the more cryptic `<>` form. This is a common readability issue when working with any nested types (such as encoders and decoders).
+
+```rust
+fn parse['a, T: Encodable[Encoder['a], IoError]](value: T) {
+    // ...
+}
+```
+
+3. It would bring the ability to have much nicer syntax when dealing with HKTs (there are a few different proposals I have in mind in terms of syntax, but it's mostly inferred.).
+
+```rust
+// Possible syntax for HKTs.
+pub trait Monad[M[T]] {
+    // ...
+}
+```
+
+4. There's precendence for it. Scala's syntax for generics is awesome. It imposes very little effort (I think) when reading and understanding.
+
+6. Because it's consistent and has no ambiguities, one can finally use motions like `%` in Vim (and alternatives in other editors.).
+
+# Detailed design
+
+This is a very easy change to make.
+
+## Downsides
+
+* The syntax is used quite a bit. Automation could potentially do some, if not most of the changes (The tricky part is the ambiguities in the current syntax). However, of the changes we've had in the past, I think this syntax change is a whole lot easier to work with than semantic changes, or more complex syntax changes.
+
+* One that I forgot about is the issue with the indexing syntax.
+
+# Alternatives
+
+* Keep it like it currently is and end up with the current syntax forever.
+
+# Unresolved questions
+
+* Why was did Rust originally have `[]` but decided to switch to `<>`? I heard it was related to try and be consistent with C-class languages (C++, Java, etc...), is this correct?