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debugnik 3 hours ago

Not really, I provided these examples a couple weeks ago on another HN thread. TypeScript is simply unsound.

https://www.typescriptlang.org/play/?#code/MYewdgzgLgBAllApg...

https://www.typescriptlang.org/play/?#code/DYUwLgBAHgXBB2BXA...

jstanley 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Perfect examples of the kind of thing I'm talking about, thank you.

LordN00b an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

In the first example you deliberately create an ambiguous type, when you already know that it's not. You told the compiler you know more than it does. The second is a delegate, that will be triggered at any point during runtime. How can the compiler know what x will be?

bspammer an hour ago | parent | next [-]

For the first one, the compiler should not allow the mutable list to be assigned to a more broadly typed mutable list. This is a compile error in kotlin, for example

    val items: MutableList<Int> = mutableListOf(3)
    val brokenItems: MutableList<Any> = items
debugnik an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

First example: you're confusing the annotation for a cast, but it isn't; it won't work the other way around. What you're seeing there is array covariance, an unsound (i.e. broken) subtyping rule for mutable arrays. C# has it too but they've got the decency to check it at runtime.

Second example: that's the point. If the compiler can't prove that x will be initalised before the call it should reject the code until you make it x: number|undefined, to force the closure to handle the undefined case.

jstanley an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

If it only works when you write the types correctly with no mistakes, what's the point? I thought the point of all this strong typing stuff was to detect mistakes.

macguillicuddy 7 minutes ago | parent [-]

Because adding types adds constraints across the codebase that detect a broader set of mistakes. It's like saying what's the point of putting seatbelts into a car if they only work when you're wearing them - yes you can use them wrong (perhaps even unknowingly), but the overall benefit is much greater. On balance I find that TypeScript gives me huge benefit.