scala3: Methods on enum case, possible?

Question

I'm trying to define an ADT (tagged union type, actually).

enum MyEnum{
  case MyFirstCase(value:String) extends MyEnum{
    def someMethod = "whatever"
  }

}

But the compiler complains... Is it possible to add methods specific cases of a Scala3 enum (GADT)?

Or do we have to rely with the usual sealed trait encoding?

How would you call the method? – SwiftMango Oct 21 '22 at 10:13 — SwiftMango, Oct 21 '22 at 10:13

ElectronWill · Accepted Answer · 2022-10-21T13:11:48.483

It is possible with extension methods! See the example below.

The compiler will infer the enum type (here MyEnum) instead of the precise case type (here MyEnum.A.type in the example), so you need to specify it yourself in some cases.

enum MyEnum:
  case A

extension (a: MyEnum.A.type)
  def specificMethod() = println("ok")

MyEnum.A.specificMethod() // works

val preciseA: MyEnum.A.type = MyEnum.A
preciseA.specificMethod() // works

val unpreciseA = MyEnum.A // inferred type: MyEnum
unpreciseA.specificMethod() // compile error (specificMethod is not part of MyEnum)

Note that Scala 3 also provide union types in the following form, which may be easier to use in your case:

type MyUnion = A | B

// and then you can define A and B with the methods you want
class A:
  def specificToA()

class B:
  def specificToB()

you're right: the Scala 3 syntax doesn't accept a "template body" for enum cases (https://dotty.epfl.ch/docs/internals/syntax.html) — ElectronWill, Oct 23 '22 at 09:07

scala3: Methods on enum case, possible?

1 Answers1