Types that Change: The Extensible Type Design Pattern

Explore a design pattern for extending algebraic data types (ADTs) in compiler architecture during this conference talk from FUNARCH'23. Dive into the challenges of managing multiple program representations in compiler chains and learn how to address code duplication issues. Discover a versatile approach using parametric types with argument type functions applied to ADT components. Examine practical applications of this pattern for implementing traceability, error recovery, and selective type modification. Gain insights from a real-world case study demonstrating the effectiveness of this extensible type design pattern in compiler development.