Difference between revisions of "Monad Transformers"

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(initial version with links to many discussions of MTL and Transformers)
 
(explanation of transformers set of packages)
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besides a third package with a similar goal but different API named [[MonadLib]]:
  
besides a third package with a similar goal but different API named [[MonadLib]]:
   
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* [http://hackage.haskell.org/package/mtl MTL] - Monad Transformers Library: provides concrete monad transformers like <hask>StateT</hask> and abstractions using multi-parameter classes with functional dependencies like <hask>MonadState</hask>
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* [http://hackage.haskell.org/package/mtl MTL] - Monad Transformers Library: provides concrete monad transformers like <hask>StateT</hask> and abstractions using [[multi-parameter type class]]es with [[functional dependencies]] like <hask>MonadState</hask>. Monads like <hask>State</hask> and their transformer counterparts like <hask>StateT</hask> are distinct types and can be accessed uniformly only through a type class abstraction like <hask>MonadState</hask>. Because of the functional dependencies, MTL can currently (2010-03) only used in [[Hugs]] and [[GHC]]. MTL was the first implementation.
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* The newer implementation is derived from the former one and is split into the following components:
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* [http://hackage.haskell.org/package/transformers transformers]
  
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** [http://hackage.haskell.org/package/transformers transformers]: Provide only concrete transformers like <hask>StateT</hask>. The monad <hask>State s a</hask> is only a type synonym for <hask>StateT s Identity a</hask>. Thus both <hask>State</hask> and <hask>StateT</hask> can be accessed by the same methods like <hask>put</hask> and <hask>get</hask>. However, this only works, if <hask>StateT</hask> is the top-most transformer in a monad transformer stack. This package is Haskell 98 and thus can be also used with [[JHC]].
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** [http://hackage.haskell.org/package/monads-fd monads-fd]: Provides the same type classes with functional dependencies like MTL. They allow using <hask>State</hask> methods also for <hask>StateT</hask> transformers within a transformer stack.
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** [http://hackage.haskell.org/package/monads-tf monads-tf]: Provides a different abstraction using [[type families]]. Unfortunately the names of <code>monads-fd</code> and <code>monads-tf</code> clash,
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thus you can currently not import both packages in one package.
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== How can I use MTL and transformers together? ==
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== Shall I use MTL or transformers? ==
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== How to move from MTL to transformers? ==
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Any package using <code>MTL</code> can be ported to <code>transformers</code> and <code>monads-fd</code> with only slight variations.
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Modules require the <code>Trans</code> infix,
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e.g. <hask>import Control.Monad.State ...</hask> must be replaced by <hask>import Control.Monad.Trans.State ...</hask>.
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Since <hask>State</hask> is only a type synonym, there is no longer a constructor named <hask>State</hask>.
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For constructing you must use the function <hask>state</hask> and instead of pattern matching you must call <hask>runState</hask>.
   
 
== See also ==
  
== See also ==

Revision as of 22:58, 5 March 2010

There are currently two sets of packages that implement similar interfaces to monad transformers, besides a third package with a similar goal but different API named MonadLib:

  • MTL - Monad Transformers Library: provides concrete monad transformers like StateT and abstractions using multi-parameter type classes with functional dependencies like MonadState. Monads like State and their transformer counterparts like StateT are distinct types and can be accessed uniformly only through a type class abstraction like MonadState. Because of the functional dependencies, MTL can currently (2010-03) only used in Hugs and GHC. MTL was the first implementation.
  • The newer implementation is derived from the former one and is split into the following components:
    • transformers: Provide only concrete transformers like StateT. The monad State s a is only a type synonym for StateT s Identity a. Thus both State and StateT can be accessed by the same methods like put and get. However, this only works, if StateT is the top-most transformer in a monad transformer stack. This package is Haskell 98 and thus can be also used with JHC.
    • monads-fd: Provides the same type classes with functional dependencies like MTL. They allow using State methods also for StateT transformers within a transformer stack.
    • monads-tf: Provides a different abstraction using type families. Unfortunately the names of monads-fd and monads-tf clash,

thus you can currently not import both packages in one package.


How can I use MTL and transformers together?

Shall I use MTL or transformers?

How to move from MTL to transformers?

Any package using MTL can be ported to transformers and monads-fd with only slight variations. Modules require the Trans infix, e.g. import Control.Monad.State ... must be replaced by import Control.Monad.Trans.State .... Since State is only a type synonym, there is no longer a constructor named State. For constructing you must use the function state and instead of pattern matching you must call runState.

See also

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