How to get rid of $(…) and [| … |] syntax when using a Template Haskell function?

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/7213938

14-01-2021
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Question

I'm trying to learn some Template Haskell. As an exercise, I wrote a function that can generate things like isLeft and isRight (inspired by this question). Here's my humble attempt:

isA connam = do
    ConE nam <- connam
    nn <- newName "p"
    lamE [varP nn] $ caseE (varE nn) [
                       match (conP nam [wildP]) ( normalB [| True |] ) [],
                       match wildP ( normalB [| False |] ) [] 
                     ]

The problem is that I have to write $(isA [| Left |]) instead of the more intuitive isA Left. Is it possible to get rid of the ugly syntax? I can't seem to find the answer in the documentation.

The function only works with one-argument constructors, but this is for another question.

Solution

The syntax is there for a reason; to inform the reader that there is compile-time magic going on here. You can only eliminate the $(...) when your splice is at the top level.

However, we can eliminate the [| ... |] and also make the code more type-safe by taking in a Name instead of an Exp:

isA nam = do
    nn <- newName "p"
    lamE [varP nn] $ caseE (varE nn) [
                       match (conP nam [wildP]) ( normalB [| True |] ) [],
                       match wildP ( normalB [| False |] ) [] 
                     ]

To use this, you'd write $(isA 'Left), which is a little easier on the eyes.

As a bonus, if you try giving it something other than a Name, you get a type error instead of an irrefutable pattern match error.