Use the keyword `impls` instead of `is` when writing a `where` constraint that a type variable needs to implement an interface or named constraint.
What was previously (provisionally) written:
```
fn Sort[T:! Container where .ElementType is Ordered](x: T*);
```
will now be written:
```
fn Sort[T:! Container where .ElementType impls Ordered](x: T*);
```
---------
Co-authored-by: Geoff Romer <gromer@google.com>
Co-authored-by: Chandler Carruth <chandlerc@gmail.com>
There are cases where an impl definition should apply to more than a single type and interface combination. The solution is to parameterize the impl definition, so it applies to a family of types, interfaces, or both. This includes:
- Declare an impl for a parameterized type, which may be external or declared out-of-line.
```
external impl [T:! Type] Vector(T) as Iterable { ... }
external impl Vector(T:! Type) as Iterable { ... }
```
- "Conditional conformance" where a parameterized type implements some interface if the parameter to the type satisfies some criteria, like implementing the same interface.
```
external impl [T:! Type] Pair(T, T) as Foo(T) { ... }
class Array(T:! Type, template N:! Int) {
impl [P:! Printable] Array(P, N) as Printable { ... }
impl Array(P:! Printable, N) as Printable { ... }
}
```
- "Blanket" impls where an interface is implemented for all types that implement another interface, or some other criteria beyond being a specific type.
```
external impl [T:! Ordered] T as PartiallyOrdered { ... }
```
- "Wildcard" impls where a family of interfaces are implemented for single type.
```
class BigInt {
external impl [T:! ImplicitAs(i32)] as AddTo(T) { ... }
external impl as AddTo(T:! ImplicitAs(i32)) { ... }
}
external impl [T:! ImplicitAs(i32)] BigInt as AddTo(T) { ... }
external impl BigInt as AddTo(T:! ImplicitAs(i32)) { ... }
```
In addition to a syntax for defining parameterized impls, we need rules for coherence:
- Orphan rules that ensure that impls are imported in any code that might use it.
- We need overlap rules that pick a specific impl when more than one impl declaration matches a specific query about whether a type implements an interface.
Co-authored-by: Richard Smith <richard@metafoo.co.uk>
