I'd like to pass kernel functions using:

```
auto calculateKernelMatrix(K, T)(K!(T) Kernel, Matrix!(T) data)
{
  ...
}

```

and call it using `calculateKernelMatrix(myKernel, myData);` but I get a type deduction error and have to call it using `calculateKernelMatrix!(typeof(myKernel), float)(myKernel, myData);`

How do I resolve this?

On Thursday, 21 May 2020 at 04:46:02 UTC, data pulverizer wrote:
> I'd like to pass kernel functions using:
>
> ```
> auto calculateKernelMatrix(K, T)(K!(T) Kernel, Matrix!(T) data)
> {
>   ...
> }
>
> ```
>
> and call it using `calculateKernelMatrix(myKernel, myData);` but I get a type deduction error and have to call it using `calculateKernelMatrix!(typeof(myKernel), float)(myKernel, myData);`
>
> How do I resolve this?

The problem is that "K" is a template type parameter [1].
When the compiler deduces the parameter that ends up with a symbol, i.e not a type.
To permit a symbol to be deduced you can use a template alias parameter[2] instead:

---
struct Matrix(T) {}
struct Kernel(T) {}

void calculateKernelMatrix(alias K, T)(K!T kernel, Matrix!T data) { }

void main()
{
    Matrix!float m;
    Kernel!float k;
    calculateKernelMatrix(k,m); // OK
}
---

However I think that there could be an useful error message, as the current one is of no usefulness. Note that maybe that under the hood there's one but the compiler uses a system of gagging when trying uncertain operations, so that other things can be tried, in case of failure.

[1] https://dlang.org/spec/template.html#template_type_parameters
[2] https://dlang.org/spec/template.html#aliasparameters

On Thursday, 21 May 2020 at 07:16:11 UTC, Basile B. wrote:
> On Thursday, 21 May 2020 at 04:46:02 UTC, data pulverizer wrote:
>> I'd like to pass kernel functions using:
>>
>> ```
>> auto calculateKernelMatrix(K, T)(K!(T) Kernel, Matrix!(T) data)
>> {
>>   ...
>> }
>>
>> ```
>>
>> and call it using `calculateKernelMatrix(myKernel, myData);` but I get a type deduction error and have to call it using `calculateKernelMatrix!(typeof(myKernel), float)(myKernel, myData);`
>>
>> How do I resolve this?
>
> The problem is that "K" is a template type parameter [1].
> When the compiler deduces the parameter that ends up with a symbol, i.e not a type.
> To permit a symbol to be deduced you can use a template alias parameter[2] instead:
>
> ---
> struct Matrix(T) {}
> struct Kernel(T) {}
>
> void calculateKernelMatrix(alias K, T)(K!T kernel, Matrix!T data) { }
>
> void main()
> {
>     Matrix!float m;
>     Kernel!float k;
>     calculateKernelMatrix(k,m); // OK
> }
> ---
>
> However I think that there could be an useful error message, as the current one is of no usefulness. Note that maybe that under the hood there's one but the compiler uses a system of gagging when trying uncertain operations, so that other things can be tried, in case of failure.
>
> [1] https://dlang.org/spec/template.html#template_type_parameters
> [2] https://dlang.org/spec/template.html#aliasparameters

I've found that even with a template constraint the diagnostic is sub-optimal, see issue  20851 [1].

[1] https://issues.dlang.org/show_bug.cgi?id=20851

On Thursday, 21 May 2020 at 07:16:11 UTC, Basile B. wrote:
> The problem is that "K" is a template type parameter [1].
> When the compiler deduces the parameter that ends up with a symbol, i.e not a type.
> To permit a symbol to be deduced you can use a template alias parameter[2] instead:
>
> ---
> struct Matrix(T) {}
> struct Kernel(T) {}
>
> void calculateKernelMatrix(alias K, T)(K!T kernel, Matrix!T data) { }
>
> void main()
> {
>     Matrix!float m;
>     Kernel!float k;
>     calculateKernelMatrix(k,m); // OK
> }
> ---


Thanks!