The Eric Normand Podcast How do you make a function total?
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Dec 19, 2022 Explore the importance of total functions in functional programming and their advantages over partial functions. Learn three techniques to convert any pure function into a total one, enhancing robustness. Discover how to effectively handle API connection errors by using return values for clarity and simplicity. The discussion highlights the design strategies that promote better error management and improved code abstraction, ensuring a smoother user experience. Tune in for insights that make programming more reliable and efficient!
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Importance of Total Functions
- Total functions return a valid result for every valid input, unlike partial functions.
- Partial functions are contagious and make composing functions much harder to reason about.
Restrict Arguments to Ensure Totality
- Make partial functions total by restricting inputs to valid ranges or types.
- For example, use a "non-zero integer" type to safely handle division where the divisor is never zero.
Augment Return to Handle Errors
- Augment return types to include error cases, like using Maybe or Option types.
- This incorporates failure states into results, making functions total and easier to handle.