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> Both have evolved gradual type systems that might make it easier to hold a large program in an individual’s head productively. This… is not the primary benef
by bigyikes 3y ago
> Both have evolved gradual type systems that might make it easier to hold a large program in an individual’s head productively.
This… is not the primary benefit of type systems. (Not sure I’d agree that this is even an actual benefit - my mental model of a system is unaffected by the presence of types)
In my view, the primary benefit of type systems is that it makes changing code significantly easier, much in the same way that test cases do. They give you confidence that a code change doesn’t cause a regression. Refactoring a code base without types is nightmare fuel. This is not hype.
- galdosdi 3y agoYou can see type signatures as free documentation, that unlike other documentation, is not allowed by the compiler to fall out of date. Perhaps that's the sort of thing they meant.