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Bad error message using poly pat bind with MonoPatBinds

This program:

foo :: a -> a
bar :: a -> a
(foo, bar) = (\x -> x, \y -> y)

main = print $ foo $ bar 1

Is trying to pattern-bind a polymorphic function. The error message is dreadful:

/Users/mbolingbroke/Junk/PolyPatBinds.hs:5:15:
    Couldn't match expected type `t -> t1'
                with actual type `forall a. a -> a'
    The lambda expression `\ x -> x' has one argument one argument,
    but its type `forall a. a -> a' has none
    In the expression: \ x -> x
    In the expression: (\ x -> x, \ y -> y)

The issues are:

  1. It repeats itself: "one argument one argument"
  2. It is patently incorrect: the type forall a. a -> a DOES have one argument in the standard nomenclature
  3. It does not point the user towards the fix (-XNoMonoPatBinds)
Trac metadata
Trac field Value
Version 7.0.1
Type FeatureRequest
TypeOfFailure OtherFailure
Priority normal
Resolution Unresolved
Component Compiler (Type checker)
Test case
Differential revisions
BlockedBy
Related
Blocking
CC
Operating system
Architecture
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