lyng/docs/OperatorInterop.md

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# Operator Interop Registry
`lyng.operators` provides a runtime registry for mixed-class binary operators.
Import it when you want expressions such as:
- `1 + MyType(...)`
- `2 < MyType(...)`
- `3 == MyType(...)`
to work without modifying the built-in `Int` or `Real` classes.
```lyng
import lyng.operators
```
## Why This Exists
If your class defines:
```lyng
class Amount(val value: Int) {
fun plus(other: Amount) = Amount(value + other.value)
}
```
then:
```lyng
Amount(1) + Amount(2)
```
works, because the left operand already knows how to add another `Amount`.
But:
```lyng
1 + Amount(2)
```
does not naturally work, because `Int` has not been rewritten to know about `Amount`.
The operator interop registry solves exactly that problem.
## Mental Model
Registration describes a mixed pair:
- left class `L`
- right class `R`
- common class `C`
When Lyng sees `L op R`, it:
1. converts `L -> C`
2. converts `R -> C`
3. evaluates the operator as `C op C`
So the registry is a bridge, not a separate arithmetic engine.
## API
```lyng
OperatorInterop.register(
leftClass,
rightClass,
commonClass,
operators,
leftToCommon,
rightToCommon
)
```
Parameters:
- `leftClass`: original left operand class
- `rightClass`: original right operand class
- `commonClass`: class that will actually execute the operator methods
- `operators`: list of operators enabled for this pair
- `leftToCommon`: conversion from left operand to common class
- `rightToCommon`: conversion from right operand to common class
## Supported Operators
`BinaryOperator` values:
- `Plus`
- `Minus`
- `Mul`
- `Div`
- `Mod`
- `Compare`
- `Equals`
Meaning:
- `Compare` enables `<`, `<=`, `>`, `>=`, and `<=>`
- `Equals` enables `==` and `!=`
## Minimal Working Example
```lyng
package test.decimalbox
import lyng.operators
class DecimalBox(val value: Int) {
fun plus(other: DecimalBox) = DecimalBox(value + other.value)
fun minus(other: DecimalBox) = DecimalBox(value - other.value)
fun mul(other: DecimalBox) = DecimalBox(value * other.value)
fun div(other: DecimalBox) = DecimalBox(value / other.value)
fun mod(other: DecimalBox) = DecimalBox(value % other.value)
fun compareTo(other: DecimalBox) = value <=> other.value
}
OperatorInterop.register(
Int,
DecimalBox,
DecimalBox,
[
BinaryOperator.Plus,
BinaryOperator.Minus,
BinaryOperator.Mul,
BinaryOperator.Div,
BinaryOperator.Mod,
BinaryOperator.Compare,
BinaryOperator.Equals
],
{ x: Int -> DecimalBox(x) },
{ x: DecimalBox -> x }
)
```
Then:
```lyng
import test.decimalbox
assertEquals(DecimalBox(3), 1 + DecimalBox(2))
assertEquals(DecimalBox(1), 3 - DecimalBox(2))
assertEquals(DecimalBox(8), 4 * DecimalBox(2))
assertEquals(DecimalBox(4), 8 / DecimalBox(2))
assertEquals(DecimalBox(1), 7 % DecimalBox(2))
assert(1 < DecimalBox(2))
assert(2 <= DecimalBox(2))
assert(3 > DecimalBox(2))
assert(2 == DecimalBox(2))
assert(2 != DecimalBox(3))
```
## How Decimal Uses It
`lyng.decimal` uses this same mechanism so that:
```lyng
import lyng.decimal
1 + 2.d
0.5 + 1.d
2 == 2.d
3 > 2.d
```
work naturally even though `Int` and `Real` themselves were not edited to know `Decimal`.
The shape is:
- `leftClass = Int` or `Real`
- `rightClass = Decimal`
- `commonClass = Decimal`
- convert built-ins into `Decimal`
- leave `Decimal` values unchanged
## Step-By-Step Pattern For Your Own Type
### 1. Pick the common class
Choose one class that will be the actual arithmetic domain.
For numeric-like types, that is usually your own class:
```lyng
class Rational(...)
```
### 2. Implement operators on that class
The common class should define the operations you plan to register.
Example:
```lyng
class Rational(val num: Int, val den: Int) {
fun plus(other: Rational) = Rational(num * other.den + other.num * den, den * other.den)
fun minus(other: Rational) = Rational(num * other.den - other.num * den, den * other.den)
fun mul(other: Rational) = Rational(num * other.num, den * other.den)
fun div(other: Rational) = Rational(num * other.den, den * other.num)
fun compareTo(other: Rational) = (num * other.den) <=> (other.num * den)
static fun fromInt(value: Int) = Rational(value, 1)
}
```
### 3. Register the mixed pair
```lyng
import lyng.operators
OperatorInterop.register(
Int,
Rational,
Rational,
[
BinaryOperator.Plus,
BinaryOperator.Minus,
BinaryOperator.Mul,
BinaryOperator.Div,
BinaryOperator.Compare,
BinaryOperator.Equals
],
{ x: Int -> Rational.fromInt(x) },
{ x: Rational -> x }
)
```
### 4. Use it
```lyng
assertEquals(Rational(3, 2), 1 + Rational(1, 2))
assert(Rational(3, 2) == Rational(3, 2))
assert(2 > Rational(3, 2))
```
## Registering More Than One Built-in Type
If you want both `Int + MyType` and `Real + MyType`, register both pairs explicitly:
```lyng
OperatorInterop.register(
Int,
MyType,
MyType,
[BinaryOperator.Plus, BinaryOperator.Compare, BinaryOperator.Equals],
{ x: Int -> MyType.fromInt(x) },
{ x: MyType -> x }
)
OperatorInterop.register(
Real,
MyType,
MyType,
[BinaryOperator.Plus, BinaryOperator.Compare, BinaryOperator.Equals],
{ x: Real -> MyType.fromReal(x) },
{ x: MyType -> x }
)
```
Each mixed pair is independent.
## Pure Lyng Registration
This mechanism is intentionally useful from pure Lyng code, not only from Kotlin-backed modules.
That means you can:
- declare a class in Lyng
- define its operators in Lyng
- register mixed operand bridges in Lyng
without touching compiler internals.
## Where To Register
Register once during module initialization.
Top-level module code is a good place:
```lyng
package my.rational
import lyng.operators
class Rational(...)
OperatorInterop.register(...)
```
That keeps registration close to the type declaration and makes importing the module enough to activate the interop.
## What Registration Does Not Do
The registry does not:
- invent operators your common class does not implement
- change the original `Int`, `Real`, or other built-ins
- automatically cover every class pair
- replace normal method overload resolution when the left-hand class already knows what to do
It only teaches Lyng how to bridge a specific mixed pair into a common class for the listed operators.
## Recommended Design Rules
If you want interop to feel natural:
- choose one obvious common class
- make conversions explicit and unsurprising
- implement `compareTo` if you want ordering operators
- register `Equals` whenever mixed equality should work
- keep the registered operator list minimal and accurate
For decimal-like semantics, also read [Decimal.md](Decimal.md).