roam/20201007142751-python_typing.org

#+title: Python Typing

Python does not require nor enforce strict typing, and instead takes a dynamic
approach using [[file:20201008164244-duck_typing.org][Duck Typing]].

[[file:20201010185815-gradual_typing.org][Gradual Typing]] support for Python is provided via type hints as described in
[[https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0484/][PEP-484]] (which covers [[file:20201009010657-nominal_typing.org][Nominal Typing]]) and expanded upon in [[https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0544/][PEP-544]] (which covers
[[file:20201008164835-structural_typing.org][Structural Typing]]).

Variables, function arguments, and return values can have their types annotated,
e.g. "variable x has type integer" or "function y takes a string and returns a
list of dictionaries". While these are optional and not checked at run-time,
they serve as documentation and can be used by various type checkers to ensure
program correctness.

* Available Type Checkers
- Mypy :: http://mypy-lang.org/
- Pyright (Microsoft) :: https://github.com/Microsoft/pyright
- Pyre (Facebook) :: https://pyre-check.org/
- Pytype (Google) :: https://google.github.io/pytype/

* Limitations
- Type hints do not guarantee purity.
- Type hints are not checked at run-time.
* Fun facts
- Per [[https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0285/][PEP-285]], Python's =boolean= inherits from =int=, hence =True + True = 2=.
* Relevant PEPs
- [[https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-3107/][PEP 3107 -- Function Annotations]]
- [[https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0482/][PEP 482 -- Literature Overview for Type Hints]]
- [[https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0483/][PEP 483 -- The Theory of Type Hints]]
- [[https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0484/][PEP 484 -- Type Hints]]
- [[https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0526/][PEP 526 -- Syntax for Variable Annotations]]
- [[https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0544/][PEP 544 -- Protocols: Structural subtyping (static duck typing)]]
- [[https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0557/][PEP 557 -- Data Classes]]
- [[https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0560/][PEP 560 -- Core support for typing module and generic types]]
- [[https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0561/][PEP 561 -- Distributing and Packaging Type Information]]
- [[https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0563/][PEP 563 -- Postponed Evaluation of Annotations]]
- [[https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0585/][PEP 585 -- Type Hinting Generics In Standard Collections]]
- [[https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0586/][PEP 586 -- Literal Types]]
- [[https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0589/][PEP 589 -- TypedDict: Type Hints for Dictionaries with a Fixed Set of Keys]]
- [[https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0591/][PEP 591 -- Adding a final qualifier to typing]]
- [[https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0593/][PEP 593 -- Flexible function and variable annotations]]
- [[https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0604/][PEP 604 -- Allow writing union types as X | Y]]
- [[https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0613/][PEP 613 -- Explicit Type Aliases]]