Evidence-Based Compiler for Gradual Typing
Analysis
This paper addresses the challenge of efficiently implementing gradual typing, particularly in languages with structural types. It investigates an evidence-based approach, contrasting it with the more common coercion-based methods. The research is significant because it explores a different implementation strategy for gradual typing, potentially opening doors to more efficient and stable compilers, and enabling the implementation of advanced gradual typing disciplines derived from Abstracting Gradual Typing (AGT). The empirical evaluation on the Grift benchmark suite is crucial for validating the approach.
Key Takeaways
“The results show that an evidence-based compiler can be competitive with, and even faster than, a coercion-based compiler, exhibiting more stability across configurations on the static-to-dynamic spectrum.”