%TODO: % -Explain }. %The invocation of \texttt{emptyList} missing type parameters can be added by Java's local type inference %because the expected return type is known. \texttt{List} in this case. \begin{lstlisting}[caption=Extract of a valid Java program, label=lst:tiExample] List emptyList() { ... } List ls = emptyList(); \end{lstlisting} %\textit{Local Type Inference limitations:} Note that local type inference depends on the type annotation on the left side of the assignment. When calling the \texttt{emptyList} method without this type context its return value will be set to a \texttt{List}. The Java code snippet in \ref{lst:tiLimit} is incorrect, because \texttt{emptyList()} returns a \texttt{List} instead of the required $\exptype{List}{\exptype{List}{String}}$. \begin{lstlisting}[caption=Limitations of Java's Type Inference, label=lst:tiLimit] emptyList().add(new List()) .get(0) .get(0); //Typing Error \end{lstlisting} %List <. A %List <: List, B <: List % B = A and therefore A on the left and right side of constraints. % this makes matching impossible The second call to \texttt{get} produces a type error, because Java expects \texttt{emptyList} to return a \texttt{List}. The type inference algorithm presented in this paper will correctly replace the type parameter \texttt{T} of the \texttt{emptyList} method with \texttt{List>} and proof this code snippet correct. The local type inference algorithm based on matching cannot produce this solution. Here our type inference algorithm based on unification is needed. \end{description} % %motivate constraints: % To solve this example our Type Inference algorithm will create constraints % $ % \exptype{List}{\tv{a}} \lessdot \tv{b}, % \tv{b} \lessdot \exptype{List}{\tv{c}}, % \tv{c} \lessdot \exptype{List}{\tv{d}} % $ %\subsection{Conclusion} % Additions: TODO % - Global Type Inference Algorithm, no type annotations are needed % - Soundness Proof % - Easy to implement % - Capture Conversion support % - Existential Types support Our contributions are \begin{itemize} \item We introduce the language \tifj{} (chapter \ref{sec:tifj}). A Featherweight Java derivative including Generics, Wildcards and Type Inference. \item We support capture conversion and Java style method calls. This requires existential types in a form which is not denotable by Java syntax \cite{aModelForJavaWithWildcards}. \item We present a novel approach to deal with existential types and capture conversion during constraint unification. \item The algorithm is split in two parts. A constraint generation step and an unification step. Input language and constraint generations can be extended without altering the unification part. \item We prove soundness and aim for a good compromise between completeness and time complexity. \end{itemize} % Our algorithm finds a correct type solution for the following example, where the Java local type inference fails: % \begin{verbatim} % class SuperPair{ % A a; % B b; % } % class Pair extends SuperPair{ % A a; % B b; % X choose(X a, X b){ return b; } % String m(List> a, List> b){ % return choose(choose(a,b).value.a,b.value.b); % } % } % \end{verbatim} \begin{figure} \begin{minipage}{0.43\textwidth} \begin{lstlisting}[style=java,label=lst:intro-example-typeless,caption=Missing return type] genList() { if( ... ) { return new List(1); } else { return new List("Str"); } } \end{lstlisting} \end{minipage}% \hfill \begin{minipage}{0.55\textwidth} \begin{lstlisting}[style=tfgj,caption=Type inference solution,label=lst:intro-example-typed] List genList() { if( ... ) { return new List(1); } else { return new List("Str"); } } \end{lstlisting} \end{minipage} \end{figure} % \subsection{Wildcards} % Java subtyping involving generics is invariant. % For example \texttt{List} is not a subtype of \texttt{List}. % %Wildcards introduce variance by allowing \texttt{List} to be a subtype of \texttt{List}. % \texttt{List} is not a valid return type for the method \texttt{genList}. % The type inference algorithm has to find the correct type involving wildcards (\texttt{List}). \section{Java Wildcards} Java has invariant subtyping for polymorphic types. %but it incooperates use-site variance via so called wildcard types. A \texttt{List} is not a subtype of \texttt{List} even though it seems intuitive with \texttt{String} being a subtype of \texttt{Object}. To make the type system more expressive Java incooperates use-site variance by allowing wildcards (\texttt{?}) in type annotations. For example a type \texttt{List} (short for \texttt{List}, with \texttt{?} being a placeholder for any type) %with the wildcard \texttt{?} representing a placeholder for any type is a supertype of \texttt{List} and \texttt{List}. %The \texttt{?} is a wildcard type which can be replaced by any type as needed. %Class instances in Java are mutable and passed by reference. Subtyping must be invariant in Java otherwise the integrity of data classes like \texttt{List} cannot be guaranteed. See listing \ref{lst:invarianceExample} for example where an \texttt{Integer} would be added to a list of \texttt{String} if not for the Java type system which rejects the assignment \texttt{lo = ls}. Listing \ref{lst:wildcardIntro} shows the use of wildcards rendering the assignment \texttt{lo = ls} correct. The program still does not compile, because now the addition of an Integer to \texttt{lo} is rightfully deemed incorrect by Java. \begin{figure} \begin{minipage}{0.48\textwidth} \begin{lstlisting}[caption=Java Invariance Example,label=lst:invarianceExample]{java} List ls = ...; List lo = ...; lo = ls; // typing error! lo.add(new Integer(1)); \end{lstlisting} \end{minipage} \hfill \begin{minipage}{0.5\textwidth} \begin{lstlisting}[caption=Use-Site Variance Example,label=lst:wildcardIntro]{java} List ls = ...; List lo = ...; lo = ls; // correct lo.add(new Integer(1)); // error! \end{lstlisting} \end{minipage} \end{figure} Wildcard types are virtual types. There is no instantiation of a \texttt{List}. It is a placeholder type which can hold any kind of list like \texttt{List} or \texttt{List}. This type can also change at any given time, for example when multiple threads share a reference to the same field. A wildcard \texttt{?} must be considered a different type everytime it is accessed. Therefore calling the method \texttt{concat} with two wildcard lists in the example in listing \ref{lst:concatError} is incorrect. % The \texttt{concat} method does not create a new list, % but adds all elements from the second argument to the list given as the first argument. % This is allowed in Java, because both lists are of the polymorphic type \texttt{List}. % As shown in listing \ref{lst:concatError} this leads to a inconsistent \texttt{List} % if Java would treat \texttt{?} as a regular type and instantiate the type variable \texttt{X} % of the \texttt{concat} function with \texttt{?}. \begin{figure} \begin{lstlisting}[caption=Wildcard Example with faulty call to a concat method,label=lst:concatError]{java} List concat(List l1, List l2){ return l1.addAll(l2); } List ls = new List(); List l1 = ls; List l2 = new List(1); // List containing Integer concat(l1, l2); // Error! Would concat two different lists \end{lstlisting} \end{figure} To determine the correctness of method calls involving wildcard types Java's typecheck makes use of a concept called \textbf{Capture Conversion}. % was designed to make Java wildcards useful. % - without capture conversion % - is used to open wildcard types % - This process was formalized for Featherweight Java \cite{FJ} by replacing existential types with wildcards and capture conversion with let statements \cite{WildcardsNeedWitnessProtection}. We propose our own Featherweight Java derivative called \TamedFJ{} defined in chapter \ref{sec:tifj}. To express the example in listing \ref{lst:wildcardIntro} with our calculus we first have to translate the wildcard types: \texttt{List} becomes $\wctype{\wildcard{A}{\type{Object}}{\bot}}{List}{\rwildcard{A}}$. The syntax used here allows for wildcard parameters to have a name, an uppper and lower bound, and a type they are bound to. In this case the name is $\rwildcard{A}$ with the upper bound $\type{Object}$ and it's bound to the the type \texttt{List}. Before we can call the \texttt{add} method on this type we have to add a capture conversion via let statement: \begin{lstlisting} let v : (*@$\wctype{\wildcard{A}{\type{Object}}{\bot}}{List}{\rwildcard{A}}$@*) = lo in v.add(new Integer(1)); \end{lstlisting} \expr{lo} is assigned to a new variable \expr{v} bearing the type $\wctype{\wildcard{A}{\type{Object}}{\bot}}{List}{\rwildcard{X}}$, but inside the let statement the variable \expr{v} will be treated as $\exptype{List}{\rwildcard{A}}$. The idea is that every Wildcard type is backed by a concrete type. By assigning \expr{lo} to a immutable variable \expr{v} we unpack the concrete type $\exptype{List}{\rwildcard{A}}$ that was concealed by \expr{lo}'s existential type. Here $\rwildcard{A}$ is a fresh variable or a captured wildcard so to say. The only information we have about $\rwildcard{A}$ is that it is any type inbetween the bounds $\bot$ and $\type{Object}$ It is important to give the captured wildcard type $\rwildcard{A}$ an unique name which is used nowhere else. With this formalization it gets obvious why the method call to \texttt{concat} in listing \ref{lst:concatError} is irregular (see \ref{lst:concatTamedFJ}). \begin{figure} \begin{lstlisting}[style=TamedFJ,caption=\TamedFJ{} representation of the concat call from listing \ref{lst:concatError}, label=lst:concatTamedFJ] let l1' : (*@$\wctype{\rwildcard{X}}{List}{\exptype{List}{\rwildcard{X}}}$@*) = l1 in let l2' : (*@$\wctype{\rwildcard{Y}}{List}{\exptype{List}{\rwildcard{Y}}}$@*) = l2 in concat(l1', l2') // Error! \end{lstlisting} \end{figure} % % TODO intro to Featherweight Java % is a formal model of the Java programming language reduced to a core set of instructions. % - We extend this model by existential types and let expressions. % - We copy this from \ref{WildFJ} but make type annotations optional % - Our calculus is called \TamedFJ{} % - \TamedFJ{} binds every method argument with a let statement. % To enable the use of wildcards in argument types of a method invocation % Java uses a process called \textit{Capture Conversion}. % This behaviour is emulated by our language \TamedFJ{}; % a Featherweight Java \cite{FJ} derivative with added wildcard support % and a global type inference feature (syntax definition in section \ref{sec:tifj}). % %\TamedFJ{} is basically the language described by \textit{Bierhoff} \cite{WildcardsNeedWitnessProtection} with optional type annotations. % Let's have a look at a representation of the \texttt{add} call from the last line in listing \ref{lst:wildcardIntro} with our calculus \TamedFJ{}: % %The \texttt{add} call in listing \ref{lst:wildcardIntro} needs to be encased by a \texttt{let} statement in our calculus. % %This makes the capture converion explicit. % \begin{lstlisting} % let v : (*@$\wctype{\wildcard{A}{\type{Object}}{\bot}}{List}{\rwildcard{A}}$@*) = lo in v.add(new Integer(1)); % \end{lstlisting} % The method call is encased in a \texttt{let} statement and % \expr{lo} is assigned to a new variable \expr{v} of \linebreak[2] % \textbf{Existential Type} $\wctype{\wildcard{A}{\type{Object}}{\bot}}{List}{\rwildcard{A}}$. % Our calculus uses existential types \cite{WildFJ} to formalize wildcards: % \texttt{List} is translated to $\wctype{\wildcard{X}{\type{Object}}{\bot}}{List}{\rwildcard{X}}$ % and \texttt{List} is expressed as $\wctype{\wildcard{X}{\type{Object}}{\type{String}}}{List}{\rwildcard{X}}$. % The syntax used here allows for wildcard parameters to have a name, an uppper and lower bound, % and a type they are bound to. % In this case the name is $\rwildcard{A}$ and it's bound to the the type \texttt{List}. % Inside the \texttt{let} statement the variable \expr{v} has the type % $\exptype{List}{\rwildcard{A}}$. % This is an explicit version of \linebreak[2] % \textbf{Capture Conversion}, % which makes use of the fact that a concrete type must be behind every wildcard type. % There is no instantiation of a \texttt{List}, % but there exists some unknown type $\exptype{List}{\rwildcard{A}}$, with $\rwildcard{A}$ inbetween the bounds $\bot$ (bottom type, subtype of all types) and % \texttt{Object}. % Inside the body of the let statement \expr{v} is treated as a value with the constant type $\exptype{List}{\rwildcard{A}}$. % Existential types enable us to formalize \textit{Capture Conversion}. % Polymorphic method calls need to be wrapped in a process which \textit{opens} existential types \cite{addingWildcardsToJava}. % In Java this is done implicitly in a process called capture conversion (as proposed in Wild FJ \cite{WildFJ}). \section{Global Type Inference Algorithm} \begin{figure}[h] \begin{minipage}{0.49\textwidth} \begin{lstlisting}[style=tfgj, caption=Valid Java program, label=lst:addExample] List add(List l, A v) List l = ...; add(l, "String"); \end{lstlisting} \end{minipage}\hfill \begin{minipage}{0.49\textwidth} \begin{lstlisting}[style=tamedfj, caption=\TamedFJ{} representation, label=lst:addExampleLet] List add(List l, A v) List l = ...; let v:(*@$\tv{v}$@*) = l in add(v, "String"); \end{lstlisting} \end{minipage}\\ \begin{minipage}{0.49\textwidth} \begin{lstlisting}[style=constraints, caption=Constraints, label=lst:addExampleCons] (*@$\wctype{\wildcard{X}{\type{String}}{\bot}}{List}{\rwildcard{X}} \lessdot \tv{v}$@*) (*@$\tv{v} \lessdotCC \exptype{List}{\wtv{a}}$@*) (*@$\type{String} \lessdot \wtv{a}$@*) \end{lstlisting} \end{minipage}\hfill \begin{minipage}{0.49\textwidth} \begin{lstlisting}[style=letfj, caption=Type solution, label=lst:addExampleSolution] List add(List l, A v) List l = ...; let l2:(*@$\wctype{\wildcard{X}{\type{Object}}{\type{String}}}{List}{\rwildcard{X}}$@*) = l in add(l2, "String"); \end{lstlisting} \end{minipage} \end{figure} % \begin{description} % \item[input] \tifj{} program % \item[output] type solution % \item[postcondition] the type solution applied to the input must yield a valid \letfj{} program % \end{description} %Our algorithm is an extension of the \emph{Global Type Inference for Featherweight Generic Java}\cite{TIforFGJ} algorithm. Listings \ref{lst:addExample}, \ref{lst:addExampleLet}, \ref{lst:addExampleCons}, and \ref{lst:addExampleSolution} showcase our global type inference algorithm step by step. In this example we know that the type of the variable \texttt{l} is an existential type and has to undergo a capture conversion before being passed to a method call. This is done by converting the program to A-Normal form \ref{lst:addExampleLet}, which introduces a let statement defining a new variable \texttt{v}. Afterwards unknown types are replaced by type placeholders ($\tv{v}$ for the type of \texttt{v}) and constraints are generated (see \ref{lst:addExampleCons}). These constraints mirror the type rules of our \TamedFJ{} calculus. % During the constraint generation step the type of the variable \texttt{v} is unknown % and given the type placeholder $\tv{v}$. The methodcall to \texttt{add} spawns the constraint $\tv{v} \lessdotCC \exptype{List}{\wtv{a}}$. Here we introduce a capture constraint ($\lessdotCC$) %a new type of subtype constraint expressing that the left side of the constraint is subject to a capture conversion. Now our unification algorithm \unify{} (defined in chapter \ref{sec:unify}) is used to solve these constraints. In the starting set of constraints no type is assigned to $\tv{v}$ yet. During the course of \unify{} more and more types emerge. As soon as a concrete type for $\tv{v}$ is given \unify{} can conduct a capture conversion if needed. %The constraints where this is possible are marked as capture constraints. In this example $\tv{v}$ will be set to $\wctype{\wildcard{X}{\type{String}}{\bot}}{List}{\rwildcard{X}}$ leaving us with the following constraints: \begin{displaymath} \prftree[r]{Capture}{ \wctype{\wildcard{X}{\type{Object}}{\type{String}}}{List}{\rwildcard{X}} \lessdotCC \exptype{List}{\wtv{a}}, \, \type{String} \lessdotCC \wtv{a} }{ \wildcard{Y}{\type{Object}}{\type{String}} \wcSep \exptype{List}{\rwildcard{Y}} \lessdot \exptype{List}{\wtv{a}}, \, \type{String} \lessdot \wtv{a} } \end{displaymath} %Capture Constraints $(\wctype{\rwildcard{X}}{C}{\rwildcard{X}} \lessdotCC \type{T})$ allow for a capture conversion, %which converts a constraint of the form $(\wctype{\rwildcard{X}}{C}{\rwildcard{X}} \lessdotCC \type{T})$ to $(\exptype{C}{\rwildcard{X}} \lessdot \type{T})$ The constraint $\wctype{\wildcard{X}{\type{Object}}{\type{String}}}{List}{\rwildcard{X}} \lessdotCC \exptype{List}{\wtv{a}}$ allows \unify{} to do a capture conversion to $\exptype{List}{\rwildcard{X}} \lessdot \exptype{List}{\wtv{a}}$. The captured wildcard $\rwildcard{X}$ gets a fresh name and is stored in the wildcard environment of the \unify{} algorithm. Leaving us with the solution $\exptype{List}{\rwildcard{Y}} \lessdot \exptype{List}{\rwildcard{Y}}$, $\type{String} \lessdot \rwildcard{Y}$ The constraint $\type{String} \lessdot \rwildcard{Y}$ is satisfied because $\rwildcard{Y}$ has $\type{String}$ as lower bound. A correct Featherweight Java program including all type annotations and an explicit capture conversion via let statement is shown in listing \ref{lst:addExampleSolution}. This program can be deducted from the type solution of our \unify{} algorithm presented in chapter \ref{sec:unify}. In the body of the let statement the type $\wctype{\wildcard{X}{\type{Object}}{\type{String}}}{List}{\rwildcard{X}}$ becomes $\exptype{List}{\rwildcard{X}}$ and the wildcard $\wildcard{X}{\type{Object}}{\type{String}}$ is free and can be used as a type parameter to method call \texttt{add(v, "String")}. % The input to our type inference algorithm is a modified version of the calculus in \cite{WildcardsNeedWitnessProtection} (see chapter \ref{sec:tifj}). % First \fjtype{} (see section \ref{chapter:constraintGeneration}) generates constraints % and afterwards \unify{} (section \ref{sec:unify}) computes a solution for the given constraint set. % Constraints consist out of subtype constraints $(\type{T} \lessdot \type{T})$ and capture constraints $(\type{T} \lessdotCC \type{T})$. % \textit{Note:} a type $\type{T}$ can either be a named type, a type placeholder or a wildcard type placeholder. % A subtype constraint is satisfied if the left side is a subtype of the right side according to the rules in figure \ref{fig:subtyping}. % \textit{Example:} $\exptype{List}{\ntv{a}} \lessdot \exptype{List}{\type{String}}$ is fulfilled by replacing type placeholder $\ntv{a}$ with the type $\type{String}$. % Subtype constraints and type placeholders act the same as the ones used in \emph{Type Inference for Featherweight Generic Java} \cite{TIforFGJ}. % The novel capture constraints and wildcard placeholders are needed for method invocations involving wildcards. % The central piece of this type inference algorithm, the \unify{} process, is described with implication rules (chapter \ref{sec:unify}). % We try to keep the branching at a minimal amount to improve runtime behavior. % Also the transformation steps of the \unify{} algorithm are directly related to the subtyping rules of our calculus. % There are no informal parts in our \unify{} algorithm. % It solely consist out of transformation rules which are bound to simple checks. \subsection{Challenges}\label{challenges} %TODO: Wildcard subtyping is infinite see \cite{TamingWildcards} % Wildcards are not reflexive. % ( on the equals property ), every wildcard has to be capture converted when leaving its scope % do not substitute free type variables Lets have a look at a few challenges: \begin{itemize} \item \label{challenge:1} One challenge is to design the algorithm in a way that it finds a correct solution for the program shown in listing \ref{lst:addExample} and rejects the program in listing \ref{lst:concatError}. The first one is a valid Java program, because the type \texttt{List} is \textit{capture converted} to a fresh type variable $\rwildcard{X}$ which is used as the generic method parameter for the call to \texttt{add} as shown in listing \ref{lst:addExampleLet}. Knowing that the type \texttt{String} is a subtype of the free variable $\rwildcard{X}$ it is safe to pass \texttt{"String"} for the first parameter of the function. The second program shown in listing \ref{lst:concatError} is incorrect. The method call to \texttt{concat} with two wildcard lists is unsound. Each list could be of a different kind and therefore the \texttt{concat} cannot succeed. The problem gets apparent when we try to write the \texttt{concat} method call in our \TamedFJ{} calculus (listing \ref{lst:concatTamedFJ}): \texttt{l1'} and \texttt{l2'} are two different lists inside the body of the let statements, namely $\exptype{List}{\rwildcard{X}}$ and $\exptype{List}{\rwildcard{Y}}$. For the method call \texttt{concat(x1, x2)} no replacement for the generic \texttt{A} exists to satisfy $\exptype{List}{\type{A}} <: \exptype{List}{\type{X}}, \exptype{List}{\type{A}} <: \exptype{List}{\type{Y}}$. % \textbf{Solution:} % Capture Conversion during Unify. \item \unify{} morphs a constraint set into a correct type solution gradually assigning types to type placeholders during that process. Solved constraints are removed and never considered again. In the following example \unify{} solves the constraint generated by the expression \texttt{l.add(l.head())} first, which results in $\ntv{l} \lessdot \exptype{List}{\wtv{a}}$. \begin{verbatim} anyList() = new List() :? new List() add(anyList(), anyList().head()); \end{verbatim} The type for \texttt{l} can be any kind of list, but it has to be a invariant one. Assigning a \texttt{List} for \texttt{l} is unsound, because the type list hiding behind \texttt{List} could be a different one for the \texttt{add} call than the \texttt{head} method call. An additional constraint $\wctype{\rwildcard{X}}{List}{\rwildcard{X}} \lessdot \exptype{List}{\wtv{a}}$ is solved by removing the wildcard $\rwildcard{X}$ if possible. this problem is solved by ANF transformation \item \textbf{Wildcards as Existential Types:} One problem is the divergence between denotable and expressable types in Java \cite{semanticWildcardModel}. A wildcard in the Java syntax has no name and is bound to its enclosing type: $\exptype{List}{\exptype{List}{\type{?}}}$ equates to $\exptype{List}{\wctype{\rwildcard{X}}{List}{\rwildcard{X}}}$. During type checking \emph{intermediate types} can emerge, which have no equivalent in the Java syntax. \begin{lstlisting}[style=java,label=shuffleExample,caption=Intermediate Types Example] class List extends Object {...} class List2D extends List> {...} void shuffle(List> list) {...} List> l = ...; List2D l2d = ...; shuffle(l); // Error shuffle(l2d); // Valid \end{lstlisting} Java is using local type inference to allow method invocations which are not describable with regular Java types. The \texttt{shuffle} method in this case is invoked with the type $\wctype{\rwildcard{X}}{List2D}{\rwildcard{X}}$ which is a subtype of $\wctype{\rwildcard{X}}{List}{\exptype{List}{\rwildcard{X}}}$. After capture conversion \texttt{l2d'} has the type $\exptype{List}{\exptype{List}{\rwildcard{X}}}$ and \texttt{shuffle} can be invoked with the type parameter $\rwildcard{X}$: \begin{lstlisting}[style=TamedFJ] let l2d' : (*@$\wctype{\rwildcard{X}}{List}{\exptype{List}{\rwildcard{X}}}$@*) = l2d in shuffle(l2d') \end{lstlisting} For the example shown in listing \ref{shuffleExample} the method call \texttt{shuffle(l2d)} creates the constraints: \begin{constraintset} \begin{center} $ \begin{array}{l} \wctype{\rwildcard{X}}{List2D}{\rwildcard{X}} \lessdotCC \exptype{List}{\exptype{List}{\wtv{x}}} \\ \hline \wctype{\rwildcard{X}}{List}{\exptype{List}{\rwildcard{X}}} \lessdotCC \exptype{List}{\exptype{List}{\wtv{x}}} \\ \hline \textit{Capture Conversion:}\ \exptype{List}{\exptype{List}{\rwildcard{X}}} \lessdot \exptype{List}{\exptype{List}{\wtv{x}}} \\ \hline \textit{Solution:} \wtv{x} \doteq \rwildcard{X} \implies \exptype{List}{\exptype{List}{\rwildcard{X}}} \lessdot \exptype{List}{\exptype{List}{\rwildcard{X}}} \end{array} $ \end{center} \end{constraintset} The method call \texttt{shuffle(l)} is invalid however, because \texttt{l} has the type $\exptype{List}{\wctype{\rwildcard{X}}{List}{\rwildcard{X}}}$. There is no solution for the subtype constraint: $\exptype{List}{\wctype{\rwildcard{X}}{List}{\rwildcard{X}}} \lessdotCC \exptype{List}{\exptype{List}{\wtv{x}}}$ \item \label{challenge3} \textbf{Free Variables cannot leaver their scope}: \begin{example} Take the Java program in listing \ref{lst:mapExample} for example. It maps every element of a list $\expr{l} : \exptype{List}{\wctype{\rwildcard{A}}{List}{\rwildcard{A}}}$ to a polymorphic \texttt{id} method. We want to use our \unify{} algorithm to determine the correct type for the variable \expr{l2}. Although we do not specify constraint generation for language constructs like lambda expressions used in this example, we can imagine that the constraints have to look something like this: \begin{minipage}{0.45\textwidth} \begin{lstlisting}[caption=List Map Example,label=lst:mapExample] List id(List l){ ... } List> ls; l2 = l.map(x -> id(x)); \end{lstlisting}\end{minipage} \hfill \begin{minipage}{0.45\textwidth} \begin{lstlisting}[style=constraints, caption=Constraints, label=lst:mapExampleCons] (*@$\wctype{\rwildcard{A}}{List}{\rwildcard{A}} \lessdotCC \exptype{List}{\wtv{x}}$@*) (*@$\exptype{List}{\wtv{x}} \lessdot \tv{z},$@*) (*@$\exptype{List}{\tv{z}} \lessdot \tv{l2}$@*) \end{lstlisting} \end{minipage} The constraints $\wctype{\rwildcard{A}}{List}{\rwildcard{A}} \lessdotCC \exptype{List}{\wtv{x}}, \exptype{List}{\wtv{x}} \lessdot \tv{z}$ stem from the body of the lambda expression \texttt{id(x)}. \textit{For clarification:} This method call would be represented as the following expression in \letfj{}: \texttt{let x1 :$\wctype{\rwildcard{A}}{List}{\rwildcard{A}}$ = x in id(x) :$\tv{z}$} The T-Let rule prevents us from using free variables created by the method call to \expr{id} to be used in the return type $\tv{z}$. But this has to be signaled to the \unify{} algorithm, which does not know about the origin and context of the constraints. If we naively substitute $\sigma(\tv{z}) = \exptype{List}{\rwildcard{A}}$ the return type of the \texttt{map} function would be the type $\exptype{List}{\exptype{List}{\rwildcard{A}}}$. This type solution is unsound. The type of \expr{l2} is the same as the one of \expr{l}: $\exptype{List}{\wctype{\rwildcard{A}}{List}{\rwildcard{A}}}$ \textbf{Solution:} We solve this by distinguishing between wildcard placeholders and normal placeholders. $\ntv{z}$ is a normal placeholder and is not allowed to contain free variables. \end{example} \end{itemize} %TODO: Move this part. or move the third challenge some underneath.