Create a Type Checker for Snow Programming Language

[cowboy8625]

Description:

Currently, the Snow programming language lacks a type checker, which is an essential component for ensuring code correctness, improving developer productivity, and enabling future language enhancements. This issue aims to propose the development of a type checker for Snow.

Proposed Solution:

• Design and implement a type checker that will be integrated into the Snow compiler.
• Define the built-in data types (Int, String, Char, Bool, Float) and the rules governing their interactions.
• Address type inference and provide informative error messages when type mismatches occur.
• Develop a syntax for Function's represented as Types.

Benefits:

1. Code Reliability: A type checker will help catch type-related errors at compile-time, reducing runtime bugs.

2. Improved Developer Experience: Precise type errors and helpful suggestions will enhance the development experience for Snow users.

3. Lay the Foundation for Future Features: A type checker is a crucial step toward implementing more advanced features like generics, type polymorphism, and strong static typing.

Dependencies:

Implementing a type checker requires a deep understanding of the Snow language grammar, type systems, and compilers. The development team should also decide on the format for function type representations.

Tasks:

1. Design the Type System: Define the rules and semantics for the built-in data types and their interactions.
2. Implement the Type Checker: Develop the type checker module.
3. Handle Type Inference: Enable automatic type inference when possible.
4. Check Function Types: Devise a way to represent and verify function types.
5. Error Handling: Implement informative error messages for type mismatches and ambiguities.
6. Testing: Thoroughly test the type checker using a range of Snow programs with different types.
7. Integration: Integrate the type checker into the Snow compiler.

Expected Timeframe:

The estimated time for completing the type checker for Snow depends on the complexity of the task. It may take several months to ensure its accuracy and reliability.

Additional Information:

A type checker is a critical part of any modern programming language, as it enforces type safety, catches errors early in the development process, and makes code more readable and maintainable. This enhancement will significantly improve the quality of Snow code and its development environment.

Contributor Guidance:

Contributors interested in working on this feature should be familiar with programming language type systems, compilers, and error-handling strategies. Collaborative development and feedback from the Snow community will be invaluable in achieving this enhancement.