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| 1 | +# Option Modifiers |
| 2 | + |
| 3 | +Instead of exposing internal record structures, our best practice is |
| 4 | +to use **Option Modifiers**: functions of type `Config -> Config` |
| 5 | +(endomorphisms) that are composed to build a final configuration. |
| 6 | + |
| 7 | +## Advantages |
| 8 | + |
| 9 | +* **Clean Composition:** Use the standard `.` operator to chain multiple |
| 10 | +options together seamlessly. |
| 11 | +* **Encapsulation:** The internal record structure and field names |
| 12 | +remain hidden, preventing breaking changes if the implementation shifts. |
| 13 | +* **Order Independence:** Unlike positional arguments, the order of |
| 14 | +modifiers in a chain does not affect the final result (unless a specific |
| 15 | +option is overridden). |
| 16 | +* **Unified Interface:** Removes the need for record syntax or multiple |
| 17 | +constructor patterns. There is only one way to specify options: through |
| 18 | +functions. |
| 19 | +* **Bundling:** Common configurations can be pre-composed into a single |
| 20 | +named modifier (e.g., `withForce Force . recursive True`). |
| 21 | +* **Discipline:** By limiting the "surface area" of the API, we reduce |
| 22 | +the possibility of misuse or invalid state transitions. |
| 23 | + |
| 24 | +## Disadvantages |
| 25 | + |
| 26 | +* Deserialization is problematic unless the module provides a way to turn the |
| 27 | + composed functions to a record. |
| 28 | +* Enumeration of all options at one place is not possible. |
| 29 | + |
| 30 | +To mitigate these the internal implementation using a record can be exposed, we |
| 31 | +can dump the composed options to a record or read options from a record. |
| 32 | + |
| 33 | +## Modifiers and Setters |
| 34 | + |
| 35 | +A combination of independent options usually represented by a record is |
| 36 | +represented by different functions, one for each record field. |
| 37 | + |
| 38 | +``` |
| 39 | +data RmOptions = RmOptions |
| 40 | + { rmForce :: RmForce |
| 41 | + , rmRecursive :: Bool |
| 42 | + } |
| 43 | +
|
| 44 | +withForce :: RmForce -> RmOptions -> RmOptions |
| 45 | +recursive :: Bool -> RmOptions -> RmOptions |
| 46 | +``` |
| 47 | + |
| 48 | +When an option has a choice it is represented by constructors of a sum |
| 49 | +type so that only one state is representable. For example, here we can |
| 50 | +choose one of the three choices: |
| 51 | + |
| 52 | +``` |
| 53 | +data RmForce |
| 54 | + = NoForce |
| 55 | + | Force |
| 56 | + | FullForce |
| 57 | +
|
| 58 | +withForce :: RmForce -> RmOptions -> RmOptions |
| 59 | +``` |
| 60 | + |
| 61 | +## Naming |
| 62 | + |
| 63 | +For toggling options like `recursive` we can name them like attributes which |
| 64 | +can be true or false. For example, `recursive True`. |
| 65 | + |
| 66 | +For options that have multiple choices we prefer the `with` prefix e.g. |
| 67 | +`withForce`. Another alternative is `set` prefix but `with` is usually |
| 68 | +clearer. Unlike `set`, which implies an imperative "action" or a binary |
| 69 | +toggle, `with` conveys a functional transformation. It suggests that |
| 70 | +the resulting operation will be performed *with* a specific property or |
| 71 | +value, regardless of the previous state. |
| 72 | + |
| 73 | +## Expressing All Possible Values |
| 74 | + |
| 75 | +A modifier must be **total**. It should not merely "toggle" a default; |
| 76 | +it must allow the user to explicitly define the desired state. |
| 77 | + |
| 78 | +If a user receives a pre-composed bundle of modifiers, they may not know |
| 79 | +the current state of a specific option. To ensure predictable behavior, |
| 80 | +the modifier must allow them to force a value (e.g., `withVerbose True` |
| 81 | +or `withVerbose False`), ensuring the final config matches their intent |
| 82 | +regardless of the input chain. |
| 83 | + |
| 84 | +For example, if default is not-recursive we may be tempted to use |
| 85 | +`recursive` without an argument, but it is better to use `recursive` |
| 86 | +with a Bool argument so we can say `recursive True` or `recursive |
| 87 | +False`. This gives us the ability to set recursive to any value we want. |
| 88 | + |
| 89 | +## Reset to Default (Optional) |
| 90 | + |
| 91 | +While the base configuration starts with library defaults, we can |
| 92 | +optionally provide `resetOption` functions (e.g., `resetRecursive`). |
| 93 | + |
| 94 | +These are useful when you want to "neutralize" an option within a |
| 95 | +specific composition. For example, if you have a `standardConfig` bundle |
| 96 | +that includes recursion, but for one specific call you want to ensure it |
| 97 | +is disabled, you can simply append `. resetRecursive` to the chain. |
| 98 | + |
| 99 | +## Backing Record (Optional) |
| 100 | + |
| 101 | +The internal implementation invariably uses a record for all options which is |
| 102 | +passed around. If serialization of options is needed we can expose the record |
| 103 | +and associated types such that we can dump the composed functions to the record |
| 104 | +or build a options function from a record. This will provide a way to serialize |
| 105 | +the options if needed. |
| 106 | + |
| 107 | +## Summary |
| 108 | + |
| 109 | +By using composed endomorphisms, we provide a declarative DSL for |
| 110 | +filesystem operations. This approach balances the flexibility of a |
| 111 | +record with the safety and elegance of functional composition, covering |
| 112 | +all use cases while maintaining a strict, predictable API. |
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