Classes as Unions
Slice does not offer a dedicated union construct because it is redundant. By deriving classes from a common base class, you can create the same effect as with a union:
interface ShapeShifter {
Shape translate(Shape s, long xDistance, long yDistance);
};
The parameter s of the translate operation can be viewed as a union of two members: a Circle and a Rectangle. The receiver of a Shape instance can use the type ID of the instance to decide whether it received a Circle or a Rectangle. Alternatively, if you want something more along the lines of a conventional discriminated union, you can use the following approach:
class UnionDiscriminator {
int d;
};
class Member1 extends UnionDiscriminator {
// d == 1
string s;
float f;
};
class Member2 extends UnionDiscriminator {
// d == 2
byte b;
int i;
};
With this approach, the UnionDiscriminator class provides a discriminator value. The "members" of the union are the classes that are derived from UnionDiscriminator. For each derived class, the discriminator takes on a distinct value. The receiver of such a union uses the discriminator value in a switch statement to select the active union member.