scala.util.control.TailCalls

object TailCalls

Methods exported by this object implement tail calls via trampolining. Tail calling methods have to return their result using done or call the next method using tailcall . Both return a TailRec object. The result of evaluating a tailcalling function can be retrieved from a Tailrec value using method result . Implemented as described in “Stackless Scala with Free Monads” http://blog.higher-order.com/assets/trampolines.pdf

Here’s a usage example:

import scala.util.control.TailCalls._

def isEven(xs: List[Int]): TailRec[Boolean] =
  if (xs.isEmpty) done(true) else tailcall(isOdd(xs.tail))

def isOdd(xs: List[Int]): TailRec[Boolean] =
 if (xs.isEmpty) done(false) else tailcall(isEven(xs.tail))

isEven((1 to 100000).toList).result

def fib(n: Int): TailRec[Int] =
  if (n < 2) done(n) else for {
    x <- tailcall(fib(n - 1))
    y <- tailcall(fib(n - 2))
  } yield (x + y)

fib(40).result

Type Members

case class Call[A](rest: () ⇒ TailRec[A]) extends TailRec[A] with Product with Serializable

Internal class representing a tailcall

case class Cont[A, B](a: TailRec[A], f: (A) ⇒ TailRec[B]) extends TailRec[B] with Product with Serializable

Internal class representing a continuation with function A => TailRec[B]. It is needed for the flatMap to be implemented.

case class Done[A](value: A) extends TailRec[A] with Product with Serializable

Internal class representing the final result returned from a tailcalling computation

abstract class TailRec[+A] extends AnyRef

This class represents a tailcalling computation

Value Members From scala.util.control.TailCalls

def done[A](result: A): TailRec[A]

Used to return final result from tailcalling computation

  • returns
    • a TailRec object representing a computation which immediately returns result

(defined at scala.util.control.TailCalls)

def tailcall[A](rest: ⇒ TailRec[A]): TailRec[A]

Performs a tailcall

  • rest
    • the expression to be evaluated in the tailcall
  • returns
    • a TailRec object representing the expression rest (defined at scala.util.control.TailCalls)

Full Source:

/*                     __                                               *\
**     ________ ___   / /  ___     Scala API                            **
**    / __/ __// _ | / /  / _ |    (c) 2003-2013, LAMP/EPFL             **
**  __\ \/ /__/ __ |/ /__/ __ |    http://scala-lang.org/               **
** /____/\___/_/ |_/____/_/ | |                                         **
**                          |/                                          **
\*                                                                      */

package scala
package util.control

/** Methods exported by this object implement tail calls via trampolining.
 *  Tail calling methods have to return their result using `done` or call the
 *  next method using `tailcall`. Both return a `TailRec` object. The result
 *  of evaluating a tailcalling function can be retrieved from a `Tailrec`
 *  value using method `result`.
 *  Implemented as described in "Stackless Scala with Free Monads"
 *  http://blog.higher-order.com/assets/trampolines.pdf
 *
 *  Here's a usage example:
 *  {{{
 *  import scala.util.control.TailCalls._
 *
 *  def isEven(xs: List[Int]): TailRec[Boolean] =
 *    if (xs.isEmpty) done(true) else tailcall(isOdd(xs.tail))
 *
 *  def isOdd(xs: List[Int]): TailRec[Boolean] =
 *   if (xs.isEmpty) done(false) else tailcall(isEven(xs.tail))
 *
 *  isEven((1 to 100000).toList).result
 *
 *  def fib(n: Int): TailRec[Int] =
 *    if (n < 2) done(n) else for {
 *      x <- tailcall(fib(n - 1))
 *      y <- tailcall(fib(n - 2))
 *    } yield (x + y)
 *
 *  fib(40).result
 *  }}}
 */
object TailCalls {

  /** This class represents a tailcalling computation
   */
  abstract class TailRec[+A] {

    /** Continue the computation with `f`. */
    final def map[B](f: A => B): TailRec[B] =
      flatMap(a => Call(() => Done(f(a))))

    /** Continue the computation with `f` and merge the trampolining
      * of this computation with that of `f`. */
    final def flatMap[B](f: A => TailRec[B]): TailRec[B] =
      this match {
        case Done(a) => Call(() => f(a))
        case c@Call(_) => Cont(c, f)
        // Take advantage of the monad associative law to optimize the size of the required stack
        case c: Cont[a1, b1] => Cont(c.a, (x: a1) => c.f(x) flatMap f)
      }

    /** Returns either the next step of the tailcalling computation,
      * or the result if there are no more steps. */
    @annotation.tailrec final def resume: Either[() => TailRec[A], A] = this match {
      case Done(a) => Right(a)
      case Call(k) => Left(k)
      case Cont(a, f) => a match {
        case Done(v) => f(v).resume
        case Call(k) => Left(() => k().flatMap(f))
        case Cont(b, g) => b.flatMap(x => g(x) flatMap f).resume
      }
    }

    /** Returns the result of the tailcalling computation.
     */
    @annotation.tailrec final def result: A = this match {
      case Done(a) => a
      case Call(t) => t().result
      case Cont(a, f) => a match {
        case Done(v) => f(v).result
        case Call(t) => t().flatMap(f).result
        case Cont(b, g) => b.flatMap(x => g(x) flatMap f).result
      }
    }
  }

  /** Internal class representing a tailcall */
  protected case class Call[A](rest: () => TailRec[A]) extends TailRec[A]

  /** Internal class representing the final result returned from a tailcalling
    * computation */
  protected case class Done[A](value: A) extends TailRec[A]

  /** Internal class representing a continuation with function A => TailRec[B].
    * It is needed for the flatMap to be implemented. */
  protected case class Cont[A, B](a: TailRec[A], f: A => TailRec[B]) extends TailRec[B]

  /** Performs a tailcall
   *  @param rest  the expression to be evaluated in the tailcall
   *  @return a `TailRec` object representing the expression `rest`
   */
  def tailcall[A](rest: => TailRec[A]): TailRec[A] = Call(() => rest)

  /** Used to return final result from tailcalling computation
   *  @param  `result` the result value
   *  @return a `TailRec` object representing a computation which immediately
   *          returns `result`
   */
  def done[A](result: A): TailRec[A] = Done(result)

}