`opaque` fails to synthesize `Inhabited`
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Description
Prerequisites
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Description
opaque can fail to synthesize an Inhabited instance even when one is available. Manually writing := default is a workaround.
Context
Originally reported as #9689
Steps to Reproduce
class C1 (b : outParam Bool) (m : Type u → Type) where
val : m α
class C2 (m : Type → Type) where
val : m α
instance [C2 m] : C1 false m where
val := C2.val
instance [C1 b m] : Inhabited (m α) where
default := C1.val
def T (_ : Type u) := Unit
instance : C1 true T where
val := ()
variable {α}
#synth Inhabited (T α) -- succeeds
opaque t : T α -- failed to synthesize Inhabited (T α)
opaque t' : T α := default -- succeeds
Expected behavior: t should succeed, like t'
Actual behavior: t gives the error failed to synthesize Inhabited (T α)
Versions
Lean 4.23.0-nightly-2025-08-10
Impact
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Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start by running the minimal reproduction in the Lean nightly environment and compare opaque t : T α with opaque t' : T α := default and #synth Inhabited (T α). Trace how opaque handles typeclass synthesis, using the reported C1, C2, and Inhabited instances; done means the first declaration succeeds like the second.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Domain
- compilers
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Clearly specified
- Newbie friendliness
- 48/100