python / python/mypy

(🐞) contravariant generic met to become `Never`, expected intersection

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#15,162 4 comments 3 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub

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bug
Dominant language
Python
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Description

from typing import TypeVar, Generic

T_in = TypeVar("T_in", contravariant=True)
T = TypeVar("T")

class A(Generic[T_in]): pass

class B: pass
class C: pass

def meet(a1: A[T], a2: A[T]) -> T: pass

reveal_type(meet(A[B](), A[C]()))  # "<nothing>", expected "B & C"

This is related to, but not the same as, https://github.com/python/mypy/labels/topic-join-v-union

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Research direction

No source file or test is named. Start by running the minimal Python reproduction and tracing mypy's generic type inference for the contravariant A[T] arguments; done means reveal_type reports the expected B & C intersection rather than Never.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
python
Domain
compilers
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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