python / python/mypy

(🐞) Confusing error message in `.format` call with union

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bug
Dominant language
Python
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Description

from datetime import date

d: date | None

"{:%d}".format(d)  # error: Unrecognized format specification "%d"  [str-format]

What this error really means is that None doesn't define a __format__ method.

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Research direction

Reproduce the .format example from the issue and trace the str-format diagnostic for a union containing None. The change is done when the reported error explains that None lacks a __format__ method rather than attributing the problem to the %d format specification.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
python
Domain
devtools
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
45/100

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