Mypy reports invalid type when a value is a parameterized generic
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Description
Bug Report
When I attempt to use a parameterized generic as a value to build a signature at runtime, mypy complains about the parameter as being invalid, when the parameter comes from a variable.
To Reproduce
from inspect import Parameter
def signature_parameter(name: str, item_type: type) -> Parameter:
return Parameter(name=name, kind=Parameter.KEYWORD_ONLY, annotation=list[item_type])
Expected Behavior
I would expect no error in this case (when the parameterized type is used as a value).
I know a variable cannot be used as a type parameter in a typing context (i.e. when used as a type annotation).
I understand that the following code would be wrong because variables cannot be used in type specifications:
var: type = int
lst: list[var] = [1, 2, 3] # this is wrong
But in my case above, list[item_type] is not used as a type specification, but as a value, that is passed to the runtime to build a signature. I do not think mypy should flag such use of values. It should simply consider the value to be of type types.GenericAlias.
Actual Behavior
typing-8.py:6: error: Variable "item_type" is not valid as a type [valid-type]
typing-8.py:6: note: See https://mypy.readthedocs.io/en/stable/common_issues.html#variables-vs-type-aliases
Found 1 error in 1 file (checked 1 source file)
Your Environment
- Mypy version used:
mypy 1.12.0+dev.6a0657e5959ba1777c4d427f8f355d499035d145 (compiled: no) - Mypy command-line flags: None
- Mypy configuration options from
mypy.ini(and other config files):
[tool.mypy]
enable_incomplete_feature = "NewGenericSyntax"
disable_bytearray_promotion = true
disable_memoryview_promotion = true
check_untyped_defs = true
warn_unreachable = true
warn_redundant_casts = true
warn_unused_ignores = true
- Python version used: 3.12
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 with the typing-8.py reproducer and run mypy under Python 3.12 to confirm the [valid-type] diagnostic for list[item_type]. Trace the type-checking path responsible for that diagnostic and add a regression test showing this runtime annotation value is accepted; done means the test passes without suppressing the error.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- python
- Domain
- devtools
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 45/100