python / python/mypy

reveal_type() may affect inferred type / overload resolution

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#6,328 1 comment 1 reaction 0 assignees View on GitHub

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bug priority-1-normal topic-reveal-type
Dominant language
Python
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Description

The first filter call below generates an error when using --py2, but the same call without reveal_type(...) is fine:

from typing import Any, List

a = 0  # type: Any

x = filter(None, reveal_type(a))  # type: List[str]  # Error
x2 = filter(None, a)  # type: List[str]  # No error

The error message is Incompatible types in assignment (expression has type "Tuple[<nothing>, ...]", variable has type "List[str]").

reveal_type should have no effect on inferred types, since it's often used to diagnose issues with type inference.

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Research direction

Start with the provided Python reproducer using --py2, comparing filter(None, reveal_type(a)) with filter(None, a) and the reported assignment error. Trace how reveal_type affects inferred types and overload resolution; done means both calls produce the same inferred result and reveal_type remains diagnostic only.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
python
Domain
compilers, devtools
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Clearly specified
Newbie friendliness
42/100

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