rust-lang / rust-lang/rust

Confusing error message when using `min_specialization` with `dyn Trait`

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A-diagnostics A-specialization F-min_specialization requires-nightly T-compiler
Dominant language
Rust
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Description

I tried this code:

#![feature(min_specialization)]
pub trait Foo {
    fn foo(&self);
}

impl<T> Foo for T {
    default fn foo(&self) {}
}

impl Foo for Box<dyn Foo> {
    fn foo(&self) {}
}

This failed to compile with

error: cannot specialize on `'static` lifetime
  --> src/lib.rs:15:1
   |
15 | impl Foo for Box<dyn Foo> {
   | ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This seems weird since there isn't a visible lifetime anywhere. The error should explain that the 'static lifetime is implicit on dyn Foo and suggest adding a lifetime parameter.

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First steps

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  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start by reproducing the example in src/lib.rs and examining the compiler diagnostic for the impl using Box. Trace the specialization and implicit-lifetime handling involved in that diagnostic. Done means the error explains that dyn Foo implies a 'static lifetime and suggests adding a lifetime parameter.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
rust
Domain
compilers
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Clearly specified
Newbie friendliness
45/100

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