Currently this is impossible:
def substring(s: String, start: Int = 0, end: Int = s.length): String
The only way to achieve this is this:
def substring(s: String, start: Int = 0)(end: Int = s.length): String
3 Likes
I was also bitten by this from time to time. I agree it would be nice to fix, and it does not look that hard to do it. But it would require a spec change.
1 Like
@pathikrit Have you considered submitting a SIP proposal? I would also like to see this fixed, it’s a very recurrent situation when using default arguments.
@jvican: Before submitting the SIP proposal, decided to post here to make sure it is not a dupe or in roadmaps or was completely rules out before. But will submit a proposal shortly.
If you need some help getting it done or work out some of the details, please contact me. I would be happy to help you and review this proposal soon!
@pathikrit, I’d also be happy to provide pointers! @dwijnand also has some fresh experience getting a SIP through and as such I’m sure he’d be happy to also provide pointers 
Pointers for getting a SIP through:
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check the mailing lists to see what people might have said in the past about this feature - often a topic has been covered many times, and there’s lots of useful information, and I would bet this feature is the same
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try and implement it, particularly given @odersky said it does not look that hard to do
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when you write your SIP try your best to think up all feature interactions. This will help reduce iterations with the committee. A few examples off the top of my head: varargs, implicit argument lists, and using the same feature also for type members (eg.
def f(x: A, y: x.B)) -
there is an interest of this for implicits, currently worked around with the Aux pattern, and I believe there is a SI ticket / pending PR to introduce multiple implicit argument lists as an alternative workaround. Ultimately this feature super-seed both of those, imho.
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when you respond to the SIP’s request for feedback, make sure that that feedback is very clear and not too “wordy” - for instance I’ve found the committee responds better to succinct lists over wordy paragraphs
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work closely with your SIP sponsor, making sure he/she understands what you’re saying and/or asking, and making sure you understand what the committee wants from you and your SIP
3 Likes
Such a great summary. I’ll give it a more public face and open a Discourse thread so that people interested in submitting proposals can also benefit from this.