Reason for templates vs monomorphisation

[Max Hayden Chiz]

Still playing with ATS and I was wondering why the template system was implemented as it was instead of as a compiler switch to just monomorphise polymorphic stuff. Is there some significant usage case where these two approaches differ? Or is it somehow easier/better for the compiler to have explicit templates? Or does monomorphisation run into problems when combined with dependent types? Very curious as to what the answer is.

[gmhwxi]

Well, templates are much more than for just supporting polymorphism.

I have asked Alan Kay about his definition of "object oriented" and he told me in 2003:

OOP to me means only messaging, local retention and protection and hiding of state-process, and extreme LateBinding of all things.

See http://www.purl.org/stefan_ram/pub/doc_kay_oop_en

I was greatly inspired by Alan Kay's notion of "extreme late-binding of all things". Templates can be thought of as a form late-binding of functions.