Generally Haskell libraries make a point of making impossible states unrepresentable in the types. But I often see <code>Int</code> used where only a non-negative number makes sense. Why is <code>Word</code> not used in those cases?

We only just now got <code>Numeric.Natural</code> in <code>base</code>, too. I think it is just historical accident. <code>Int</code> and <code>Integer</code> were in the haskell 98 prelude, which didn't get bogged down with lots of other fixed-size integer types.

Why is unsigned int so rare in haskell? [duplicate]

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Generally Haskell libraries make a point of making impossible states unrepresentable in the types. But I often see Int used where only a non-negative number makes sense. Why is Word not used in those cases?

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asked Sep 21 '15 15:09

user2141650

1 Answers

We only just now got Numeric.Natural in base, too.

I think it is just historical accident. Int and Integer were in the haskell 98 prelude, which didn't get bogged down with lots of other fixed-size integer types.

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