Algebraic Data Types vs Enums

Developers should learn ADTs to write more robust, maintainable, and type-safe code, especially when modeling complex data domains such as state machines, ASTs, or business logic with multiple variants meets developers should learn and use enums to improve code clarity, reduce errors, and enhance type safety in their applications. Here's our take.

Algebraic Data Types

Nice Pick

Developers should learn ADTs to write more robust, maintainable, and type-safe code, especially when modeling complex data domains such as state machines, ASTs, or business logic with multiple variants

Pros

• They are essential for functional programming paradigms, reducing runtime errors by encoding invariants at compile-time, and are widely used in areas like compiler design, data validation, and API design
• Related to: functional-programming, type-systems

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Enums

Developers should learn and use enums to improve code clarity, reduce errors, and enhance type safety in their applications

Pros

• They are particularly useful in scenarios like defining states (e
• Related to: type-safety, data-structures

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Algebraic Data Types if: You want they are essential for functional programming paradigms, reducing runtime errors by encoding invariants at compile-time, and are widely used in areas like compiler design, data validation, and api design and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Enums if: You prioritize they are particularly useful in scenarios like defining states (e over what Algebraic Data Types offers.

The Bottom Line

Algebraic Data Types wins

Developers should learn ADTs to write more robust, maintainable, and type-safe code, especially when modeling complex data domains such as state machines, ASTs, or business logic with multiple variants