diff --git a/doc/contributing.texi b/doc/contributing.texi index 40ae33ecac..6a8ffd6524 100644 --- a/doc/contributing.texi +++ b/doc/contributing.texi @@ -1089,11 +1089,16 @@ and then to browse them ``by hand'' using @code{car}, @code{cdr}, notably the fact that it is hard to read, error-prone, and a hindrance to proper type error reports. +@findex define-record-type* +@findex match-record +@cindex pattern matching Guix code should define appropriate data types (for instance, using @code{define-record-type*}) rather than abuse lists. In addition, it should use pattern matching, via Guileā€™s @code{(ice-9 match)} module, especially when matching lists (@pxref{Pattern Matching,,, guile, GNU -Guile Reference Manual}). +Guile Reference Manual}); pattern matching for records is better done +using @code{match-record} from @code{(guix records)}, which, unlike +@code{match}, verifies field names at macro-expansion time. @node Formatting Code @subsection Formatting Code