Using "bind" with an async function - f#

Question

Let's say I have some function that returns Async<Result<string>>:
let getData id = async {
return Ok (string id)
}
Now the input to this function is the result of another function that returns Result<int>.
I'm struggling on how to compose the 2 together with Result.bind inside the async CE.
For example:
let main = async {
let id = Ok 123
let! x = id |> Result.bind getData
return x
}
This doesn't work, I get the error:
error FS0001: Type mismatch. Expecting a
'Result<int,'a> -> Async<'b>'
but given a
'Result<int,'a> -> Result<'c,'a>'
Or if I don't use let! I get and just use let
error FS0001: Type mismatch. Expecting a
'int -> Result<'a,'b>'
but given a
'int -> Async<Result<string,'c>>
I've seen some answers that say don't use Result<'a> and just let the Async exception handling do the hard work, but I face the same problems with Option<'a> and Option.bind.
I know I could use Option.isSome/isNone and/or write my own isOk/isError functions for Result, but I feel I shouldn't have to.
Any ideas on the best way to compose something like this together?

Answer 1

The problem is Result.bind can not be used with getData because the signatures do not match. Result.bind expects a function that produces a Result<> but getData produces an Async<Result<_,_>>. You need a bind for Async<Result<_,_>>.
Define an AsyncResult.bind function for Async<Result<_,_>> like this:
module AsyncResult =
let bind fRA vRA = async {
let! vR = vRA
match vR with
| Ok v -> return! fRA v
| Error m -> return Error m
}
now you can compose your getData function with a function that returns a Result like this:
let composed p = resultFunction p |> async.Return |> AsyncResult.bind getData
If you define a CE for AsyncResult then you can compose it like this:
let composed2 p = asyncResult {
let! id = resultFunction p |> async.Return
return! getData id
}
Here is a full implementation I use for handling Async<Result<>>.
First some useful definitions for Result:
module Result =
open Result
let rtn = Ok
let toOption r = r |> function Ok v -> Some v | _ -> None
let defaultWith f r = r |> function Ok v -> v | Error e -> f e
let defaultValue d r = r |> function Ok v -> v | Error _ -> d
let failIfTrue m v = if v then m |> Error else Ok ()
let failIfFalse m v = if not v then m |> Error else Ok ()
let iter fE f r = r |> map f |> defaultWith fE : unit
let get r = r |> defaultWith (string >> failwith)
let ofOption f vO = vO |> Option.map Ok |> Option.defaultWith (f >> Error)
let insertO vRO = vRO |> Option.map(map Some) |> Option.defaultWith(fun () -> Ok None)
let absorbO f vOR = vOR |> bind (ofOption f)
... and for Async:
module Async =
let inline rtn v = async.Return v
let inline bind f vA = async.Bind( vA, f)
let inline map f = bind (f >> rtn)
let inline iterS (f: 'a->unit) = map f >> Async.RunSynchronously
let inline iterA f = map f >> Async.Start
... and now for AsyncResult:
type AsyncResult<'v, 'm> = Async<Result<'v, 'm>>
module AsyncResult =
let mapError fE v = v |> Async.map (Result.mapError fE)
let rtn v = async.Return(Ok v )
let rtnR vR = async.Return vR
let iterS fE f vRA = Async.iterS (Result.iter fE f) vRA
let iterA fE f vRA = Async.iterA (Result.iter fE f) vRA
let bind fRA vRA = async {
let! vR = vRA
match vR with
| Ok v -> return! fRA v
| Error m -> return Error m
}
let inline map f m = bind (f >> rtn) m
let rec whileLoop cond fRA =
if cond ()
then fRA () |> bind (fun () -> whileLoop cond fRA)
else rtn ()
let (>>=) v f = bind f v
let rec traverseSeq f sq = let folder head tail = f head >>= (fun h -> tail >>= (fun t -> List.Cons(h,t) |> rtn))
Array.foldBack folder (Seq.toArray sq) (rtn List.empty) |> map Seq.ofList
let inline sequenceSeq sq = traverseSeq id sq
let insertO vRAO = vRAO |> Option.map(map Some) |> Option.defaultWith(fun () -> rtn None)
let insertR ( vRAR:Result<_,_>) = vRAR |> function | Error m -> rtn (Error m) | Ok v -> map Ok v
let absorbR vRRA = vRRA |> Async.map (Result.bind id)
let absorbO f vORA = vORA |> Async.map (Result.absorbO f)
Finally, a builder for the CE asyncResult { ... }
type AsyncResultBuilder() =
member __.ReturnFrom vRA : Async<Result<'v , 'm>> = vRA
member __.ReturnFrom vR : Async<Result<'v , 'm>> = AsyncResult.rtnR vR
member __.Return v : Async<Result<'v , 'm>> = AsyncResult.rtn v
member __.Zero () : Async<Result<unit, 'm>> = AsyncResult.rtn ()
member __.Bind (vRA, fRA) : Async<Result<'b , 'm>> = AsyncResult.bind fRA vRA
member __.Bind (vR , fRA) : Async<Result<'b , 'm>> = AsyncResult.bind fRA (vR |> AsyncResult.rtnR)
member __.Combine (vRA, fRA) : Async<Result<'b , 'm>> = AsyncResult.bind fRA vRA
member __.Combine (vR , fRA) : Async<Result<'b , 'm>> = AsyncResult.bind fRA (vR |> AsyncResult.rtnR)
member __.Delay fRA = fRA
member __.Run fRA = AsyncResult.rtn () |> AsyncResult.bind fRA
member __.TryWith (fRA , hnd) : Async<Result<'a , 'm>> = async { try return! fRA() with e -> return! hnd e }
member __.TryFinally(fRA , fn ) : Async<Result<'a , 'm>> = async { try return! fRA() finally fn () }
member __.Using(resource , fRA) : Async<Result<'a , 'm>> = async.Using(resource, fRA)
member __.While (guard , fRA) : Async<Result<unit, 'a>> = AsyncResult.whileLoop guard fRA
member th.For (s: 'a seq, fRA) : Async<Result<unit, 'b>> = th.Using(s.GetEnumerator (), fun enum ->
th.While(enum.MoveNext,
th.Delay(fun () -> fRA enum.Current)))
let asyncResult = AsyncResultBuilder()
[<AutoOpen>]
module Extensions =
type AsyncResultBuilder with
member __.ReturnFrom (vA: Async<'a> ) : Async<Result<'a, 'b>> = Async.map Ok vA
member __.Bind (vA: Async<'a>, fRA) : Async<Result<'b, 'c>> = AsyncResult.bind fRA (Async.map Ok vA)
member __.Combine (vA: Async<'a>, fRA) : Async<Result<'b, 'c>> = AsyncResult.bind fRA (Async.map Ok vA)