[New Feature] Allow int variable reference with other numeric operands in a multiplicative expression

[rdulmina]

Currently, int literal is allowed in multiplicative expression with float and decimal. ie the following are currently supported

public function main() {
    decimal a = 4.5;
    decimal b = a * 2;
    io:println(b); // prints 9.0

    decimal c = a / 2;
    io:println(c); // prints 2.25

    decimal d = a % 2;
    io:println(d); // prints 0.5
}

Similarly with the float. But this is not supported with int variable reference. ie the following will fail

public function main() {
    int intVarRef = 2;
    float a = 4.5;
    float b = a * intVarRef; // operator '*' not defined for 'float' and 'int'

    float c = a / intVarRef; // operator '*' not defined for 'float' and 'int'

    float d = a % intVarRef; // operator '*' not defined for 'float' and 'int'
}

We are going to add the support for int variable reference as well. Your input is much appreciated on this.

Link to spec issue: ballerina-platform/ballerina-spec#261
Link to lang issue: #35179

[gimantha]

Do we cover constants as well? for e.g.

const i = 8;

public function main() {
    float f = 56;
    float _ = f / d;  // operator '/' not defined for 'float' and 'int'
}

[rdulmina]

Yes this is covered for constants as well

[rdulmina]

Since we are not going to allow int/float and int%float, we need to change the error message accordingly since operator '/' not defined for 'int' and 'float' implies float/int is also not allowed. Few suggestions for the error message are

• operator '/' not defined for 'int'(dividend) and 'float' (divisor)
• operation int/float is not supported

@hasithaa @gimantha @MaryamZi @pcnfernando Your suggestions are highly appreciated on this