drogetype

Drogetype is a term used in theoretical discussions of programming language type systems to describe a flexible data-type concept that blends aspects of records and objects. A drogetype defines a template for values that carry both data fields and a set of associated operations, while allowing variation in structure across instances.

Core characteristics include nominal identity for each instance, structural polymorphism in the fields, and support for extension through composition or traits. Instances of a drogetype may add, omit, or rename fields as long as they remain compatible with a declared interface. Behavior can be provided by methods attached to the drogetype or by external behavioral traits.

Drogetypes sit between traditional records and object-oriented classes, sharing the ability to bundle data with behavior while favoring flexibility. They are related to structural typing, duck typing, interfaces, and protocols, but are distinguished by their emphasis on a reusable template that can be extended and composed.

An example in a hypothetical language might define a drogetype called Widget with fields id and version and a method render. A drogetype instance may include additional fields such as color while still conforming to Widget’s interface. Tools for a drogetype typically support reflection, validation, and safe serialization.

History and usage: Drogetypes have appeared mainly in theoretical writings and language-design discussions to illustrate trade-offs between flexibility and safety. They are not a standardized feature across mainstream languages, and implementations vary in syntax and semantics.