template specialization question

[daoryn]

Ellery Newcomer Wrote:

> I haven't gotten around to templates yet, so I don't grok them quite as 
> well as I'd like, but it looks like DMD is having trouble deducing T 
> from the parameter given.
> 
> print([1,2,3]) fails to match the specialized template, even when the 
> general template is removed.
> 
> If you force the template parameter, it does what you would expect:
> 
> 
> 	print!(int)(3);
> 	print!(int[3])([1,2,3]);
> 
> 
> Calling print(T)
> int
> Calling print(T[])
> int
> 
> Can't say whether this belongs in bugzilla or not. It might.
> 
> On 01/31/2010 12:49 PM, daoryn wrote:
> 
> >
> > I expected it to output "calling print(T[])" on the second "print". Would this be a bug or did I misunderstand the template specialization?
> >
> 

The whole point of specialisation (and of templates in general) is to have functions that work for any type. Having to forcibly specify a type is like casting to a specific overload of a function. Why add clutter to the syntax when the language advertises automatic type inference?