allow full module paths without import?

[amitu]

In Rust code I avoid the use statements, as that makes reading slightly harder (you have to look at a symbol somewhere in the middle of a file, and then jump to top of the file, to see where is that symbol imported from, or you command click, look at the file/package name in nav bar, and come back).

In Rust not using use is an option. But it is not possible right now in fastn, and an import is compulsory if you want to refer to anything not belonging to current module.

-- import: foo.com/bar

-- bar.baz foo: hello
-- bar.yo:

We can not do:

-- foo.com/bar.baz foo: hello
-- foo.com/bar.yo:

path separator

In Rust :: is used as path / folder separator, not /. We use /. Slash is better as it lets paths be URLs, so copy pasting the package name is quick way to read docs of the corresponding module.

module to symbol separator

In Rust the module to symbol separator is also ::. We use .. If we use # as the separator, we can get further deep linking advantage:

-- foo.com/bar#baz foo: hello
-- foo.com/bar#yo:

Now both foo.com/bar#baz and foo.com/bar#yo are URLs, and opening either can take you right at the definition of that symbol.

import alias to symbol separator

If we explicitly add an import statement we can continue to use . as separator for module name alias , and the symbol.

-- import: foo.com/bar

-- bar.baz foo: hello
-- bar.yo: