From 0bbc1e8ac2ceabb6e90c126cecf8a31203432dac Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: TofuBug <tofubug@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2023 13:59:40 -0500
Subject: [PATCH] Create RFCNNN-Using Scoping and Persistence.md

update using statements
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 create mode 100644 Draft-Accepted/RFCNNN-Using Scoping and Persistence.md

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+---
+RFC: 
+Author: Ryan Strope
+Status: Draft
+SupercededBy: 
+Version: 1.0
+Area: using statements
+Comments Due: 4/1/2023
+Plan to implement: Yes
+---
+
+# Add options for scoping and persistence in using statements
+
+- Powershell currently does not persist namespace prefixes properly.
+
+  - Subsequent calls to `using namespace <namespace>` blocks clobber previous `using namespace <namespace>` blocks.  
+
+- `using assembly <assembly name>` has a very limited syntax.
+
+## Motivation
+
+    Assembly, and Namespace importing is an important tool in a programmer's toolbox. 
+
+    Being able to predefine namespace prefixes, and when needed the assemblies helps to:
+
+- Write Cleaner code.
+
+- Minimize possible errors from misspelled types.
+
+- Centralizes most assembly and namespace references to a single point in the file (the top).
+
+- Clearly reference classes in ambiguous scenarios.
+
+    - e.g. `[MessageBox]` (`[System.Windows.MessageBox]`, or `[System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox]`)    
+
+## User Experience
+
+- In a script file define something simple like
+
+  - 
+        using namespace System.Management.Automation.Language
+        [ExpressionAst]
+
+- In the shell execute
+
+  - `using namespace System.Collections.Generic`
+
+  - `[List[int]]`
+
+  - `. .\Script.ps1`
+
+  - `[List[int]]`
+
+
+- The first call to `[List[int]]` will output
+
+  - 
+        IsPublic IsSerial Name BaseType                                         
+        -------- -------- ----   --------
+        True     True     List`1 System.Object
+
+- The script will output
+
+  - 
+        IsPublic IsSerial Name          BaseType
+        -------- -------- ----          --------
+        True     False    ExpressionAst System.Managme...
+
+- The second call to `[List[int]]` will output
+
+  - 
+        InvalidOperation: Unable to find type [List].
+
+    - Windows PowerShell Error is more verbose than PowerShell
+
+**NOTE:** The same happens if the script file's lines are entered manually in the shell
+
+### __That one line from that Weezer song about Sweaters__  
+  
+    No one can possibly know every namespace prefixes one might need in a particular shell session it should be easier to append a new namespace prefix to the existing ones instead of having to literally redefine (and more importantly have to remember) all the previously defined namespace prefixes.  
+
+This thread unwravels exponentionally as you get into more complicated scenarios
+
+- Modules
+
+- Modules utilize other modules
+
+- Manual execution of code during debugging
+
+- etc
+
+## Specification
+
+- First any ___new___ calls to `using namespace <Namespace Prefix>` within a scope should append to the existing scope and go away ONLY when that scope is gone.
+
+- Second the syntax of the `using namespace` statement should be expanded for forced persistence.
+
+  - Implemented the same hashtable option that `using module` allows for example
+
+    - 
+        ```
+        using namespace @{
+            Prefix = 'System.Collections.Generic'
+            Scope = Module | Global | Script    
+        }
+        ```
+
+- Third the syntax for the `using assembly` statement should also be expanded similarly
+
+  - Implement a hashtable that can emulate the full or most of the options for `Add-Type`
+
+    - 
+        ```
+        using assembly @{
+            Name = 'PresentationFramework'
+            Path = 'c:\...'
+            Namespace = 'MyNamespace.WPF'
+            UsingNamespaces = @(
+                'System.Windows'
+                'System.Windows.Controls'
+            )
+        }
+
+
+## Alternate Proposals and Considerations
+
+    Right now the only sure fire way to ensure a type is always found is to fully qualify each type in the code.
+
+Even if you redefine ALL `using namespace` blocks in every file in a module they can be clobbered by calls to other modules, script files, or just manual shell use that define new `using namespace` blocks
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