[FLINK-9798] Drop canEqual() from TypeInformation, TypeSerializer, etc.

• Type: Sub-task
• Status: Open
• Priority: Major
• Resolution: Unresolved
• Fix Version/s: 3.0.0
• Component/s: API / Type Serialization System
• Labels: auto-unassigned
• Assignee: Unassigned
• Reporter: Aljoscha Krettek
• Created: 11/Jul/18 08:54
• Updated: 03/Sep/24 06:59

Description

See discussion from https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/7cc6cfd66e96e8d33c768629b55481b6c951c68128f10256abb328fe@%3Cdev.flink.apache.org%3E

Hi all!

As part of an attempt to simplify some code in the TypeInfo and
TypeSerializer area, I would like to drop the "canEqual" methods for the
following reason:

"canEqual()" is necessary to make proper equality checks across hierarchies
of types. This is for example useful in a collection API, stating for
example whether a List can be equal to a Collection if they have the same
contents. We don't have that here.

A certain type information (and serializer) is equal to another one if they
describe the same type, strictly. There is no necessity for cross hierarchy
checks.

This has also let to the situation that most type infos and serializers
implement just a dummy/default version of "canEqual". Many "equals()"
methods do not even call the other object's "canEqual", etc.

As a first step, we could simply deprecate the method and implement an
empty default, and remove all calls to that method.
Best,
Stephan

Issue Links

• is cloned by: FLINK-9803 Drop canEqual() from TypeSerializer