[GROOVY-6744] Have the elvis operator (?:) support the Optional type in Java 8

• Type: New Feature
• Status: Closed
• Priority: Major
• Resolution: Fixed
• Fix Version/s: 2.5.0-beta-1
• Component/s: Compiler
• Labels: breaking
• Assignee: John Wagenleitner
• Reporter: Aadi Deshpande
• Created: 30/Apr/14 11:34
• Updated: 12/Jun/17 00:12
• Resolved: 29/May/17 13:47

Description

With Java 8 and the rising popularity of Optional type in lieu of null management, it would be great if Groovy's elvis could handle Optional in the same way.

Optional<String> string1 = Optional.of("foo")
Optional<String> string2 = Optional.empty()

assert "foo" == ( string1 ?: "bar" )
assert "bar" == ( string2 ?: "bar" )

Conversely, another option is to make elvis overloadable. ( something like orElse() ).

That way, other Option/al types ( i.e. from Guava or FJ ) can have extension methods to support their use as well.

Issue Links

• relates to: GROOVY-7611 java.util.Optional should evaluate to false if empty