Improve error message for which(fn, types) (#47369)

Error messages for `MethodError` are much more helpful in determining
why the method was not successfully dispatched than simply "No unique
matching method found."

Fixes #47322

Author: apaz-cli

base/errorshow.jl

@@ -246,14 +246,15 @@ end
 function showerror(io::IO, ex::MethodError)
     # ex.args is a tuple type if it was thrown from `invoke` and is
     # a tuple of the arguments otherwise.
-    is_arg_types = isa(ex.args, DataType)
-    arg_types = (is_arg_types ? ex.args : typesof(ex.args...))::DataType
+    is_arg_types = !isa(ex.args, Tuple)
+    arg_types = is_arg_types ? ex.args : typesof(ex.args...)
+    arg_types_param::SimpleVector = (unwrap_unionall(arg_types)::DataType).parameters
+    san_arg_types_param = Any[rewrap_unionall(a, arg_types) for a in arg_types_param]
     f = ex.f
     meth = methods_including_ambiguous(f, arg_types)
     if isa(meth, MethodList) && length(meth) > 1
         return showerror_ambiguous(io, meth, f, arg_types)
     end
-    arg_types_param::SimpleVector = arg_types.parameters
     print(io, "MethodError: ")
     ft = typeof(f)
     f_is_function = false
@@ -262,10 +263,11 @@ function showerror(io::IO, ex::MethodError)
         f = (ex.args::Tuple)[2]
         ft = typeof(f)
         arg_types_param = arg_types_param[3:end]
+        san_arg_types_param = san_arg_types_param[3:end]
         kwargs = pairs(ex.args[1])
         ex = MethodError(f, ex.args[3:end::Int], ex.world)
+        arg_types = Tuple{arg_types_param...}
     end
-    name = ft.name.mt.name
     if f === Base.convert && length(arg_types_param) == 2 && !is_arg_types
         f_is_function = true
         show_convert_error(io, ex, arg_types_param)
@@ -277,36 +279,28 @@ function showerror(io::IO, ex::MethodError)
         if ft <: Function && isempty(ft.parameters) && _isself(ft)
             f_is_function = true
         end
-        print(io, "no method matching ")
+        if is_arg_types
+            print(io, "no method matching invoke ")
+        else
+            print(io, "no method matching ")
+        end
         buf = IOBuffer()
         iob = IOContext(buf, io)     # for type abbreviation as in #49795; some, like `convert(T, x)`, should not abbreviate
         show_signature_function(iob, isa(f, Type) ? Type{f} : typeof(f))
-        print(iob, "(")
-        for (i, typ) in enumerate(arg_types_param)
-            print(iob, "::", typ)
-            i == length(arg_types_param) || print(iob, ", ")
-        end
-        if !isempty(kwargs)
-            print(iob, "; ")
-            for (i, (k, v)) in enumerate(kwargs)
-                print(iob, k, "::", typeof(v))
-                i == length(kwargs)::Int || print(iob, ", ")
-            end
-        end
-        print(iob, ")")
+        show_tuple_as_call(iob, :function, arg_types; hasfirst=false, kwargs = !isempty(kwargs) ? Any[(k, typeof(v)) for (k, v) in kwargs] : nothing)
         str = String(take!(buf))
         str = type_limited_string_from_context(io, str)
         print(io, str)
     end
     # catch the two common cases of element-wise addition and subtraction
-    if (f === Base.:+ || f === Base.:-) && length(arg_types_param) == 2
+    if (f === Base.:+ || f === Base.:-) && length(san_arg_types_param) == 2
         # we need one array of numbers and one number, in any order
-        if any(x -> x <: AbstractArray{<:Number}, arg_types_param) &&
-            any(x -> x <: Number, arg_types_param)
+        if any(x -> x <: AbstractArray{<:Number}, san_arg_types_param) &&
+            any(x -> x <: Number, san_arg_types_param)
 
             nounf = f === Base.:+ ? "addition" : "subtraction"
             varnames = ("scalar", "array")
-            first, second = arg_types_param[1] <: Number ? varnames : reverse(varnames)
+            first, second = san_arg_types_param[1] <: Number ? varnames : reverse(varnames)
             fstring = f === Base.:+ ? "+" : "-"  # avoid depending on show_default for functions (invalidation)
             print(io, "\nFor element-wise $nounf, use broadcasting with dot syntax: $first .$fstring $second")
         end
@@ -315,17 +309,25 @@ function showerror(io::IO, ex::MethodError)
         print(io, "\nUse square brackets [] for indexing an Array.")
     end
     # Check for local functions that shadow methods in Base
-    if f_is_function && isdefined(Base, name)
-        basef = getfield(Base, name)
-        if basef !== ex.f && hasmethod(basef, arg_types)
-            print(io, "\nYou may have intended to import ")
-            show_unquoted(io, Expr(:., :Base, QuoteNode(name)))
+    let name = ft.name.mt.name
+        if f_is_function && isdefined(Base, name)
+            basef = getfield(Base, name)
+            if basef !== f && hasmethod(basef, arg_types)
+                print(io, "\nYou may have intended to import ")
+                show_unquoted(io, Expr(:., :Base, QuoteNode(name)))
+            end
         end
     end
-    if (ex.world != typemax(UInt) && hasmethod(ex.f, arg_types) &&
-        !hasmethod(ex.f, arg_types, world = ex.world))
+    if (ex.world != typemax(UInt) && hasmethod(f, arg_types) &&
+        !hasmethod(f, arg_types, world = ex.world))
         curworld = get_world_counter()
         print(io, "\nThe applicable method may be too new: running in world age $(ex.world), while current world is $(curworld).")
+    elseif f isa Function
+        print(io, "\nThe function `$f` exists, but no method is defined for this combination of argument types.")
+    elseif f isa Type
+        print(io, "\nThe type `$f` exists, but no method is defined for this combination of argument types when trying to construct it.")
+    else
+        print(io, "\nThe object of type `$(typeof(f))` exists, but no method is defined for this combination of argument types when trying to treat it as a callable object.")
     end
     if !is_arg_types
         # Check for row vectors used where a column vector is intended.
@@ -342,7 +344,7 @@ function showerror(io::IO, ex::MethodError)
                       "\nYou can convert to a column vector with the vec() function.")
         end
     end
-    Experimental.show_error_hints(io, ex, arg_types_param, kwargs)
+    Experimental.show_error_hints(io, ex, san_arg_types_param, kwargs)
     try
         show_method_candidates(io, ex, kwargs)
     catch ex
@@ -354,16 +356,12 @@ end
 striptype(::Type{T}) where {T} = T
 striptype(::Any) = nothing
 
-function showerror_ambiguous(io::IO, meths, f, args)
+function showerror_ambiguous(io::IO, meths, f, args::Type)
+    @nospecialize f args
     print(io, "MethodError: ")
     show_signature_function(io, isa(f, Type) ? Type{f} : typeof(f))
-    print(io, "(")
-    p = args.parameters
-    for (i,a) in enumerate(p)
-        print(io, "::", a)
-        i < length(p) && print(io, ", ")
-    end
-    println(io, ") is ambiguous.\n\nCandidates:")
+    show_tuple_as_call(io, :var"", args, hasfirst=false)
+    println(io, " is ambiguous.\n\nCandidates:")
     sigfix = Any
     for m in meths
         print(io, "  ")
@@ -375,7 +373,7 @@ function showerror_ambiguous(io::IO, meths, f, args)
         let sigfix=sigfix
             if all(m->morespecific(sigfix, m.sig), meths)
                 print(io, "\nPossible fix, define\n  ")
-                Base.show_tuple_as_call(io, :function,  sigfix)
+                show_tuple_as_call(io, :function,  sigfix)
             else
                 print(io, "To resolve the ambiguity, try making one of the methods more specific, or ")
                 print(io, "adding a new method more specific than any of the existing applicable methods.")
@@ -401,9 +399,10 @@ stacktrace_contract_userdir()::Bool = Base.get_bool_env("JULIA_STACKTRACE_CONTRA
 stacktrace_linebreaks()::Bool = Base.get_bool_env("JULIA_STACKTRACE_LINEBREAKS", false) === true
 
 function show_method_candidates(io::IO, ex::MethodError, @nospecialize kwargs=())
-    is_arg_types = isa(ex.args, DataType)
+    is_arg_types = !isa(ex.args, Tuple)
     arg_types = is_arg_types ? ex.args : typesof(ex.args...)
-    arg_types_param = Any[arg_types.parameters...]
+    arg_types_param = Any[(unwrap_unionall(arg_types)::DataType).parameters...]
+    arg_types_param = Any[rewrap_unionall(a, arg_types) for a in arg_types_param]
     # Displays the closest candidates of the given function by looping over the
     # functions methods and counting the number of matching arguments.
     f = ex.f

base/experimental.jl

@@ -280,6 +280,7 @@ Then if you call `Hinter.only_int` on something that isn't an `Int` (thereby tri
 ```
 julia> Hinter.only_int(1.0)
 ERROR: MethodError: no method matching only_int(::Float64)
+The function `only_int` exists, but no method is defined for this combination of argument types.
 Did you mean to call `any_number`?
 Closest candidates are:
     ...

base/namedtuple.jl

@@ -526,6 +526,7 @@ Base.Pairs{Symbol, Int64, Tuple{Symbol}, @NamedTuple{init::Int64}}
 
 julia> sum("julia"; init=1)
 ERROR: MethodError: no method matching +(::Char, ::Char)
+The function `+` exists, but no method is defined for this combination of argument types.
 
 Closest candidates are:
   +(::Any, ::Any, ::Any, ::Any...)

base/reflection.jl

@@ -2192,7 +2192,17 @@ See also: [`parentmodule`](@ref), [`@which`](@ref Main.InteractiveUtils.@which),
 """
 function which(@nospecialize(f), @nospecialize(t))
     tt = signature_type(f, t)
-    return which(tt)
+    world = get_world_counter()
+    match, _ = Core.Compiler._findsup(tt, nothing, world)
+    if match === nothing
+        me = MethodError(f, t, world)
+        ee = ErrorException(sprint(io -> begin
+            println(io, "Calling invoke(f, t, args...) would throw:");
+            Base.showerror(io, me);
+        end))
+        throw(ee)
+    end
+    return match.method
 end
 
 """

doc/src/manual/constructors.md

@@ -293,6 +293,8 @@ Point{Float64}(1.0, 2.5)
 
 julia> Point(1,2.5) ## implicit T ##
 ERROR: MethodError: no method matching Point(::Int64, ::Float64)
+The type `Point` exists, but no method is defined for this combination of argument types when trying to construct it.
+
 Closest candidates are:
   Point(::T, ::T) where T<:Real at none:2
 
@@ -372,6 +374,7 @@ However, other similar calls still don't work:
 ```jldoctest parametric2
 julia> Point(1.5,2)
 ERROR: MethodError: no method matching Point(::Float64, ::Int64)
+The type `Point` exists, but no method is defined for this combination of argument types when trying to construct it.
 
 Closest candidates are:
   Point(::T, !Matched::T) where T<:Real
@@ -556,6 +559,7 @@ julia> struct SummedArray{T<:Number,S<:Number}
 
 julia> SummedArray(Int32[1; 2; 3], Int32(6))
 ERROR: MethodError: no method matching SummedArray(::Vector{Int32}, ::Int32)
+The type `SummedArray` exists, but no method is defined for this combination of argument types when trying to construct it.
 
 Closest candidates are:
   SummedArray(::Vector{T}) where T

doc/src/manual/faq.md

@@ -804,6 +804,7 @@ foo (generic function with 1 method)
 
 julia> foo([1])
 ERROR: MethodError: no method matching foo(::Vector{Int64})
+The function `foo` exists, but no method is defined for this combination of argument types.
 
 Closest candidates are:
   foo(!Matched::Vector{Real})

doc/src/manual/functions.md

@@ -730,6 +730,7 @@ julia> args = [1, 2, 3]
 
 julia> baz(args...)
 ERROR: MethodError: no method matching baz(::Int64, ::Int64, ::Int64)
+The function `baz` exists, but no method is defined for this combination of argument types.
 
 Closest candidates are:
   baz(::Any, ::Any)

doc/src/manual/methods.md

@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ Applying it to any other types of arguments will result in a [`MethodError`](@re
 ```jldoctest fofxy
 julia> f(2.0, 3)
 ERROR: MethodError: no method matching f(::Float64, ::Int64)
+The function `f` exists, but no method is defined for this combination of argument types.
 
 Closest candidates are:
   f(::Float64, !Matched::Float64)
@@ -86,6 +87,7 @@ Stacktrace:
 
 julia> f(Float32(2.0), 3.0)
 ERROR: MethodError: no method matching f(::Float32, ::Float64)
+The function `f` exists, but no method is defined for this combination of argument types.
 
 Closest candidates are:
   f(!Matched::Float64, ::Float64)
@@ -96,6 +98,7 @@ Stacktrace:
 
 julia> f(2.0, "3.0")
 ERROR: MethodError: no method matching f(::Float64, ::String)
+The function `f` exists, but no method is defined for this combination of argument types.
 
 Closest candidates are:
   f(::Float64, !Matched::Float64)
@@ -106,6 +109,7 @@ Stacktrace:
 
 julia> f("2.0", "3.0")
 ERROR: MethodError: no method matching f(::String, ::String)
+The function `f` exists, but no method is defined for this combination of argument types.
 ```
 
 As you can see, the arguments must be precisely of type [`Float64`](@ref). Other numeric
@@ -164,6 +168,7 @@ and applying it will still result in a [`MethodError`](@ref):
 ```jldoctest fofxy
 julia> f("foo", 3)
 ERROR: MethodError: no method matching f(::String, ::Int64)
+The function `f` exists, but no method is defined for this combination of argument types.
 
 Closest candidates are:
   f(!Matched::Number, ::Number)
@@ -174,6 +179,7 @@ Stacktrace:
 
 julia> f()
 ERROR: MethodError: no method matching f()
+The function `f` exists, but no method is defined for this combination of argument types.
 
 Closest candidates are:
   f(!Matched::Float64, !Matched::Float64)
@@ -432,6 +438,7 @@ julia> myappend([1,2,3],4)
 
 julia> myappend([1,2,3],2.5)
 ERROR: MethodError: no method matching myappend(::Vector{Int64}, ::Float64)
+The function `myappend` exists, but no method is defined for this combination of argument types.
 
 Closest candidates are:
   myappend(::Vector{T}, !Matched::T) where T
@@ -449,6 +456,7 @@ julia> myappend([1.0,2.0,3.0],4.0)
 
 julia> myappend([1.0,2.0,3.0],4)
 ERROR: MethodError: no method matching myappend(::Vector{Float64}, ::Int64)
+The function `myappend` exists, but no method is defined for this combination of argument types.
 
 Closest candidates are:
   myappend(::Vector{T}, !Matched::T) where T
@@ -494,6 +502,7 @@ true
 
 julia> same_type_numeric("foo", 2.0)
 ERROR: MethodError: no method matching same_type_numeric(::String, ::Float64)
+The function `same_type_numeric` exists, but no method is defined for this combination of argument types.
 
 Closest candidates are:
   same_type_numeric(!Matched::T, ::T) where T<:Number
@@ -506,6 +515,7 @@ Stacktrace:
 
 julia> same_type_numeric("foo", "bar")
 ERROR: MethodError: no method matching same_type_numeric(::String, ::String)
+The function `same_type_numeric` exists, but no method is defined for this combination of argument types.
 
 julia> same_type_numeric(Int32(1), Int64(2))
 false
@@ -888,6 +898,7 @@ bar (generic function with 1 method)
 
 julia> bar(1,2,3)
 ERROR: MethodError: no method matching bar(::Int64, ::Int64, ::Int64)
+The function `bar` exists, but no method is defined for this combination of argument types.
 
 Closest candidates are:
   bar(::Any, ::Any, ::Any, !Matched::Any)
@@ -901,6 +912,7 @@ julia> bar(1,2,3,4)
 
 julia> bar(1,2,3,4,5)
 ERROR: MethodError: no method matching bar(::Int64, ::Int64, ::Int64, ::Int64, ::Int64)
+The function `bar` exists, but no method is defined for this combination of argument types.
 
 Closest candidates are:
   bar(::Any, ::Any, ::Any, ::Any)

doc/src/manual/types.md

@@ -713,10 +713,12 @@ For the default constructor, exactly one argument must be supplied for each fiel
 ```jldoctest pointtype
 julia> Point{Float64}(1.0)
 ERROR: MethodError: no method matching Point{Float64}(::Float64)
+The type `Point{Float64}` exists, but no method is defined for this combination of argument types when trying to construct it.
 [...]
 
-julia> Point{Float64}(1.0,2.0,3.0)
+julia> Point{Float64}(1.0, 2.0, 3.0)
 ERROR: MethodError: no method matching Point{Float64}(::Float64, ::Float64, ::Float64)
+The type `Point{Float64}` exists, but no method is defined for this combination of argument types when trying to construct it.
 [...]
 ```
 
@@ -748,6 +750,7 @@ to `Point` have the same type. When this isn't the case, the constructor will fa
 ```jldoctest pointtype
 julia> Point(1,2.5)
 ERROR: MethodError: no method matching Point(::Int64, ::Float64)
+The type `Point` exists, but no method is defined for this combination of argument types when trying to construct it.
 
 Closest candidates are:
   Point(::T, !Matched::T) where T
@@ -1413,6 +1416,8 @@ is raised:
 ```jldoctest; filter = r"Closest candidates.*"s
 julia> supertype(Union{Float64,Int64})
 ERROR: MethodError: no method matching supertype(::Type{Union{Float64, Int64}})
+The function `supertype` exists, but no method is defined for this combination of argument types.
+
 Closest candidates are:
 [...]
 ```

stdlib/Test/docs/src/index.md

@@ -73,6 +73,8 @@ Error During Test
   Test threw an exception of type MethodError
   Expression: foo(:cat) == 1
   MethodError: no method matching length(::Symbol)
+  The function `length` exists, but no method is defined for this combination of argument types.
+
   Closest candidates are:
     length(::SimpleVector) at essentials.jl:256
     length(::Base.MethodList) at reflection.jl:521