Isomorphisms 

CM:

Definitions: An arrow f: A => B is called an isomorphism, or invertible arrow, if there is a map g: B => A, for which g ∘ f = 1_A and f ∘ g = 1_B. An arrow g related to f by satisfying these equations is called an inverse for f. Two objects A and B are said to be isomorphic if there is at least one isomorphism f: A => B.

In Scalaz you can express this using the traits defined in Isomorphism.

sealed abstract class Isomorphisms extends IsomorphismsLow0{
  /**Isomorphism for arrows of kind * -> * -> * */
  trait Iso[Arr[_, _], A, B] {
    self =>
    def to: Arr[A, B]
    def from: Arr[B, A]
  }

  /**Set isomorphism */
  type IsoSet[A, B] = Iso[Function1, A, B]

  /**Alias for IsoSet */
  type <=>[A, B] = IsoSet[A, B]
}

object Isomorphism extends Isomorphisms

It also contains isomorphism for higher kinds, but IsoSet would do for now.

scala> :paste
// Entering paste mode (ctrl-D to finish)

sealed trait Family {}
case object Mother extends Family {}
case object Father extends Family {}
case object Child extends Family {}

sealed trait Relic {}
case object Feather extends Relic {}
case object Stone extends Relic {}
case object Flower extends Relic {}

import Isomorphism.<=>
val isoFamilyRelic = new (Family <=> Relic) {
  val to: Family => Relic = {
    case Mother => Feather
    case Father => Stone
    case Child  => Flower
  }
  val from: Relic => Family = {
    case Feather => Mother
    case Stone   => Father
    case Flower  => Child
  }
}

isoFamilyRelic: scalaz.Isomorphism.<=>[Family,Relic]{val to: Family => Relic; val from: Relic => Family} = 1@12e3914c

It’s encouraging to see support for isomorphisms in Scalaz. Hopefully we are going the right direction.

Notation: If f: A => B has an inverse, then the (one and only) inverse for f is denoted by the symbol f^-1 (read ’f-inverse’ or ‘the inverse of f‘.)

We can check if the above isoFamilyRelic satisfies the definition using arrowEqualsProp.

scala> :paste
// Entering paste mode (ctrl-D to finish)

implicit val familyEqual = Equal.equalA[Family]
implicit val relicEqual = Equal.equalA[Relic]
implicit val arbFamily: Arbitrary[Family] = Arbitrary {
  Gen.oneOf(Mother, Father, Child)
}
implicit val arbRelic: Arbitrary[Relic] = Arbitrary {
  Gen.oneOf(Feather, Stone, Flower)
}

// Exiting paste mode, now interpreting.

scala> arrowEqualsProp(isoFamilyRelic.from compose isoFamilyRelic.to, identity[Family] _)
res22: org.scalacheck.Prop = Prop

scala> res22.check
+ OK, passed 100 tests.

scala> arrowEqualsProp(isoFamilyRelic.to compose isoFamilyRelic.from, identity[Relic] _)
res24: org.scalacheck.Prop = Prop

scala> res24.check
+ OK, passed 100 tests.