Haskell: Algebraic data vs Tuple
haskell, tuples, types
Solution
The `data` version is preferred as it more clearly indicates the intent of the programmer — by creating a new type, you are pointing out to all that this is not merely a tuple, but a meaningful semantic entity, a `Ray`.
That then makes it possible to lean on the type system further, with custom instances for `Ray`, and optimizations not possible in tuples.
Problem
``` data Ray = Ray Vector Vector ``` or ``` type Ray = (Vector, Vector) ``` Which is preferred in idiomatic haskell? Why should I use one over the other? I don't care about performance. It seems to make little difference with functions, e.g.: ``` trace :: Ray -> … trace (Ray x d) = … -- OR trace (x, d) = … ```