Rename empty operator

[sergeysova]

Looks like "empty" semantically should check for empty values of any kind.
We have two options: 1) Change operator behavior 2) rename the operator

Examples:

• https://ramdajs.com/docs/#isEmpty
• https://lodash.com/docs/4.17.15#isEmpty
• https://doc.rust-lang.org/stable/std/primitive.str.html#method.is_empty
• https://doc.rust-lang.org/stable/std/vec/struct.Vec.html#method.is_empty

Available candidates for the new name are written down. Post your candidates and vote for another

[sergeysova]

absent

[sergeysova]

nil

[demark]

but this one should check against both null or undefined (see https://lodash.com/docs/#isNil).

[igorkamyshev]

but this one should check against both null or undefined (see https://lodash.com/docs/#isNil).

It's impossible to have 'undefined' in store.

[demark]

Good point. Implementation-wise isNil is usually as simple as value == null check which covers both types and would fit for Effector cases as well. Eg. sample({ clock, filter: not(nil($something)), ... }) looks reasonable and concise to me.

[sergeysova]

isEmpty

[sergeysova]

empty.

As is. Do not change

[yumauri]

isNull

[igorkamyshev]

In my opinion, empty semantics in the mentioned packages is broken. null is special value on our platform to mark some value as intentionally absent. Empty strings, arrays and maps without elements are specific to a particular application and cannot be named "empty" in any case.

So, it is strictly correct to name null-value as "empty". I suggest to keep current naming for empty-operator and introduce new operator size to check mentioned cases.

const $noElements = equals(size($arrStore), 0);
const $emptyString = equals(size($stringStore), 0);
const $noPairs = equals(size($mapStore), 0);

[yumauri]

Wild suggestions to add some more FP-ish style? 🤪

const zeroed = equals(0) // partially applied

const $noElements = zeroed(size($arrStore))
const $emptyString = zeroed(size($stringStore))
const $noPairs = zeroed(size($mapStore))

const valued = not(zeroed) // partially applied

const $hasElements = valued(size($arrStore))
const $hasString = valued(size($stringStore))
const $hasPairs = valued(size($mapStore))

But this could lead to a huge mess with types, I guess ._.

[nvmxre]

isVoid

[kirillku]

I would keep it named empty to be consistent with the rest of operators (we don't have any isSomething, always just something). But i would check also for "", [], {}, so it would be analog of doing $store.map(_.isEmpty).

[pijng]

In ruby, for example, there is a blank method to check for empty arrays, strings, objects and null as well.

[Kelin2025]

Change behavior to match isEmpty from other libraries to avoid confusion

We already have people complaining about specific naming/terms used in Effector and now we want to re-define empty. Not good

[sergeysova]

blank

[igorkamyshev]

blank

Shall we consider the following options?

• lol
• kek
• pek

😂

[sergeysova]

@igorkamyshev

https://apidock.com/rails/Object/blank%3F

https://blog.arkency.com/2017/07/nil-empty-blank-ruby-rails-difference/

[igorkamyshev]

Luckily we are not using RoR ☺️

[sergeysova]

nullish

[ifeelBALANCED]

@sergeysova

isVacant
isUnoccupied
isBlank
isDevoid
nullify
wipeOut
annihilate