A type of conversion functions.

A conversion function of type 'a conv converts a raw expression into an argument of type 'a. Or returns Error "error" if conversion fails.

expr returns the input expression as-is.

bool expr extracts a boolean constant from expr, or returns Error "boolean" if expr does not contain a boolean literal.

int expr extracts an integer constant from expr, or returns Error "integer" if expr does not contain an integer literal.

string expr extracts a string constant from expr, or returns Error "string" if expr does not contain a string literal.

char expr extracts a char constant from expr, or returns Error "char" if expr does not contain a char literal.

enum values expr extracts a polymorphic variant constant from expr, or returns Error "one of: `a, `b, ..." if expr does not contain a polymorphic variant constructor included in values.

list f expr extracts a list constant from expr and maps every element through f, or returns Error "list:..." where ... is the error returned by f, or returns Error "list" if expr does not contain a list.

get_attr ~deriver conv attr extracts the expression from attr and converts it with conv, raising Location.Error if attr is not a structure with a single expression or conv fails; or returns None if attr is None. The name of the deriving plugin should be passed as deriver; it is used in error messages.

Example usage:

let deriver = "index"
(* ... *)
  let kind =
    match Ppx_deriving.attr ~deriver "kind" pcd_attributes |>
          Ppx_deriving.Arg.(get_attr ~deriver (enum ["flat"; "nested"])) with
    | Some "flat" -> `flat | Some "nested" -> `nested | None -> `default
  in ..

get_flag ~deriver attr returns true if attr is an empty attribute or false if it is absent, raising Location.Error if attr is not a structure. The name of the deriving plugin should be passed as deriver; it is used in error messages.

get_expr ~deriver conv exp converts expression exp with conv, raising Location.Error if conv fails. The name of the deriving plugin should be passed as deriver; it is used in error messages.