confusing compile error when returning number literal

[ghost]

Apologies if this is a duplicate.

fn blah(n: i32) ?i32 {
    if (n == 0) {
        return null;
    } else if (n < 0) {
        return -1;
    } else {
        return 1;
    }
}

test "" {
    _ = blah(0);
}

Outputs:

/home/dbandstra/oxid/test.zig:1:17: error: unable to make maybe out of number literal
fn blah(n: i32) ?i32 {
                ^

The solution is to return i32(1) but it's not clear from the error.

Also, I think these are usually referred to as "optionals", not "maybes", so the wording could be changed.

[andrewrk]

Related: #2749

[thejoshwolfe]

The solution is to return i32(1) but it's not clear from the error.

I would call that a workaround, not a solution. The compiler's behavior here makes no sense, since it's obvious which sequence of implicit casts should happen to make it all work.

I just tripped over this issue here: https://github.com/thejoshwolfe/legend-of-swarkland/blob/b60a915d3301737f0a49ce70eec024817b90d45c/src/server/game_engine.zig#L1045-L1075