The process involves updating or transforming existing combinator implementations to align with more current standards, libraries, or architectural patterns. This can encompass adapting older codebases to utilize newer, more efficient combinator libraries or refactoring existing combinators to better integrate with a revised system design. As an example, converting a legacy parser based on custom combinators to one leveraging a modern parser combinator library, like Parsec or attoparsec, demonstrates this concept.
Modernizing these components offers several advantages, including improved performance, enhanced maintainability, and increased code clarity. Outdated combinator implementations may lack optimizations present in newer libraries or may be difficult to understand and debug due to idiosyncratic coding styles. Historically, combinator libraries have evolved significantly, introducing features and optimizations that can greatly benefit existing systems. Adopting these advancements can reduce technical debt and improve the overall robustness of the software.
