Dart Collection changes implications

dart_collection_changes_implications.dart

/** Strings are ReadableLists of chars */
interface String extends ReadableList<char>, Pattern {

  String(Iterable<int> other);

  // Accessors
  String            toLowerCase  (                            );
  String            toUpperCase  (                            );
  String            trim         (                            );
  String            getRange     (Range range                 ); // replaces subString
  String            replaceFirst (Pattern pattern, String with);
  String            replaceAll   (Pattern pattern, String with);
  bool              endsWith     (Pattern pattern             ); // generalize from Strings to Patterns
  bool              startsWith   (Pattern pattern             ); // generalize from Strings to Patterns
  ReadableList<String>      split        (Pattern pattern             ); 

}

/**
 * chars are ints which represent unicode characters
 * could add other metadata, similar to java.lang.Character
*/
interface char extends int {

  const char(int other);

  // returns String with this sole char
  toString();

}

interface Pattern {

  // replaces/generalizes Regexp.hasMatch, String.contains
  bool              hasMatch   (String str             );
  // replaces/generalizes String.indexOf
  Match             firstMatch (String str, [int start]);
  // replaces/generalizes String.lastIndexOf
  Match             lastMatch  (String str, [int start]);
  Collection<Match> allMatches (String str             );

}

/** Regexps are Patterns with advanced matching rules */
interface RegExp extends Pattern {

  RegExp(String pattern, [bool multiLine, bool ignoreCase]);

  String            pattern;
  bool              ignoreCase;
  bool              multiLine;
  ReadableList<RegExp>  get groups(); // Regexps for each group in this RegExp

  RegExpMatch            firstMatch (String string, [int start]);
  RegExpMatch            lastMatch  (String string, [int start]);
  ReadableList<RegExpMatch>  allMatches (String string             );

}

/**
 * Matches are Ranges in which a String matches a Pattern
 * Inherited ReadableList.{first,last} replace Match.{start(),end()}
*/
interface Match extends Range {
  Pattern pattern;
  String  string; // lengthen "str" to "string" for clarity
  // replaces RegExp.stringMatch
  toString(); // => string.getRange(this)
}

/** RegExpMatches are Matches specialized for RegExps */
interface RegExpMatch extends Match {
  /**
   * groups[i] -> 
   *   string: this.toString(), 
   *   pattern: this.pattern.groups[i], 
   *   range: offset from groups[i].string not this.string
  */
  ReadableList<Match> get groups();
  // remove groupCount(), just use `groups.size`
}