Improve parse errors for lifetimes in type position

compiler/rustc_parse/messages.ftl

@@ -642,7 +642,9 @@ parse_mut_on_nested_ident_pattern = `mut` must be attached to each individual bi
     .suggestion = add `mut` to each binding
 parse_mut_on_non_ident_pattern = `mut` must be followed by a named binding
     .suggestion = remove the `mut` prefix
-parse_need_plus_after_trait_object_lifetime = lifetime in trait object type must be followed by `+`
+
+parse_need_plus_after_trait_object_lifetime = lifetimes must be followed by `+` to form a trait object type
+    .suggestion = consider adding a trait bound after the potential lifetime bound
 
 parse_nested_adt = `{$kw_str}` definition cannot be nested inside `{$keyword}`
     .suggestion = consider creating a new `{$kw_str}` definition instead of nesting

compiler/rustc_parse/src/errors.rs

@@ -2806,6 +2806,8 @@ pub(crate) struct ReturnTypesUseThinArrow {
 pub(crate) struct NeedPlusAfterTraitObjectLifetime {
     #[primary_span]
     pub span: Span,
+    #[suggestion(code = " + /* Trait */", applicability = "has-placeholders")]
+    pub suggestion: Span,
 }
 
 #[derive(Diagnostic)]

compiler/rustc_parse/src/parser/ty.rs

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use rustc_ast::{
     Pinnedness, PolyTraitRef, PreciseCapturingArg, TraitBoundModifiers, TraitObjectSyntax, Ty,
     TyKind, UnsafeBinderTy,
 };
-use rustc_errors::{Applicability, PResult};
+use rustc_errors::{Applicability, Diag, PResult};
 use rustc_span::{ErrorGuaranteed, Ident, Span, kw, sym};
 use thin_vec::{ThinVec, thin_vec};
 
@@ -411,6 +411,9 @@ impl<'a> Parser<'a> {
                 TyKind::Path(None, path) if maybe_bounds => {
                     self.parse_remaining_bounds_path(ThinVec::new(), path, lo, true)
                 }
+                // For `('a) + …`, we know that `'a` in type position already lead to an error being
+                // emitted. To reduce output, let's indirectly suppress E0178 (bad `+` in type) and
+                // other irrelevant consequential errors.
                 TyKind::TraitObject(bounds, TraitObjectSyntax::None)
                     if maybe_bounds && bounds.len() == 1 && !trailing_plus =>
                 {
@@ -425,12 +428,60 @@ impl<'a> Parser<'a> {
     }
 
     fn parse_bare_trait_object(&mut self, lo: Span, allow_plus: AllowPlus) -> PResult<'a, TyKind> {
-        let lt_no_plus = self.check_lifetime() && !self.look_ahead(1, |t| t.is_like_plus());
-        let bounds = self.parse_generic_bounds_common(allow_plus)?;
-        if lt_no_plus {
-            self.dcx().emit_err(NeedPlusAfterTraitObjectLifetime { span: lo });
+        // A lifetime only begins a bare trait object type if it is followed by `+`!
+        if self.token.is_lifetime() && !self.look_ahead(1, |t| t.is_like_plus()) {
+            // In Rust 2021 and beyond, we assume that the user didn't intend to write a bare trait
+            // object type with a leading lifetime bound since that seems very unlikely given the
+            // fact that `dyn`-less trait objects are *semantically* invalid.
+            if self.psess.edition.at_least_rust_2021() {
+                let lt = self.expect_lifetime();
+                let mut err = self.dcx().struct_span_err(lo, "expected type, found lifetime");
+                err.span_label(lo, "expected type");
+                return Ok(match self.maybe_recover_ref_ty_no_leading_ampersand(lt, lo, err) {
+                    Ok(ref_ty) => ref_ty,
+                    Err(err) => TyKind::Err(err.emit()),
+                });
+            }
+
+            self.dcx().emit_err(NeedPlusAfterTraitObjectLifetime {
+                span: lo,
+                suggestion: lo.shrink_to_hi(),
+            });
+        }
+        Ok(TyKind::TraitObject(
+            self.parse_generic_bounds_common(allow_plus)?,
+            TraitObjectSyntax::None,
+        ))
+    }
+
+    fn maybe_recover_ref_ty_no_leading_ampersand<'cx>(
+        &mut self,
+        lt: Lifetime,
+        lo: Span,
+        mut err: Diag<'cx>,
+    ) -> Result<TyKind, Diag<'cx>> {
+        if !self.may_recover() {
+            return Err(err);
+        }
+        let snapshot = self.create_snapshot_for_diagnostic();
+        let mutbl = self.parse_mutability();
+        match self.parse_ty_no_plus() {
+            Ok(ty) => {
+                err.span_suggestion_verbose(
+                    lo.shrink_to_lo(),
+                    "you might have meant to write a reference type here",
+                    "&",
+                    Applicability::MaybeIncorrect,
+                );
+                err.emit();
+                Ok(TyKind::Ref(Some(lt), MutTy { ty, mutbl }))
+            }
+            Err(diag) => {
+                diag.cancel();
+                self.restore_snapshot(snapshot);
+                Err(err)
+            }
         }
-        Ok(TyKind::TraitObject(bounds, TraitObjectSyntax::None))
     }
 
     fn parse_remaining_bounds_path(

tests/ui/generic-associated-types/gat-trait-path-parenthesised-args.rs

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ trait X {
 }
 
 fn foo<'a>(arg: Box<dyn X<Y('a) = &'a ()>>) {}
-  //~^ ERROR: lifetime in trait object type must be followed by `+`
+  //~^ ERROR: lifetimes must be followed by `+` to form a trait object type
   //~| ERROR: parenthesized generic arguments cannot be used
   //~| ERROR associated type takes 0 generic arguments but 1 generic argument
   //~| ERROR associated type takes 1 lifetime argument but 0 lifetime arguments

tests/ui/generic-associated-types/gat-trait-path-parenthesised-args.stderr

@@ -1,8 +1,13 @@
-error: lifetime in trait object type must be followed by `+`
+error: lifetimes must be followed by `+` to form a trait object type
   --> $DIR/gat-trait-path-parenthesised-args.rs:5:29
    |
 LL | fn foo<'a>(arg: Box<dyn X<Y('a) = &'a ()>>) {}
    |                             ^^
+   |
+help: consider adding a trait bound after the potential lifetime bound
+   |
+LL | fn foo<'a>(arg: Box<dyn X<Y('a + /* Trait */) = &'a ()>>) {}
+   |                                +++++++++++++
 
 error: parenthesized generic arguments cannot be used in associated type constraints
   --> $DIR/gat-trait-path-parenthesised-args.rs:5:27

tests/ui/parser/macro/trait-object-macro-matcher.e2015.stderr

@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+error: lifetimes must be followed by `+` to form a trait object type
+  --> $DIR/trait-object-macro-matcher.rs:17:8
+   |
+LL |     m!('static);
+   |        ^^^^^^^
+   |
+help: consider adding a trait bound after the potential lifetime bound
+   |
+LL |     m!('static + /* Trait */);
+   |                +++++++++++++
+
+error: lifetimes must be followed by `+` to form a trait object type
+  --> $DIR/trait-object-macro-matcher.rs:17:8
+   |
+LL |     m!('static);
+   |        ^^^^^^^
+   |
+   = note: duplicate diagnostic emitted due to `-Z deduplicate-diagnostics=no`
+help: consider adding a trait bound after the potential lifetime bound
+   |
+LL |     m!('static + /* Trait */);
+   |                +++++++++++++
+
+error[E0224]: at least one trait is required for an object type
+  --> $DIR/trait-object-macro-matcher.rs:17:8
+   |
+LL |     m!('static);
+   |        ^^^^^^^
+
+error: aborting due to 3 previous errors
+
+For more information about this error, try `rustc --explain E0224`.

tests/ui/parser/macro/trait-object-macro-matcher.e2021.stderr

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+error: expected type, found lifetime
+  --> $DIR/trait-object-macro-matcher.rs:17:8
+   |
+LL |     m!('static);
+   |        ^^^^^^^ expected type
+
+error: expected type, found lifetime
+  --> $DIR/trait-object-macro-matcher.rs:17:8
+   |
+LL |     m!('static);
+   |        ^^^^^^^ expected type
+   |
+   = note: duplicate diagnostic emitted due to `-Z deduplicate-diagnostics=no`
+
+error: aborting due to 2 previous errors
+

tests/ui/parser/macro/trait-object-macro-matcher.rs

@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 // A single lifetime is not parsed as a type.
 // `ty` matcher in particular doesn't accept a single lifetime
 
+//@ revisions: e2015 e2021
+//@[e2015] edition: 2015
+//@[e2021] edition: 2021
+
 macro_rules! m {
     ($t: ty) => {
         let _: $t;
@@ -8,8 +12,10 @@ macro_rules! m {
 }
 
 fn main() {
+    //[e2021]~vv ERROR expected type, found lifetime
+    //[e2021]~v ERROR expected type, found lifetime
     m!('static);
-    //~^ ERROR lifetime in trait object type must be followed by `+`
-    //~| ERROR lifetime in trait object type must be followed by `+`
-    //~| ERROR at least one trait is required for an object type
+    //[e2015]~^ ERROR lifetimes must be followed by `+` to form a trait object type
+    //[e2015]~| ERROR lifetimes must be followed by `+` to form a trait object type
+    //[e2015]~| ERROR at least one trait is required for an object type
 }

tests/ui/parser/macro/trait-object-macro-matcher.stderr

@@ -1,23 +0,0 @@
-error: lifetime in trait object type must be followed by `+`
-  --> $DIR/trait-object-macro-matcher.rs:11:8
-   |
-LL |     m!('static);
-   |        ^^^^^^^
-
-error: lifetime in trait object type must be followed by `+`
-  --> $DIR/trait-object-macro-matcher.rs:11:8
-   |
-LL |     m!('static);
-   |        ^^^^^^^
-   |
-   = note: duplicate diagnostic emitted due to `-Z deduplicate-diagnostics=no`
-
-error[E0224]: at least one trait is required for an object type
-  --> $DIR/trait-object-macro-matcher.rs:11:8
-   |
-LL |     m!('static);
-   |        ^^^^^^^
-
-error: aborting due to 3 previous errors
-
-For more information about this error, try `rustc --explain E0224`.

tests/ui/parser/recover/recover-ampersand-less-ref-ty.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+//@ edition: 2021
+
+struct Entity<'a> {
+    name: 'a str, //~ ERROR expected type, found lifetime
+    //~^ HELP you might have meant to write a reference type here
+}
+
+struct Buffer<'buf> {
+    bytes: 'buf mut [u8], //~ ERROR expected type, found lifetime
+    //~^ HELP you might have meant to write a reference type here
+}
+
+fn main() {}

tests/ui/parser/recover/recover-ampersand-less-ref-ty.stderr

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+error: expected type, found lifetime
+  --> $DIR/recover-ampersand-less-ref-ty.rs:4:11
+   |
+LL |     name: 'a str,
+   |           ^^ expected type
+   |
+help: you might have meant to write a reference type here
+   |
+LL |     name: &'a str,
+   |           +
+
+error: expected type, found lifetime
+  --> $DIR/recover-ampersand-less-ref-ty.rs:9:12
+   |
+LL |     bytes: 'buf mut [u8],
+   |            ^^^^ expected type
+   |
+help: you might have meant to write a reference type here
+   |
+LL |     bytes: &'buf mut [u8],
+   |            +
+
+error: aborting due to 2 previous errors
+

tests/ui/parser/trait-object-lifetime-parens.e2015.stderr

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 error: parenthesized lifetime bounds are not supported
-  --> $DIR/trait-object-lifetime-parens.rs:5:21
+  --> $DIR/trait-object-lifetime-parens.rs:9:21
    |
 LL | fn f<'a, T: Trait + ('a)>() {}
    |                     ^^^^
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ LL + fn f<'a, T: Trait + 'a>() {}
    |
 
 error: parenthesized lifetime bounds are not supported
-  --> $DIR/trait-object-lifetime-parens.rs:8:24
+  --> $DIR/trait-object-lifetime-parens.rs:12:24
    |
 LL |     let _: Box<Trait + ('a)>;
    |                        ^^^^
@@ -22,11 +22,16 @@ LL -     let _: Box<Trait + ('a)>;
 LL +     let _: Box<Trait + 'a>;
    |
 
-error: lifetime in trait object type must be followed by `+`
-  --> $DIR/trait-object-lifetime-parens.rs:10:17
+error: lifetimes must be followed by `+` to form a trait object type
+  --> $DIR/trait-object-lifetime-parens.rs:16:17
    |
 LL |     let _: Box<('a) + Trait>;
    |                 ^^
+   |
+help: consider adding a trait bound after the potential lifetime bound
+   |
+LL |     let _: Box<('a + /* Trait */) + Trait>;
+   |                    +++++++++++++
 
 error: aborting due to 3 previous errors
 

tests/ui/parser/trait-object-lifetime-parens.e2021.stderr

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+error: parenthesized lifetime bounds are not supported
+  --> $DIR/trait-object-lifetime-parens.rs:9:21
+   |
+LL | fn f<'a, T: Trait + ('a)>() {}
+   |                     ^^^^
+   |
+help: remove the parentheses
+   |
+LL - fn f<'a, T: Trait + ('a)>() {}
+LL + fn f<'a, T: Trait + 'a>() {}
+   |
+
+error: parenthesized lifetime bounds are not supported
+  --> $DIR/trait-object-lifetime-parens.rs:12:24
+   |
+LL |     let _: Box<Trait + ('a)>;
+   |                        ^^^^
+   |
+help: remove the parentheses
+   |
+LL -     let _: Box<Trait + ('a)>;
+LL +     let _: Box<Trait + 'a>;
+   |
+
+error: expected type, found lifetime
+  --> $DIR/trait-object-lifetime-parens.rs:16:17
+   |
+LL |     let _: Box<('a) + Trait>;
+   |                 ^^ expected type
+
+error[E0178]: expected a path on the left-hand side of `+`, not `((/*ERROR*/))`
+  --> $DIR/trait-object-lifetime-parens.rs:16:16
+   |
+LL |     let _: Box<('a) + Trait>;
+   |                ^^^^^^^^^^^^ expected a path
+
+error[E0782]: expected a type, found a trait
+  --> $DIR/trait-object-lifetime-parens.rs:12:16
+   |
+LL |     let _: Box<Trait + ('a)>;
+   |                ^^^^^^^^^^^^
+   |
+help: you can add the `dyn` keyword if you want a trait object
+   |
+LL |     let _: Box<dyn Trait + ('a)>;
+   |                +++
+
+error: aborting due to 5 previous errors
+
+Some errors have detailed explanations: E0178, E0782.
+For more information about an error, try `rustc --explain E0178`.

tests/ui/parser/trait-object-lifetime-parens.rs

@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
-#![allow(bare_trait_objects)]
+//@ revisions: e2015 e2021
+//@[e2015] edition: 2015
+//@[e2021] edition: 2021
+
+#![cfg_attr(e2015, allow(bare_trait_objects))]
 
 trait Trait {}
 
@@ -6,8 +10,12 @@ fn f<'a, T: Trait + ('a)>() {} //~ ERROR parenthesized lifetime bounds are not s
 
 fn check<'a>() {
     let _: Box<Trait + ('a)>; //~ ERROR parenthesized lifetime bounds are not supported
-    // FIXME: It'd be great if we could add suggestion to the following case.
-    let _: Box<('a) + Trait>; //~ ERROR lifetime in trait object type must be followed by `+`
+    //[e2021]~^ ERROR expected a type, found a trait
+    // FIXME: It'd be great if we could suggest removing the parentheses here too.
+    //[e2015]~v ERROR lifetimes must be followed by `+` to form a trait object type
+    let _: Box<('a) + Trait>;
+    //[e2021]~^ ERROR expected type, found lifetime
+    //[e2021]~| ERROR expected a path on the left-hand side of `+`
 }
 
 fn main() {}