add Array{T}(...), Vector{T}(...), and Matrix{T}(...) constructors

closes #3214, closes #10075

NEWS.md

@@ -24,9 +24,6 @@ New language features
     and macros in packages and user code ([#8791]). Type `?@doc` at the repl
     to see the current syntax and more information.
 
-  * New multidimensional iterators and index types for efficient
-    iteration over general AbstractArrays
-
 Language changes
 ----------------
 
@@ -44,6 +41,8 @@ Language changes
 
   * `Nothing` (the type of `nothing`) is renamed to `Void` ([#8423]).
 
+  * Arrays can be constructed with the syntax `Array{T}(m,n)` ([#3214], [#10075])
+
   * `Dict` literal syntax `[a=>b,c=>d]` is replaced with `Dict(a=>b,c=>d)`.
     `{a=>b}` is replaced with `Dict{Any,Any}(a=>b)`.
     `(K=>V)[...]` is replaced with `Dict{K,V}(...)`.
@@ -79,6 +78,9 @@ Compiler improvements
 Library improvements
 --------------------
 
+  * New multidimensional iterators and index types for efficient
+    iteration over general AbstractArrays
+
   * `LinAlg` improvements
 
     * The `LinAlg` module is now exported.
@@ -980,6 +982,7 @@ Too numerous to mention.
 [#3141]: https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/3141
 [#3148]: https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/3148
 [#3149]: https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/3149
+[#3214]: https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/3214
 [#3233]: https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/3233
 [#3272]: https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/3272
 [#3344]: https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/3344
@@ -1151,6 +1154,7 @@ Too numerous to mention.
 [#8297]: https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/8297
 [#8399]: https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/8399
 [#8423]: https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/8423
+[#8467]: https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/8467
 [#8501]: https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/8501
 [#8560]: https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/8560
 [#8578]: https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/8578
@@ -1200,8 +1204,11 @@ Too numerous to mention.
 [#9575]: https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/9575
 [#9578]: https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/9578
 [#9690]: https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/9690
+[#9701]: https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/9701
 [#9745]: https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/9745
 [#9779]: https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/9779
 [#9957]: https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/9957
 [#10024]: https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/10024
 [#10031]: https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/10031
+[#10075]: https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/10075
+[#10117]: https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/10117

base/array.jl

@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ typealias StridedVector{T,A<:DenseArray,I<:(RangeIndex...)}  Union(DenseArray{T,
 typealias StridedMatrix{T,A<:DenseArray,I<:(RangeIndex...)}  Union(DenseArray{T,2}, SubArray{T,2,A,I})
 typealias StridedVecOrMat{T} Union(StridedVector{T}, StridedMatrix{T})
 
+call{T}(::Type{Vector{T}}, m::Integer) = Array{T}(m)
+call{T}(::Type{Matrix{T}}, m::Integer, n::Integer) = Array{T}(m, n)
+
 ## Basic functions ##
 
 size(a::Array) = arraysize(a)

base/base.jl

@@ -251,22 +251,20 @@ macro goto(name::Symbol)
     Expr(:symbolicgoto, name)
 end
 
-Array{T,N}(::Type{T}, d::NTuple{N,Int}) =
+call{T,N}(::Type{Array{T}}, d::NTuple{N,Int}) =
     ccall(:jl_new_array, Array{T,N}, (Any,Any), Array{T,N}, d)
+call{T}(::Type{Array{T}}, d::Integer...) = Array{T}(convert((Int...), d))
 
-Array{T}(::Type{T}, m::Int) =
+call{T}(::Type{Array{T}}, m::Integer) =
     ccall(:jl_alloc_array_1d, Array{T,1}, (Any,Int), Array{T,1}, m)
-Array{T}(::Type{T}, m::Int,n::Int) =
-    ccall(:jl_alloc_array_2d, Array{T,2}, (Any,Int,Int), Array{T,2}, m,n)
-Array{T}(::Type{T}, m::Int,n::Int,o::Int) =
-    ccall(:jl_alloc_array_3d, Array{T,3}, (Any,Int,Int,Int), Array{T,3}, m,n,o)
-
-Array(T::Type, d::Int...) = Array(T, d)
-Array(T::Type, d::Integer...) = Array(T, convert((Int...), d))
-
-Array{T}(::Type{T}, m::Integer) =
-    ccall(:jl_alloc_array_1d, Array{T,1}, (Any,Int), Array{T,1}, m)
-Array{T}(::Type{T}, m::Integer,n::Integer) =
+call{T}(::Type{Array{T}}, m::Integer, n::Integer) =
     ccall(:jl_alloc_array_2d, Array{T,2}, (Any,Int,Int), Array{T,2}, m, n)
-Array{T}(::Type{T}, m::Integer,n::Integer,o::Integer) =
+call{T}(::Type{Array{T}}, m::Integer, n::Integer, o::Integer) =
     ccall(:jl_alloc_array_3d, Array{T,3}, (Any,Int,Int,Int), Array{T,3}, m, n, o)
+
+# TODO: possibly turn these into deprecations
+Array{T,N}(::Type{T}, d::NTuple{N,Int}) = Array{T}(d)
+Array(T::Type, d::Integer...)           = Array{T}(convert((Int...), d))
+Array{T}(::Type{T}, m::Integer)                       = Array{T}(m)
+Array{T}(::Type{T}, m::Integer,n::Integer)            = Array{T}(m,n)
+Array{T}(::Type{T}, m::Integer,n::Integer,o::Integer) = Array{T}(m,n,o)

doc/stdlib/arrays.rst

@@ -90,9 +90,11 @@ Basic functions
 Constructors
 ------------
 
-.. function:: Array(type, dims)
+.. function:: Array(dims)
 
-   Construct an uninitialized dense array. ``dims`` may be a tuple or a series of integer arguments.
+   ``Array{T}(dims)`` constructs an uninitialized dense array with element type ``T``.
+   ``dims`` may be a tuple or a series of integer arguments.
+   The syntax ``Array(T, dims)`` is also available, but deprecated.
 
 .. function:: getindex(type[, elements...])