[lptk]

Your example of nested functions with default arguments does not correspond to what derived implicits do. As a result of implicit resolution, an expression with an arbitrary number of subexpressions may be synthesized, the shape of which depends on the types involves. Default parameters simply cannot do that.

The example you give to justify "recursion is quite restricted" is not a restriction on recursion at all, it's an ambiguity problem. Define `a` as `y` to shadow the function parameter, and it compiles.

[YorkshireSeason]

> does not correspond to what derived implicits do

I did not claim it did. The first example disproved ionforce's claim that default values cannot be constructed dynamically.

> Define `a` as `y` to shadow the function parameter,

Whoops, yes that's correct. I didn't realise this was possible.

[lptk]

> The first example disproved ionforce's claim that default values cannot be constructed dynamically.

But I don't think that is what they meant. I think they meant something along the lines of what I said above:

> an expression with an arbitrary number of subexpressions may be synthesized, the shape of which depends on the types involves

[YorkshireSeason]

OK, maybe I misunderstood ionforce. I don't deny that type-driven synthesis is a core element of implicits.