Looking for feedback on package type design - tree log volumes

General Usage
1

Hello,

I have tried my best to drink the kool-aid of generic API type design, but I have been struggling while working on trying to figure out what a Julian API set up would look like for calculating the volume of logs. I decided I have spent enough nights and weekends talking to myself, so I wanted to reach out and try to get some feedback on what I have so far.

Currently, I have types defined for the base geometric shapes (cone, cylinder, paraboloid, and their frustrum versions, etc…) and a volume function that dispatches on those e.g.

abstract type Shape end
# Equation 6.1
#V=AₗL where Aₗ is the area of the base (large end).
type Cylinder
length
large_end_diam
end

function volume(solid::Cylinder)
    V = area(solid.large_end_diam)*solid.length
    return V
end

Addtionally, I added some kwarg flags to some of the volume functions to account for other formulas
function volume(solid::ParaboloidFrustrum; huber=false, newton = false)
     if huber == true
         V = area(solid.mid_point_diam) * solid.length
     elseif newton == true
         V = (solid.length/6) * (area(solid.large_end_diam) + 4*area(solid.mid_point_diam) + area(solid.small_end_diam))
     else
         V = area(solid.large_end_diam) + area(solid.small_end_diam) * (solid.length/2)
     end
 return V
 end

I then define a macro to create a shape type from log measurements to allow for dispatch (which I think also has the benefit of bridging it back to the concept of logs rather than abstract shapes).

 macro LogSegment(a,b,c,d,shape)
     return :($shape($a,$b,$c,$d))
 end
a= @LogSegment(24,12,nothing,8,ParaboloidFrustrum)

My end syntax I am picturing would be something like:
merchandize(trees, t::SomeTaperEquation, m::SomeMerchSpecs)

Where t::SomeTaperEquation is used to find the various upper,mid, lower stem diameters that get passed to the macro and volume functions.

In addition, I am trying to wrap my head around is how to create this in such a way that I can figure out how to determine which shape is appropriate for that segment. My thoughts thus far would be to use something like using some form of gradient(dib from lower to upper) to figure out a cylinder vs say a paraboloid?

One question I have is: are there any existing julia geometry packages that calculate volumes of shapes? I did not come across anything from searching.

Second, are there any downsides to the adding kwargs to the volume functions? I don’t know if that is super hack-y or not. If so, what would be the better way to accommodate those alternate formulas?

I have many more questions, but I wanted to start at the very basics to see if I am on a reasonable track or way off base.
Thank you.

2

First, please quote your code with backticks.

It is unclear what your question is. Do you want an set of functions that calculates volumes for various objects? Multiple dispatch should be straightforward.

I don’t know what huber and newton are, but if they result in different volumes, then it is not particularly good design to have them in the same method, and if they don’t, I am not sure why you need them.

It is unclear why you need LogSegment to be a macro. A function should be able to provide the same interface.