Add restrictions on polymorphism.

Also introduce the concept of a derived type variable, and provide two
methods for deriving type vars: lane() and as_bool().

cranelift/docs/metaref.rst

@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ Polymorphism only works for SSA value operands. Immediate operands have a fixed
 operand kind.
 
 .. autoclass:: TypeVar
+    :members:
 
 If multiple operands refer to the same type variable they will be required to
 have the same concrete type. For example, this defines an integer addition
@@ -75,6 +76,9 @@ value types, but in a given instance of the `iadd` instruction, the two
 operands must have the same type, and the result will be the same type as the
 inputs.
 
+There are some practical restrictions on the use of type variables, see
+:ref:`restricted-polymorphism`.
+
 Immediate operands
 ------------------
 
@@ -144,6 +148,41 @@ predefined instruction format which is an instance of
 .. autoclass:: InstructionFormat
 
 
+.. _restricted-polymorphism:
+
+Restricted polymorphism
+-----------------------
+
+The instruction format strictly controls the kinds of operands on an
+instruction, but it does not constrain value types at all. A given instruction
+description typically does constrain the allowed value types for its value
+operands. The type variables give a lot of freedom in describing the value type
+constraints, in practice more freedom than what is needed for normal instruction
+set architectures. In order to simplify the Rust representation of value type
+constraints, some restrictions are imposed on the use of type variables.
+
+A polymorphic instruction has a single *controlling type variable*. The value
+types of instruction results must be one of the following:
+
+1. A concrete value type.
+2. The controlling type variable.
+3. A type variable derived from the controlling type variable.
+
+This means that all result types can be computed from the controlling type
+variable.
+
+Input values to the instruction are allowed a bit more freedom. Input value
+types must be one of:
+
+1. A concrete value type.
+2. The controlling type variable.
+3. A type variable derived from the controlling type variable.
+4. A free type variable that is not used by any other operands.
+
+This means that the type of an input operand can either be computed from the
+controlling type variable, or it can vary independently of the other operands.
+
+
 Targets
 =======
 

meta/cretonne/__init__.py

@@ -240,11 +240,27 @@ class TypeVar(object):
         self.name = name
         self.__doc__ = doc
 
+    def lane(self):
+        """
+        Return a derived type variable that is the scalar lane type of this
+        type variable.
+
+        When this type variable assumes a scalar type, the derived type will be
+        the same scalar type.
+        """
+        return TypeVar("Lane type of " + self.name, '', base=self, simd=False)
+
+    def as_bool(self):
+        """
+        Return a derived type variable that has the same vector geometry as
+        this type variable, but with boolean lanes. Scalar types map to `b1`.
+        """
+        return TypeVar(self.name + " as boolean", '', base=self, bools=True)
+
     def operand_kind(self):
-        """
+        # When a `TypeVar` object is used to describe the type of an `Operand`
-        When a `TypeVar` object is used to describe the type of an `Operand`
+        # in an instruction definition, the kind of that operand is an SSA
-        in an instruction definition, the kind of that operand is an SSA value.
+        # value.
-        """
         return value