Error code E0393

A type parameter which references Self in its default value was not specified.

Erroneous code example:

#![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
trait A<T = Self> {}

fn together_we_will_rule_the_galaxy(son: &dyn A) {}
// error: the type parameter `T` must be explicitly specified
}

A trait object is defined over a single, fully-defined trait. With a regular default parameter, this parameter can just be instantiated in. However, if the default parameter is Self, the trait changes for each concrete type; i.e. i32 will be expected to implement A<i32>, bool will be expected to implement A<bool>, etc… These types will not share an implementation of a fully-defined trait; instead they share implementations of a trait with different parameters instantiated in for each implementation. This is irreconcilable with what we need to make a trait object work, and is thus disallowed. Making the trait concrete by explicitly specifying the value of the defaulted parameter will fix this issue. Fixed example:

#![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
trait A<T = Self> {}

fn together_we_will_rule_the_galaxy(son: &dyn A<i32>) {} // Ok!
}