Feature Request: Allow picking the first possible target if and only if target selector is ambiguous

[fendor]

Sometimes it is convenient to select a target if the given selector is ambiguous, either based on the component type or just the first that is accessible.

This is specifically helpful as cabal supports Filepath targets. Given a Filepath target, cabal figures out the component the filepath belongs to and loads that. However, sometimes a Filepath is part of multiple components. In that case, the target is ambiguous and no build-info is printed.
Especially for tooling, it would be better if you defaulted to just some component, as the options probably don't differ too much, and we keep working most of the time.

We propose here to add --pick-first-target to NixStyleFlags, so that users can conveniently decide to just pick a target and not error if the targets are ambiguous.

PR is here: #7482

Edit: Added better motivation

[fendor]

This issue is just for completeness. I do not understand the motivation for this flag and if it is the motivation I came up with, I am definitely against it, as I prefer the explicitness over some form of convenience.

[jneira]

This issue is just for completeness. I do not understand the motivation for this flag and if it is the motivation I came up with, I am definitely against it, as I prefer the explicitness over some form of convenience.

who could help us to understand the motivation? @bubba ?

[fendor]

Added better motivation after a discussion with @DanielG

[jneira]

mmm maybe i was expecting another thing or missing something obvious but i dont find the motivation here or in the pr 🤔

[fendor]

Hm just this:

This is specifically helpful as cabal supports Filepath targets. Given a Filepath target, cabal figures out the component the filepath belongs to and loads that. However, sometimes a Filepath is part of multiple components. In that case, the target is ambiguous and no build-info is printed.
Especially for tooling, it would be better if you defaulted to just some component, as the options probably don't differ too much, and we keep working most of the time.