Error when using rand(Complex)

This works fine: rand(Complex{Int64})
Likewise does: rand(Complex{Float64})
However this does not: rand(Complex)

I get this reported like a thousand times:

in rand! at random.jl:147
in rand at random.jl:152

Maybe include an instructive error message or defaulting it to a type when not supplied explicitly.

[ivarne]

I think I get the same problem as you on OSX 10.8.5 on a recent source build. What operating system are you using?

What I get in case someone think it is unclear:

julia> rand(Complex)
ERROR: stack overflow
 in Array at base.jl:146
 in rand at random.jl:152
 in rand! at random.jl:147
 in rand at random.jl:152
 in rand! at random.jl:147
 in rand at random.jl:152
 in rand! at random.jl:147
 in rand at random.jl:152
 in rand! at random.jl:147
 in rand at random.jl:152
 in rand! at random.jl:147
--- and so on for longer than I care to count

I am running Linux Mint 13 "Maya", 64 bit, which is based on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin", 64 bit.
I got the exect same message as ivarne. I literally pressed cntrl+c immediately after pressing enter and still I got like a hundred lines.

[quinnj]

This is the output on Windows, 64-bit native build.

julia> rand(Complex)

***Repl Closed***

My guess after working with parameterized abstract types recently is that calling rand(Complex) without providing the parameter is confusing the compiler because it doesn't know which (Complex{Float64}, Complex{Int64}, etc.) to call. Maybe we need a fall back definition when no parameter is given? (Or I might be completely off here.......)

[ivarne]

It is a fairly common mistake so Julia needs to be more helpful than a stack overflow.

A separate issue is that a StackOverflow causes the full stack trace to be printed. Because of the alternating functions, it does not collapse into one line, like it does for recursion. Should there be a limit on how many times the same function can be printed?

[quinnj]

@ivarne I believe that would be related to #4310.