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GALA-E0006 — Multiple default cases in a match expression

What it means. A match expression has more than one default branch — either two case _ => clauses, or a mix of case _ => and an unguarded binding pattern (case n =>) that also catches everything.

Code that triggers it

package main

func name(n int) string = n match {
    case 1 => "one"
    case _ => "other"
    case _ => "also-other"   // second default
}

func main() {
    Println(name(1))
}

Compiler message

error[GALA-E0006]: multiple default cases in match expression
  --> e0006.gala:6:5
  |
6 |     case _ => "also-other"
  |     ^^^^ keep one default case
  |
  = hint: keep one default case; combine logic with guards or nested matches if you need sub-cases

The caret sits on the second default — the one that can never fire.

How to fix it

Keep exactly one default. If you need to distinguish several “other” groups, use a guard or move the branching into the default body:

func name(n int) string = n match {
    case 1            => "one"
    case n if n > 100 => "big"
    case _            => "other"
}

Why the rule exists

The second default is unreachable. GALA emits the default as the final else of the generated if-else chain, so anything after it is dead code. Making it a compile error means you notice the duplication instead of wondering why a branch never fires.