[3.9.0 BUG] Recursive type infer behaves differently when passing type literal and passing type alias

[csr632]

TypeScript Version: 3.9.0-beta

Search Terms: recursive type infer

Code

interface Box<T> {
  __: T
}

type Recursive<T> =
  | T
  | Box<Recursive<T>>

type InferRecursive<T> = T extends Recursive<infer R> ? R : "never!"

// the type we are testing with
type t1 = Box<string | Box<number | boolean>>

type t2 = InferRecursive<t1>
type t3 = InferRecursive<Box<string | Box<number | boolean>>> // write t1 explicitly

// Why is t2 and t3 different??
// They have same input type!

Expected behavior: t2 and t3 should be the same: string | number | boolean

Actual behavior: t2 is never. t3 is the expected string | number | boolean

Playground Link: https://www.typescriptlang.org/v2/en/play?ts=3.9.0-beta#code/JYOwLgpgTgZghgYwgAgEIHsAeAeAKgPmQG8AoZZAfQoC5lcSBfEksATwAcUAlCBAVygBnYADcIeQgF4yyAD50Z8jDh78ho8QXzM2nZAEkQMaKoHCxE5JLrIImSCAAmg5KfUXQxqK8IB+V8i0AEQgEGJQAIRBzAD0MchgABYouigA7ihwUCkQgmCgAObIacBJLBwpAIxWaFjYeVCFcrU4IHwAtgBG0M2d6OgANhBwIPja5XpgAEw1hl5u5uJgldqpCQDMs0YmvGYa2Mr1YI0gRUp1bV098n2Dw6NjyHHFjZAJ1XbsA8AIpQOssXiAHVEqxkMAXNNkCNHBtkI5gDAvBBwL5fCRnrhkmDEnAxMhBHB2ihQOw+GAEhUIiQgA

Related Issues:

• Type inference doesn't work in recursive reference situation. #34910
• Meta-issue: Use Full Unification for Generic Inference? #30134

[csr632]

In ts3.8.3, both t2 and t3 are never. So this bug is introduced in 3.9.0.

[csr632]

Is there any way I can transform type t1 into string | number | boolean without using hack?

https://www.typescriptlang.org/v2/en/play?ts=3.9.0-beta&ssl=24&ssc=39&pln=24&pc=3#code/JYOwLgpgTgZghgYwgAgEIHsAeAeAKgPmQG8AoZZAfQoC5lcSBfEksATwAcUAlCBAVygBnYADcIeQgF4yyAD50Z8jDh78ho8QXzM2nZAEkQMaKoHCxE5JLrIImSCAAmg5KfUXQxqK8IB+V8i0AEQgEGJQAIRBzAD0MchgABYouigA7ihwUCkQgmCgAObIacBJLBwpAIxWaFjYeVCFcrU4IHwAtgBG0M2d6OgANhBwIPja5XpgAEw1hl5u5uJgldqpCQDMs0YmvGYa2Mr1YI0gRUp1bV098n2Dw6NjyHHFjZAJ1XbsA8AIpQOssXiAHVEqxkMAXNNkCNHBtkI5gDAvBBwL5fCRnrhkmDEnAxMhBHB2ihQOw+GAEhUIswJtxdu4IAAJRAAawolmspHIQRRjiCtHo3Oyan5NjsDmcLWwnh6XD8rnpi2ZCBZ2DlgWQoXCjAA2rhbPZeS5DiNWPKgsKBEENTynEEALoY+IIhrATrkjTIBDoJylYA+uADSmcWkKtRK1kcsWGpzGuqm+ULDTKtmWAUAbidBi9I2QfEEKFxKoS6GQBQgFLSuIp+mKIzAABpkO6KUkIeCXCB0BTheh2sSnBBYZ0wWBIcN2qGwAAWGpJsQp7DLfBAA