Error when `fn` keyword is missing could be more explicit

[hds]

Code

whoops() {}

fn main() {
    whoops();
}

Current output

error: expected one of `!` or `::`, found `(`
 --> src/main.rs:1:7
  |
1 | whoops() {}
  |       ^ expected one of `!` or `::`

error: could not compile `playground` (bin "playground") due to 1 previous error

Desired output

error: function definition is missing `fn` keyword
 --> src/main.rs:1:7
  |
1 | whoops() {}
  | ^ should be `fn whoops()`

Rationale and extra context

The current error appears to be based entirely on the syntax tree. However, adding a ! or :: in this case won't provide compilable code by itself.

It may be possible to determine that the incorrect code "looks like" a function definition which is missing the fn keyword in front of it (the author doesn't have the knowledge to say for sure). Especially in cases where the context doesn't permit calling a function (i.e. not inside another function).

This would provide immediately actionable diagnostics.

Other cases

A missing struct or enum keyword could be differentiated by the contents of the braces, or potentially from the case of the first character of the name (assuming it's correct).

Missing struct:

Whoops {
    value: u64,
}

Missing enum:

Whoops {
    OptionA,
    OptionB,
}

A unit struct is somewhat more ambiguous (if the name is capitalized correctly then there is a hint):

Whoops {}

Rust Version

rustc 1.78.0 (9b00956e5 2024-04-29)
binary: rustc
commit-hash: 9b00956e56009bab2aa15d7bff10916599e3d6d6
commit-date: 2024-04-29
host: x86_64-apple-darwin
release: 1.78.0
LLVM version: 18.1.2

Anything else?

No response

[veera-sivarajan]

Similar to #65381

[veera-sivarajan]

@rustbot label +A-parser +C-enhancement +D-newcomer-roadblock

[gurry]

@rustbot claim