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From: Eric Sosman <esosman@comcast-dot-net.invalid>
Newsgroups: comp.lang.java.programmer
Subject: Re: Fixing "typos" in enums...
Date: Mon, 18 Nov 2013 17:00:56 -0500
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On 11/18/2013 3:09 PM, Andreas Leitgeb wrote:
> Eric Sosman <esosman@comcast-dot-net.invalid> wrote:
>> On 11/18/2013 1:25 PM, Andreas Leitgeb wrote:
>>> It would be nice, if enum had the concept of synonyms:
>>> <dream-mode>
>>>     - each synonym is an alias for a particular constant
>>>     - synonyms would be recognized by valueOf(String)
>>>     - synonyms could be annotated as @Deprecated
>>>     - synonyms could be used in a switch, but then the
>>>         canonical name (or any other synonym for the same
>>>         constant) must not be used in the same switch.
>>> </dream-mode>
>>> Well, I know it's not going to happen. Just wanted it off my chest ;-)
>> It'd make a mess of EnumMaps, too ...
>
> Nope, don't see what you mean here.  The synonyms wouldn't be
> separate extra instances, of course, so by the time I'm holding
> an instance, its .name() is the canonical one.
> Also, if "C" is a canonical constant of enum Foo, and "S" a
> synonym of "C" in Foo, then (Foo.S==Foo.C) would be true.

     Sorry; I didn't pay close enough attention to the details
of your dream.  :)  Still, you've got to admit it might be a
wee bit confusing if you did

	theMap.clear();
	assert theMap.size() == 0;  // Okay, it's empty.
	theMap.put(Foo.C, "FIRST");
	assert theMap.size() == 1;  // Okay, one mapping.
	theMap.put(Foo.S, "FURST");
	assert theMap.size() == 2;  // Why does this fail???

>>       I don't think there's any single Right Way to address your
>> problem, no one-size-fits-all solution.  Elsethread it's written
>> that a published API is "set in stone," but there are many kinds
>> of stone.  Of all posters to this thread, only you know whether
>> the stone is obsidian or talc; only you know how hard a tool is
>> required to scratch it.
>
> Nice parable :)  Yep, there's some material analysis ahead.

     Perhaps a trifle over-poetic, but there's serious intent.
There'll be some amount of pain no matter which route you take,
and you're better able to assess it than any of us is.

-- 
Eric Sosman
esosman@comcast-dot-net.invalid