String Enum Initializer

String Enum Initializer

A more typesafe and succinct way of defining enum types that compile to strings

Search Terms

enum, string, string enum
default value
initializer
infer

Proposal

It seems like you should be able to specify that you are using a string enum, and then you'd only have to write out the 'value' once, and it would be automatically made into a string matching the enum code.

enum<string> Action {
   LOAD_PROFILE,
   ADD_TASK,
   REMOVE_TASK
}

or

enum Action: string {
   LOAD_PROFILE,
   ADD_TASK,
   REMOVE_TASK
}

instead of

enum Action {
   LOAD_PROFILE = "LOAD_PROFILE",
   ADD_TASK = "ADD_TASK",
   REMOVE_TASK = "REMOVE_TASK"
}

Thanks for all the great work!

EDIT
Recently updated to reflect variations proposed by @imcotton here and @lostpebble here; as well as search terms proposed by @KennethKo (#36319) and @garrettmaring (#33015)

The proposal gives example enum syntax and the desired inferred string values, but names no implementation files, tests, or entry points. Start by locating the compiler's enum parsing, checking, and emit paths, then identify existing enum tests. Done means a supported string-enum initializer has the proposed syntax and emits the matching string values without requiring repeated assignments.