Use compiler to catch new enum value not covered in "switch"
This old trick shines more and more when our project's code base grew over million+ lines. I have to put it on the web one more time just in case there is a developer out there haven't seen this.
Basically you can set the compiler to generate compilation errors when there are enum values not covered in switch block. So that when a new value is added to an enum class, every switch statement on this enum class will get a compilation error. This way it is easier to find and add corresponding cases, and it is impossible to ignore them. :)
To make this work, you have to do (or not do) two things:
- DO NOT use "default" case when you do switch on enum values.
- Set your compiler to generate ERROR instead of ignore enum values not covered in switch. In eclipse (the greatest IDE), it is here:
