generic_enum 0.2.8

Enumeration classes with generic value type. Can be used in switch statements, as annotations, or as constant parameters in constructors and functions.

Generic Enumeration Classes for Dart

Update

As of generic_enum 0.2.2, the package generic_enum_annotation is no longer required as a dependency when building a generic enum.

Introduction

Enumerations are ideal when we want to model choosing from a limited set of constant values. In Dart, the value of an enum resolves to a String.

GenericEnum is a base class for creating enumeration classes with generic value type. These classes appear to the user of the library much like a Dart enum would. For example, generic enums can be used in switch statements, to initialize variables, or as default parameters in functions and constructors.

Building a Generic Enum

To use this library include generic_enum as dependencies in your pubspec.yaml file. Include generic_enum_builder, and build_runner as dev_dependencies.

The example below shows how to define the generic enum class DpiResolution, extending GenericEnum<int>. Note the use of int literals to specify the const value of the DpiResolution instances. For user defined types, constant values are specified by calling a const constructor.

Click to show source code.

 import 'package:generic_enum/generic_enum.dart';
 //   1. Add a part statement pointing to the generated file.
 part 'dpi_resolution.g.dart';
 //   2. Annotate with @GenerateFromToJson()
 //   3. Extend GenericEnum<T>
 @GenerateFromToJson()
 class DpiResolution extends GenericEnum<int> {
   // 4. Define a private const constructor that calls the super constructor
   //    and passes on the value of type int.
   const DpiResolution._(int value) : super(value);
   // 5. Define static constant instances of type DpiResolution
   static const DpiResolution LOW = DpiResolution._(90);
   static const DpiResolution MEDIUM = DpiResolution._(300);
   static const DpiResolution HIGH = DpiResolution._(600);
   // 6. Give access to _valueMap and
   static Map<int, DpiResolution> get valueMap => _$DpiResolutionValueMap;
   // 7. Define the named factory constructor .fromJson:
   factory DpiResolution.fromJson(Map<String,dynamic> json)
       => _$DpiResolutionFromJson(json);
   // 8. Override the method [toJson].
   @override
   Map<String, dynamic> toJson() => _$DpiResolutionToJson(this);
 }

1. Add a part statement referencing the generated file dpi_resolution.g.dart.

2. Annotate the class with @GenerateFromToJson.

3. Extend GenericEnum<T>.

4. Define a private const constructor that calls the super constructor and passes on the value of type T.

5. Define the static const instances of DpiResolution. You may capitalize instance names to mark them as constants.

6. Define a getter to provide access the private variable _$DpiResolutionValueMap. Alternatively, copy-paste the getter definition from the docs generated in dpi_resolution.g.dart.

7. Define a factory constructor named .fromJson redirecting to the function _$DpiResolutionFromJson. Alternatively, copy-paste the constructor definition from the generated documentation located above the function _$DpiResolutionFromJson.

8. Define (or copy-paste) the method toJson. The documentation of the generated function _$DpiResolutionToJson contains the souce code of the method toJson.

9. Configure the build targets (and amend the generate_for entry). In your local build.yaml file add configurations for the builders map_builder and json_builder provided by the package generic_enum_builder.

   Click to show file content.

     targets:
       $default:
         builders:
           # Configure the builder `pkg_name|builder_name`
           generic_enum_builder|map_builder:
             # Only run this builder on the specified input.
             enabled: true
             generate_for:
               - lib/*.dart
           # Configure the builder `pkg_name|builder_name`
           generic_enum_builder|json_builder:
             # Only run this builder on the specified input.
             enabled: true
             generate_for:
               - lib/*.dart
   

   Note: The file dpi_resolution.dart should be an asset that can be resolved by the builder. To limit the number of files scanned for annotationed classes during the build process one can use a generate_for statement in the builder configuration.

10. Build the project by running the command:

$ pub run build_runner build --delete-conflicting-outputs

11. For the example presented here, the build process will generate the file dpi_resolution.g.dart.

    Click to show file content.

    // GENERATED CODE - DO NOT MODIFY BY HAND
    
    part of 'dpi_resolution.dart';
    
    // **************************************************************************
    // JsonGenerator
    // **************************************************************************
    
    /// Converts an instance of [DpiResolution] to a map [Map<String, dynamic>].
    /// Add the following method to your class definition:
    /// ```
    ///  @override
    ///  Map<String, dynamic> toJson() => _$DpiResolutionToJson(this);
    /// ```
    Map<String, dynamic> _$DpiResolutionToJson(DpiResolution instance) =>
        {'key': _$DpiResolutionValueMap.values.toList().indexOf(instance)};
    
    /// Converts a map [Map<String, dynamic>] to an instance of [DpiResolution].
    /// Add the following factory constructor to your class definition:
    /// ```
    /// factory DpiResolution.fromJson(Map<String, dynamic> json) =>
    ///   _$DpiResolutionFromJson(json);
    /// ```
    DpiResolution _$DpiResolutionFromJson(Map<String, dynamic> json) {
      final key = (json['key']) as int;
      DpiResolution instance = _$DpiResolutionValueMap.values.toList()[key];
      if (instance == null) {
        throw GenericEnumException(
            '.fromJson constructor: Could not find a matching instance of type DpiResolution.');
      }
      return instance;
    }
    
    // **************************************************************************
    // MapGenerator
    // **************************************************************************
    
    /// Maps a value of type [int] to an instance of [DpiResolution].
    /// Add the following getter to your class definition:
    /// ```
    /// static Map<int,DpiResolution> get valueMap => _$DpiResolutionValueMap;
    /// ```
    final _$DpiResolutionValueMap = Map<int, DpiResolution>.unmodifiable({
      DpiResolution.LOW.value: DpiResolution.LOW,
      DpiResolution.MEDIUM.value: DpiResolution.MEDIUM,
      DpiResolution.HIGH.value: DpiResolution.HIGH,
    });
    

Usage

GenericEnum instances and their value are compile-time constants and can be used in switch statements to initalize other constants, final variables, or as parameters or default parameters in constructors and functions.

The sample class ScannerSettings (defined below) illustrates the use of a generic enum.

The value of generic enums can be accessed directly using dot notation (like in the initializer statement below).

class ScannerSettings{

  const ScannerSettings({
    this.scanMode,
    this.size,
    this.dpiResolution = DpiResolution.Medium,
    },
  ):_dipRes = dpiResolution.value; // Access value using dot-notation.

  final DpiResolution dpiResolution;
  final int _dpiRes;
  final ScanMode;
  final ScanSize;
}

Examples

Further examples on how to define and build generic enumeration classes can be found in the package generic_enum_example.

For details of how to use generic enums as annotations and how to retrieve their value using Dart's static analyzer package see example.

Features and bugs

Please file feature requests and bugs at the issue tracker.