C# use of enum type - should be optional

[JensMeinecke]

Something that's been bugging me a long time. Now that C# 6 has come up with using static concept, I have decided to bring this up for discussion:

When dealing with enums we have constructs similar to the following:

DialogResult result = DialogResult.Ok;

Now I fully understand why I have to put the first DialogResult in that declaration. But I don't understand why the enum type is required in the assignment part. If I omit it the compiler will complain, telling me that a DialogResult is expected. So if it know that we are dealing with DialogResult surely it could look in the DialogResult type and allow

DialogResult result = Ok;

This becomes particularly handy when dealing with [Flag] enums. Would your rather type all of this:

this.Anchor = AnchorStyles.Bottom | AnchorStyles.Left | AnchorStyles.Right | AnchorStyles.Top;

or all of this:

this.Anchor = Bottom | Left | Right | Top;

In the context of the assignment, it is pretty obvious what is meant. No need to guess.

Similarly with switch statement and comparisons:

switch(form.DialogResult)
{ 
      case Ok:
           ////
           break;
      case Cancel:
           ////
           break;
}

if (form.DialogResult == Ok)
{
  /// do something
}

and, of course, return values:

private DialogResult Result 
{      get { return Ok; } }

and function calls:

private SetResult(DialogResult result);
....
SetResult(Ok);

In other words in all context where an expression of the known type is expected, you can infer the type.

If there is a conflict you have to resolve the ambiguity explicitly:

class MyClass 
{
       int Left { get; set;}
       int Right {get; set;}

      void SetAnchorSide(int margin) {....}

      void SetAnchorSide(AnchorStyles side) { ...}

     void SomeCode()
     {
          // Ambiguous - could refer to either this.Left of AnchorStyles.Left
          SetAnchor(Left); 

         // Use either of the following two
         SetAnchor(AnchorStyles.Left);
         SetAnchor(this.Left);
    }
}

[alrz]

Dup of #952