The 'Other' Trap in Enums: Version Compatibility and Open Enums
2025-03-02
This article discusses the pitfalls of using an 'Other' value (e.g., WidgetFlavor::Other) in C++ enums. Adding new enum values presents a challenge: how to handle them and maintain compatibility with older code versions. The author suggests avoiding 'Other' altogether and declaring the enum as open-ended, letting programs handle unrecognized values independently. This elegantly solves version compatibility issues, preventing confusion when adding new enum values and ensuring smooth transitions between old and new code.
Development
Version Compatibility