have the compiler add an NSDictionary for every enum type about protobuf-objc HOT 2 OPEN

I don't see the meaning...
Can you explain or give an example?

from protobuf-objc.

Sure, this is an enhancement request BTW.

Below is a snippet from a file generated by protobuf compiler.

typedef NS_ENUM(SInt32, MessageType) {
MessageTypeTimeout = 0,
MessageTypeDisconnect = 1,
MessageTypeCheckin = 2,
};

Now in my source code I already have NSString such as @"Timeout" and @"Disconnect", which I would like to convert to a MessageType enum. I.e. @"Timeout" -> MessageTypeTimeout and @"Disconnect" -> MessageTypeDisconnect.

There's no easy way to do that in Objective-C. But since the enum type was generated by the compiler, it would be nice if the compiler also inserted a NSDictionary in the file. For example,

NSDictionary *messageTypeDict = @{
@"MessageTypeTimeout" : @(MessageTypeTimeout),
@"MessageTypeDisconnect" : @(MessageTypeDisconnect),
@"MessageTypeCheckin" : @(MessageTypeCheckin)
};

It would be even nicer to have the opposite dictionary inserted as well.

NSDictionary *messageTypeStringDict = @{
@(MessageTypeTimeout) : @"MessageTypeTimeout",
@(MessageTypeDisconnect) : @"MessageTypeDisconnect",
@(MessageTypeCheckin) : @"MessageTypeCheckin"
};

The whole point is to provide a way to inspect every enum type, which is something not possible in Objective-C but doable with the help of protobuf compiler.

from protobuf-objc.