static NSDictionary* const letterValues = @{ … } in a method does not compile

Question

In a word game for iPhone:

I\'m trying to use the following code in my custom view Tile.

Answer 1

You can use static, but the assignment can't be made on the same line. Try this:

- (void)awakeFromNib {
    [super awakeFromNib];

    static NSDictionary* letterValues = nil;
    if (!letterValues) {
        letterValues = @{@"A": @1,
                         @"B": @4,
                         @"C": @4,
                         // ...
                         @"X": @8,
                         @"Y": @3,
                         @"Z": @10};
    }
    ...
}

The reason is that the @{ : } syntax is translated by the compiler into an Objective-C method ([[NSPlaceholderDictionary alloc] initWithObjects:forKeys:count:]), which cannot be resolved at compile-time.