Getting the max value of an enum

Question

How do you get the max value of an enum?

Answer 1

In F#, with a helper function to convert the enum to a sequence:

type Foo =
    | Fizz  = 3
    | Bang  = 2

// Helper function to convert enum to a sequence. This is also useful for iterating.
// stackoverflow.com/questions/972307/can-you-loop-through-all-enum-values-c
let ToSeq (a : 'A when 'A : enum<'B>) =
    Enum.GetValues(typeof<'A>).Cast<'B>()

// Get the max of Foo
let FooMax = ToSeq (Foo()) |> Seq.max   

Running it...

> type Foo = | Fizz = 3 | Bang = 2
> val ToSeq : 'A -> seq<'B> when 'A : enum<'B>
> val FooMax : Foo = Fizz

The when 'A : enum<'B> is not required by the compiler for the definition, but is required for any use of ToSeq, even by a valid enum type.