implict type cast in generic method

Question

why do I get a compiler error in the following code stating: Cannot implicty convert type SpecialNode to T even though T must derive from NodeBase as I defined

Answer 1

You could also do:

public static T GetNode() where T : NodeBase
{
    T result;

    result = ThisStaticClass.MySpecialNode as T;
    if (result != null) return result;

    result = ThisStaticClass.MyOtherSpecialNode as T;
    if (result != null) return result;

    return default(T);
}

Edit: If the static classes are already null, this probably wouldn't have the intended effect.