Kotlin: Omitting enum name when its unambiguous

Question

With Swift enums you can omit the name of the enum in cases where only a value of that type can be used.

So when given the enum (Swift/Kotlin)

enum (class) CompassPoint {
  case north
  case south
  case east
  case west
}

Swift only needs the enums name when creating a new variable:

// type unclear, enum name needed
var directionToHead = CompassPoint.west

// type clear, enum name can be dropped
directionToHead = .east

// type clear, enum name can be dropped
switch directionToHead {
case .north:
  print("Lots of planets have a north")
case .south:
  print("Watch out for penguins")
case .east:
  print("Where the sun rises")
case .west:
  print("Where the skies are blue")
}

While in Kotlin, for the same situation you'd have to write

// type unclear, enum name needed
var directionToHead = CompassPoint.west

// type clear, enum name still needed
directionToHead = CompassPoint.east

// each case needs the enum name
when(directionToHead) {
  CompassPoint.north -> println("Lots of planets have a north")
  CompassPoint.south -> println("Watch out for penguins")
  CompassPoint.east -> println("Where the sun rises")
  CompassPoint.west -> println("Where the skies are blue")
}

Is there a reason for this, and/or are there situations in Kotlin where just .north or north can be used?

Edit: It seems importing the enum 'fixes' this and is necessary even when the enum is defined in the same file as it is used.

While this helped practically, I still don't understand why the import is needed.

Answer 1

Just use import, so you can use enum values without enum name

  import CompassPoint.*