Setting a delegate generates a compile error

Question

I want to use a strategy pattern to register a set of objects that implement a protocol. When I set this up, I get a compile error when trying to set the delegate that is part of the protocol.

For discussion purposes, I have slightly reworked the DiceGame from the Swift eBook's Delegation chapter. The changes of significance are:

protocol DiceGame - declares a delegate
class SnakesAndLadders implements DiceGame (and therefore the protocol and delegate)
class Games holds 3 instances of SnakesAndLadders as 1) a concrete class of SnakesAndLadders 2) a 'let' constant of protocol DiceGame 3) a 'var' variable of protocol DiceGame

We can set the delegate fine if we use the concrete class (snakesAndLadders). However, there is a compile error if we use 'let' to hold it as a protocol (diceGameAsLet) but it compiles if we hold the variable as a 'var' (diceGameAsVar).

It is easy to work around, however, the delegate itself never changes so should be held as a 'let' constant, as it is only the internal property that changes. I must not understand something (possibly subtle but significant) about protocols and how they work and should be used.

class Dice
{
    func roll() -> Int
    {
        return 7 // always win :)
    }
}

protocol DiceGame
{
    // all DiceGames must work with a DiceGameDelegate
    var delegate:DiceGameDelegate? {get set}

    var dice: Dice {get}
    func play()
}

protocol DiceGameDelegate
{
    func gameDidStart( game:DiceGame )
    func gameDidEnd( game:DiceGame )
}

class SnakesAndLadders:DiceGame
{
    var delegate:DiceGameDelegate?
    let dice = Dice()

    func play()
    {
        delegate?.gameDidStart(self)

        playGame()

        delegate?.gameDidEnd(self)
    }

    private func playGame()
    {
        print("Playing the game here...")
    }
}

class Games : DiceGameDelegate
{
    let snakesAndLadders        = SnakesAndLadders()

    // hold the protocol, not the class
    let diceGameAsLet:DiceGame  = SnakesAndLadders()
    var diceGameAsVar:DiceGame  = SnakesAndLadders()


    func setupDelegateAsClass()
    {
        // can assign the delegate if using the class
        snakesAndLadders.delegate = self
    }

    func setupDelegateAsVar()
    {
        // if we use 'var' we can assign the delegate
        diceGameAsVar.delegate = self
    }

    func setupDelegateAsLet()
    {
        // DOES NOT COMPILE - Why?
        //
        // We are not changing the dice game so want to use 'let', but it won't compile
        // we are changing the delegate, which is declared as 'var' inside the protocol
        diceGameAsLet.delegate = self
    }

    // MARK: - DiceGameDelegate
    func gameDidStart( game:DiceGame )
    {
        print("Game Started")
    }
    func gameDidEnd( game:DiceGame )
    {
        print("Game Ended")
    }
}

Setting a delegate generates a compile error

2 Answers