idl float to string conversion

Question

Hello I am trying to convert float to string in IDL/cpp. I am assuming that is what I need to do as that is what the error indicated when I tried to compile. What I am trying to do is grab the "value" of minDamage and maxDamage.

@dirty
public native float getMaxDamage(boolean withPup = true);

public void setMaxDamage(float value) {
    maxDamage = value;
}

@dirty
public native float getMinDamage(boolean withPup = true);

public void setMinDamage(float value) {
    minDamage = value;
}

But when I try to do so I get the error

 error: could not convert from ‘float’ to ‘sys::lang::String’
  return maxDamage;
         ^~~~~~~~~

Thanks for any help, if there is any more information needed just let me know.