objects becomes null in the draw() function in the processing - processing

I have 2 print statements below. first print statement is working fine but the second print is returning a null value. what could be the reason.
Thanks in advance.
void setup()
{
setSize(800);
GUI g=new GUI();
Println(g); // this prints fine
}
void draw()
{
Println(g); //this becomes null
}

First off, please post the actual code you're running. The println() function starts with a lower-case letter, so the code you've posted won't compile. Please post a MCVE.
Secondly, please understand how scope works. Variables you create in one function are not available in other functions. So the g variable you create in the setup() function is not the same as the g variable in the draw() function!
All of that being said, your problem is caused by the fact that Processing contains a g variable that you aren't really supposed to mess with. Change the name of the variable to avoid this problem. Of course, this will give you a compiler error because you're trying to use a variable outside of its scope. Fix that by declaring variables you want to use in multiple functions at the top of your sketch.

Related

Unable to understand proper use of randomSeed() in custom functions

The random value is coming out to be different even when randomSeed() is initialised inside the setup() method.
For example:
function setup() {
createCanvas(400, 400);
randomSeed(400);
console.log(random(100));
}
function draw() {
console.log(random(100));
check();
noLoop();
}
function check(){
console.log(random(100));
}
Here, the three functions are giving different random values. Similarly, if I have a couple of functions like funcA, funcB, funcC etc, how to get a same random value throughout the program?
Similarly, if I am using noise() function, is there a way to get the same noise value every time the program is run when I am adding noiseSeed() in the setup() function?
What do you mean by "The random value is coming out to be different"?
If you mean, that each call to random(100) results in a different value, that is the expected behavior!
Each call to random(100) results in a random value, but if you restart the program, you will get the same values again.
For me, your program results in
39.10889436956495
56.007297383621335
70.2842695871368
Every single time I run it.
If you remove randomSeed(400);, every time you start the program, the values will be different.
If you want random(100) to always return the same value, don't use the function, just replace it with the value you want.
But if by "The random value is coming out to be different" you mean, that running the program multiple times will result in different output for you, then something is broken in your setup.

refactor lambda to be called by another class: while keeping caller's code to be still short

How to professionally refactor lambda function to be called by another class WHILE make caller's code still short?
My attempt shows that for changing a lambda function to a normal function, I have to capture variables manually, thus the new normal function requires more parameters (to compensate automatic capture ability).
As a result, the new function is more tedious to use, and can cause more bug.
Example
Here is my original code, using lambda.
void Turret::registerFullversion(int gameObjectId, PhysicObject* phyO){//utility
//.... something a bit complex .......
}
void Turret::createTurret(int typeOfTurret){
int gameObjectId=createNewGameObjectId();
auto registerEasy=[&]( PhysicObject* phyO){
//^ served as a short hand version of "registerFullversion"
// 1 parameter is more comfortable than 2
registerFullversion(gameObjectId,phyO);
}
switch(typeOfTurret){
case 1:{ //this part will be moved into another class (###)
PhysicObject* phy=PhysicSystem::createNewPhysicObject();
registerEasy( phy);
//^ equivalent to "registerFullversion(gameObjectId,phy)"
// but it is very concise (1 parameter), nice!
};break;
//..... a lot of case ....
}
//... do something about "gameObjectId"
}
I want to move a part of function (###) from Turret into another class (TurretLaser).
It works, but the result is that caller have to capture gameObjectId and pass it manually :-
void Turret::createTurret(int typeOfTurret){
int gameObjectId=createNewGameObjectId();
switch(typeOfTurret){
case 1:{ //this part have to be move into another class
TurretLaser::createTurret(gameObjectId)
};break;
//..... a lot of case ....
}
}
void TurretLaser::createTurret(int gameObjectId){ //(###)
PhysicObject* phy=PhysicSystem::createNewPhysicObject();
Turret:registerFullversion(gameObjectId,phy);
//^ it is not as short as before (now = 2 parameters)
}
Note
In real case, all above functions are non-static function, and all functions are far more complex.
Performance is the first priority. Thus, std::bind and std::function are not allowed.
This question asks about how to omit the captured parameters rather than "Please fix my code", so a valid solution can also just provide a new example with its own fix instead of showing modification of my code.
My attempt
I will manually capture the related data (gameObjectId) and cache it (using a new variable CACHE_gameObjectId):-
void Turret::registerEasy(PhysicObject* physicO){
registerFullversion(CACHE_gameObjectId,physicO);
//int "CACHE_gameObjectId" is a new field of "Turret"
};
void Turret::createTurret(int typeOfTurret){
int gameObjectId=createNewGameObjectId();
Turret::CACHE_gameObjectId=gameObjectId;
switch(typeOfTurret){
case 1:{ //this part have to be move into another class
TurretLaser::createTurret(gameObjectId)
};break;
//..... a lot of case ....
}
}
void TurretLaser::createTurret(int gameObjectId){ //(###)
PhysicObject* phy=PhysicSystem::createNewPhysicObject();
Turret:registerEasy(phy);
//^ short as before, nice
}
Disadvantage of my solution: dirty, look dangerous (not so automatic, thus can cause more bug) , seem to be less thread-safe (?)

Ti Nspire: Convert solve(...) output to a callable Function

in order to calculate the inverse function of f(x) I defined following function:
inv(fx):=exp▶list(solve(fx=y,x),x)
which output is:
inv(x^(2)) {piecewise(−√(y),y≥0),piecewise(√(y),y≥0)}
So that part works already, but how can I use this result as a callable function i(y)?
Thanks for your help
Outside of your program, you can turn the result into function i(y) with:
i(y):=piecewise(-√(y),y≥0,√(y),y≥0)
I do not have a CAS, so your results may differ, but, because the function can only return one value, it would only return (and display in the graph) the first value, in this case, -√(y). If you want to display on the graph or get the values of both, you would be better off creating two separate functions (-√(y), and √(y)). Hope this helps you "use the result as a callable function."

Why/How to use passed constants in function?

I've seen classes where constants are passed to methods, I guess its done to define some kind of setting in that function. I cant find it anywhere now to try to find out the logic, so I though I could ask here. How and why do you use this concept and where can I find more information about it?
The example below is written in PHP, but any language that handles constants would do I guess..
// Declaring class
class ExampleClass{
const EXAMPLE_CONST_1 = 0;
const EXAMPLE_CONST_2 = 1;
function example_method($constant(?)){
if($constant == ExampleClass::EXAMPLE_CONST_1)
// do this
else if($constant == ExampleClass::EXAMPLE_CONST_2)
// do that
}
}
// Using class
$inst = new ExampleClass();
$inst->example_method(ExampleClass::EXAMPLE_CONST_1);
To me its more clear to pass "ExampleClass::EXAMPLE_CONST_1" than to just pass "1", but it's that the only reason to pass constant?
Simply passing 1 doesn't say much. By having a constant you can have a description about the settings in the name.
example:
constant RAIN = 1;
method setWeather(RAIN);
Atleast that's how and why I use it.
It is always a good idea to avoid literals being passed around. By assigning a name, anyone reading your code has a chance to understand what that value means - a number has no meaning. It might also help you maintaining your code: If for some requirement the value has to be changed, you can easily do it in one place, instead of checking each and every value occurrence.

Which syntax is better for return value?

I've been doing a massive code review and one pattern I notice all over the place is this:
public bool MethodName()
{
bool returnValue = false;
if (expression)
{
// do something
returnValue = MethodCall();
}
else
{
// do something else
returnValue = Expression;
}
return returnValue;
}
This is not how I would have done this I would have just returned the value when I knew what it was. which of these two patterns is more correct?
I stress that the logic always seems to be structured such that the return value is assigned in one plave only and no code is executed after it's assigned.
A lot of people recommend having only one exit point from your methods. The pattern you describe above follows that recommendation.
The main gist of that recommendation is that if ou have to cleanup some memory or state before returning from the method, it's better to have that code in one place only. having multiple exit points leads to either duplication of cleanup code or potential problems due to missing cleanup code at one or more of the exit points.
Of course, if your method is couple of lines long, or doesn't need any cleanup, you could have multiple returns.
I would have used ternary, to reduce control structures...
return expression ? MethodCall() : Expression;
I suspect I will be in the minority but I like the style presented in the example. It is easy to add a log statement and set a breakpoint, IMO. Plus, when used in a consistent way, it seems easier to "pattern match" than having multiple returns.
I'm not sure there is a "correct" answer on this, however.
Some learning institutes and books advocate the single return practice.
Whether it's better or not is subjective.
That looks like a part of a bad OOP design. Perhaps it should be refactored on the higher level than inside of a single method.
Otherwise, I prefer using a ternary operator, like this:
return expression ? MethodCall() : Expression;
It is shorter and more readable.
Return from a method right away in any of these situations:
You've found a boundary condition and need to return a unique or sentinel value: if (node.next = null) return NO_VALUE_FOUND;
A required value/state is false, so the rest of the method does not apply (aka a guard clause). E.g.: if (listeners == null) return null;
The method's purpose is to find and return a specific value, e.g.: if (nodes[i].value == searchValue) return i;
You're in a clause which returns a unique value from the method not used elsewhere in the method: if (userNameFromDb.equals(SUPER_USER)) return getSuperUserAccount();
Otherwise, it is useful to have only one return statement so that it's easier to add debug logging, resource cleanup and follow the logic. I try to handle all the above 4 cases first, if they apply, then declare a variable named result(s) as late as possible and assign values to that as needed.
They both accomplish the same task. Some say that a method should only have one entry and one exit point.
I use this, too. The idea is that resources can be freed in the normal flow of the program. If you jump out of a method at 20 different places, and you need to call cleanUp() before, you'll have to add yet another cleanup method 20 times (or refactor everything)
I guess that the coder has taken the design of defining an object toReturn at the top of the method (e.g., List<Foo> toReturn = new ArrayList<Foo>();) and then populating it during the method call, and somehow decided to apply it to a boolean return type, which is odd.
Could also be a side effect of a coding standard that states that you can't return in the middle of a method body, only at the end.
Even if no code is executed after the return value is assigned now it does not mean that some code will not have to be added later.
It's not the smallest piece of code which could be used but it is very refactoring-friendly.
Delphi forces this pattern by automatically creating a variable called "Result" which will be of the function's return type. Whatever "Result" is when the function exits, is your return value. So there's no "return" keyword at all.
function MethodName : boolean;
begin
Result := False;
if Expression then begin
//do something
Result := MethodCall;
end
else begin
//do something else
Result := Expression;
end;
//possibly more code
end;
The pattern used is verbose - but it's also easier to debug if you want to know the return value without opening the Registers window and checking EAX.

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