Collector

This plugin gives you an easy and beneficial way to reuse instances inside of the Vylocity game engine, as well as slow down the garbage collector.

Installation

ES Module

import { Collector } from './collector.mjs';

IIFE (Immediately Invoked Function Expression)

<script src="collector.js"></script>;
// ...
window.CollectorBundle.Collector;

CommonJS (CJS) Module

const { Collector } = require('./collector.cjs.js');

API

Collector.toggleDebug()

• desc: Turn on/off the debugging mode of this plugin, which throws additional logs/warnings. Should be turned off in production code.

Collector.setMaxLimit(pLimit)

• pLimit: The new max limit on collections.
• desc: Sets a limit on how much each collection array can recycle before deleting the access. The max is 20 by default.

Warning
(DO NOT SET THIS TO A HIGH VALUE. HIGH VALUES LEAD TO INSTANCES JUST SITTING IN ARRAYS AND TAKING UP MEMORY)

Collector.collect(pCollected, pCollection)

• pCollected: The instance|array to collect into the collection array pCollection.
• pCollection: The collection array this instance is going to. If the collection's length is >= then the set max limit then pCollected will be deleted.
• desc: Recycle an instance|array for reuse into pCollection. If an array is passed, its contents will be added to the collection array.

Collector.isInCollection(pType, pNum, pCollection, [pArg[, pArg[, ... pArg]]])

• pType: The type of instance you want to get
• pNum: The amount of pType(s) you want to get out of this collection
• pCollection: The collection array to check inside of
• pArg: Any argument(s) to pass to the instance.onNew or the instance.onDumped event function.
• desc: This is the plugin equivalent of new Diob(pType).
• returns: This returns either the instance you ask for (if it was only 1) Or it returns an array full of instances that you asked for.

Diob|Object.clean() event

• desc: This is a user defined event function that will be called when this instance is collected. This should reset this instance to it's default state. This plugin does some basic cleaning of this instance when it is collected, but cannot do things it doesn't know about. Internal cleaning involves:
  • Removing color&text
  • Removing overlays&filters
  • Removing it from an interface if it is a interface element.
  • Removing it from the ticker system
  • Resetting animations&transitions
  • Resetting angle&scale&composite&positionalData
  • Cancels movement

Diob|Object.onDumped(...pParam) event

• pParam: The argument(s) that were passed inside of Collector.isInCollection.
• desc: Event function that is called when this object has been removed from a collection and is ready for use. This is the plugin's equivalent of Object.onNew

Diob|Object.onCollected() event

• desc: Event function that is called when this object is added to a collection. This is the plugin's equivalent of Object.onDel

Examples

Get an instance

const toyBin = []
Diob
   Toy
World
   onNew()
      const toyForParty = JS.CollectorBundle.Collector.isInCollection('Diob/Toy', 1, toyBin) // DiobToyInstance 

Get an array of instances

const toyBin = []
Diob
   Toy
World
   onNew()
      const toysForParty = JS.CollectorBundle.Collector.isInCollection('Diob/Toy', 3, toyBin) // [DiobToyInstance, DiobToyInstance, DiobToyInstance]

Recycle an instance

const toyBin = []
Diob
   Toy
World
   onNew()
      const toyForParty = JS.CollectorBundle.Collector.isInCollection('Diob/Toy', 1, toyBin) // DiobToyInstance
      // a few moments later
      JS.CollectorBundle.Collector.collect(toyForParty, toyBin)
      // We have gotten a toy from the toy bin, did something with it for a while, and returned it to the toy bin. Recycling rocks!

How to use instance.onDumped

Any time an instance is removed from a collection array it will call instance.onDumped() if it is a defined function.

const toyBin = []
Diob
   Toy
      onNew()
         World.log('toyBin was empty so i was created!')
      function onDumped()
         World.log('I was removed from toyBin so you can use me again!')
World
   onNew()
      // At this point in time toyBin has no toys in it so Collector creates the instance for you
      const toyForParty = JS.CollectorBundle.Collector.isInCollection('Diob/Toy', 1, toyBin) // DiobToyInstance
      // We have just put the toy into the toybin
      JS.CollectorBundle.Collector.collect(toyForParty, toyBin)
      // A few moments later we decide we want to get that toy back out
      // Instead of creating a new instance of the toy, aRecyle cleaned and removed the toy you previously put into toyBin
      const toy = JS.CollectorBundle.Collector.isInCollection('Diob/Toy', 1, toyBin) // DiobToyInstance

How to use instance.onDumped with parameters

If your collection array starts off empty you must handle the condition of Collector calling new Diob and in return the event function instance.onNew being called!

const toyBin = []
Diob
   Toy
      onNew(pName)
         this.name = pName // 'toyBall'
      function onDumped(pName)
         this.name = pName // 'toyBall'
World
   onNew()
      const toyBall = JS.CollectorBundle.Collector.isInCollection('Diob/Toy', 1, toyBin, 'toyBall') // DiobToyInstance  

Using instance.onDumped like a pro

Since instance.onNew and instance.onDumped are virutally the same, they can run the EXACT same code under each of them. So it is best to create a handler function so you don't have to duplicate code. In this case setup is the handler function.

const toyBin = []
Diob
   Toy
      onNew(pName)
         this.setup(pName)
      function setup(pName)
         this.name = pName // 'toyBall'
      function onDumped(pName)
         this.setup(pName)
World
   onNew()
      const toyBall = JS.CollectorBundle.Collector.isInCollection('Diob/Toy', 1, toyBin, 'toyBall') // DiobToyInstance  

Using instance.onCollected

Any time a diob is collected, ERecyle will call instance.onCollected if it is a defined function.

const toyBin = []
Diob
   Toy
      function onCollected()
         World.log('I have been collected')
World
   onNew()
      const toyBall = JS.CollectorBundle.Collector.isInCollection('Diob/Toy', 1, toyBall) // DiobToyInstance
      JS.CollectorBundle.Collector.collect(toyBall, toyBin)

Global Dependency

Collector relies on the VYLO variable being globally accessible.