Say we have:

Code:

thing thingArray[];

void setup()
{
  size(100,100);
  thingArray=new thing[200];
  for(int i=0;i<thingArray.length;i++)
    thingArray[i]=new thing();
}
void draw()
{

}
class thing
{
  float data;
  thing()
  {}
  thing(thing t)
  {
    this.data=t.data;
  }
}

thing[] append(thing t[],thing newThing)
{
  thing temp[]=new thing[t.length+1];
  System.arraycopy(t,0,temp,0,t.length);
  temp[t.length]=new thing(newThing);
  return temp;
}
 

The append function is meant to demonstrate how I usually add something to the end of an array, regardless of object. I usually just write one of these handy append functions for every object I make that needs this sort of thing.

Now my question is.. is there an equally smart way to write a function that removes a particular object from an array, then reduce the array size by one? Say something like:

thingArray=remove(thingArray,8);

That function should remove the eigth element (thingArray[7]) from the array.

I can think of a few ways... but they are all horrible and cumbersome.. including cutting the array in half.. then reattatching it. Ew.

Anyone have a better solution?

push pop would be great, I tried wrinthing something like that a few days ago but I'm not processing-smart enough

This thread has been REALLY helpful in my understanding of array management (especially when using arrays of objects). I've also really been desiring a push and pop method for arrays. I've included an example below, but it doesn't return the popped off element, since I'm not sure how to return two different items.

Code:

String[] l = new String[0];
int counter = 0;
boolean remove = false;

void setup(){
  size(200,200,P3D);
  background(0);
}

void draw(){
}

void keyPressed(){
  remove = true;
}

void keyReleased(){
  remove = false;
}

void mousePressed(){
  if(remove && l.length > 0){
    l = pop(l);
  } else {
    l = push(l, str(counter));
    counter += 1;
  }
  print(l);
  println();
}

String[] push(String[] a, String element){
  String[] b = new String[a.length+1];
  b[0] = element;
  System.arraycopy(a,0,b,1,a.length);
  return b;
}

String[] pop(String[] a){
  String[] b = new String[a.length-1];
  System.arraycopy(a,0,b,0,a.length-1);
  return b;
}