Known times() limitation mentioned

Also took the liberty of tidying up some formatting.
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Robert Storlind 2015-05-29 17:45:42 +02:00
parent 164a2181f2
commit 0b119da4d7

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@ -478,7 +478,7 @@ Drone.extend = function( name, func ) {
/************************************************************************** /**************************************************************************
### Drone.times() Method ### Drone.times() Method
The times() method makes building multiple copies of buildings The `times()` method makes building multiple copies of buildings
easy. It's possible to create rows or grids of buildings without easy. It's possible to create rows or grids of buildings without
resorting to `for` or `while` loops. resorting to `for` or `while` loops.
@ -486,53 +486,57 @@ resorting to `for` or `while` loops.
* numTimes : The number of times you want to repeat the preceding statements. * numTimes : The number of times you want to repeat the preceding statements.
#### Limitation
For now, don't use `times()` inside a Drone method implementation – only use it at the in-game prompt as a short-hand workaround for loops.
#### Example #### Example
Say you want to do the same thing over and over. You have a couple of options... Say you want to do the same thing over and over. You have a couple of options:
* You can use a for loop... * You can use a `for` loop …
d = new Drone(); for ( var i = 0; i < 4; i++ ) { d.cottage().right(8); } d = new Drone(); for ( var i = 0; i < 4; i++ ) { d.cottage().right(8); }
While this will fit on the in-game prompt, it's awkward. You need to While this will fit on the in-game prompt, it's awkward. You need to
declare a new Drone object first, then write a for loop to create the declare a new Drone object first, then write a `for` loop to create the
4 cottages. It's also error prone, even the `for` loop is too much 4 cottages. It's also error prone &ndash; even the `for` loop is too much
syntax for what should really be simple. syntax for what should really be simple.
* You can use a while loop... * You can use a `while` loop &hellip;
d = new Drone(); var i=4; while (i--) { d.cottage().right(8); } d = new Drone(); var i=4; while (i--) { d.cottage().right(8); }
... which is slightly shorter but still too much syntax. Each of the &hellip; which is slightly shorter but still too much syntax. Each of the
above statements is fine for creating a 1-dimensional array of above statements is fine for creating a 1-dimensional array of
structures. But what if you want to create a 2-dimensional or structures. But what if you want to create a 2-dimensional or
3-dimensional array of structures? Enter the `times()` method. 3-dimensional array of structures? Enter the `times()` method.
The `times()` method lets you repeat commands in a chain any number of The `times()` method lets you repeat commands in a chain any number of
times. So to create 4 cottages in a row you would use the following times. So to create 4 cottages in a row you would use the following
statement... statement:
cottage().right(8).times(4); cottage().right(8).times(4);
...which will build a cottage, then move right 8 blocks, then do it &hellip; which will build a cottage, then move right 8 blocks, then do it
again 4 times over so that at the end you will have 4 cottages in a again 4 times over so that at the end you will have 4 cottages in a
row. What's more the `times()` method can be called more than once in row. What's more, the `times()` method can be called more than once in
a chain. So if you wanted to create a *grid* of 20 houses ( 4 x 5 ), a chain. So if you wanted to create a *grid* of 20 houses ( 4 x 5 ),
you would do so using the following statement... you would do so using the following statement:
cottage().right(8).times(4).fwd(8).left(32).times(5); cottage().right(8).times(4).fwd(8).left(32).times(5);
... breaking it down... &hellip; breaking it down &hellip;
1. The first 3 calls in the chain ( `cottage()`, `right(8)`, `times(4)` ) build a single row of 4 cottages. 1. The first 3 calls in the chain ( `cottage()`, `right(8)`, `times(4)` ) build a single row of 4 cottages.
2. The last 3 calls in the chain ( `fwd(8)`, `left(32)`, `times(5)` ) move the drone forward 8 then left 32 blocks (4 x 8) to return to the original x coordinate, then everything in the chain is repeated again 5 times so that in the end, we have a grid of 20 cottages, 4 x 5. Normally this would require a nested loop but the `times()` method does away with the need for loops when repeating builds. 2. The last 3 calls in the chain ( `fwd(8)`, `left(32)`, `times(5)` ) move the drone forward 8 then left 32 blocks (4 x 8) to return to the original X coordinate, then everything in the chain is repeated again 5 times so that in the end, we have a grid of 20 cottages, 4 x 5. Normally this would require a nested loop but the `times()` method does away with the need for loops when repeating builds.
Another example: This statement creates a row of trees 2 by 3 ... Another example: This statement creates a row of trees 2 by 3:
oak().right(10).times(2).left(20).fwd(10).times(3) oak().right(10).times(2).left(20).fwd(10).times(3)
... You can see the results below. &hellip; You can see the results below.
![times example 1](img/times-trees.png) ![times example 1](img/times-trees.png)