Comments on: AS3 Data Structures For Game Developers (and more) http://www.as3dp.com/2007/06/10/as3-data-structures-for-game-developers-and-more/ OOP for Flash, Flex and AIR Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:45:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Mike http://www.as3dp.com/2007/06/10/as3-data-structures-for-game-developers-and-more/#comment-624 Mike Sat, 31 May 2008 21:08:59 +0000 http://www.as3dp.com/2007/06/10/as3-data-structures-for-game-developers-and-more/#comment-624 I have found in Flash CS3 that the 'object as hash table' does not work for keys that contain "&" "<" or "\"". Haven't figured why yet, but it leads to some very weird behavior in my (limited) testing. I have found in Flash CS3 that the ‘object as hash table’ does not work for keys that contain “&” “<” or “\”". Haven’t figured why yet, but it leads to some very weird behavior in my (limited) testing.

]]> By: Jacob Wright http://www.as3dp.com/2007/06/10/as3-data-structures-for-game-developers-and-more/#comment-467 Jacob Wright Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:41:31 +0000 http://www.as3dp.com/2007/06/10/as3-data-structures-for-game-developers-and-more/#comment-467 In AS 3 an Object is a Hash Table. The only difference if you get technical is the API. myHash.get("key") vs myObj["key"]. The difference in using an Object over an Array is the Array IS an Object, but with a load of methods for working with numerically indexed data. If all you need is a hash the Object is much lighter than the Array. It could also be confusing for someone (another developer) to see an array, iterate through it with a for (i = 0; i < length; i++) loop and get nothing out. In short, it's for the same reason why you'd use a Shape over a Sprite if you're just drawing and a Sprite over a MovieClip if you don't need to use the timeline. In AS 3 an Object is a Hash Table. The only difference if you get technical is the API. myHash.get(”key”) vs myObj["key"].

The difference in using an Object over an Array is the Array IS an Object, but with a load of methods for working with numerically indexed data. If all you need is a hash the Object is much lighter than the Array. It could also be confusing for someone (another developer) to see an array, iterate through it with a for (i = 0; i < length; i++) loop and get nothing out.

In short, it’s for the same reason why you’d use a Shape over a Sprite if you’re just drawing and a Sprite over a MovieClip if you don’t need to use the timeline.

]]> By: RJE http://www.as3dp.com/2007/06/10/as3-data-structures-for-game-developers-and-more/#comment-32 RJE Fri, 22 Jun 2007 09:40:56 +0000 http://www.as3dp.com/2007/06/10/as3-data-structures-for-game-developers-and-more/#comment-32 Associative Arrays is just the general name for key/value data structures. There are many different ways to implement this with various tradeoffs. A Hash table is one of these implementations. Associative Arrays is just the general name for key/value data structures. There are many different ways to implement this with various tradeoffs. A Hash table is one of these implementations.

]]> By: Bill Sanders http://www.as3dp.com/2007/06/10/as3-data-structures-for-game-developers-and-more/#comment-31 Bill Sanders Wed, 20 Jun 2007 13:08:47 +0000 http://www.as3dp.com/2007/06/10/as3-data-structures-for-game-developers-and-more/#comment-31 Hash tables come up a lot in DP examples from languages other than AS 3.0. The docs say that associative arrays, created using the Object class and not the Array class, can be used instead of hash tables. Does anyone know the difference between associative arrays and hash tables? Hash tables come up a lot in DP examples from languages other than AS 3.0. The docs say that associative arrays, created using the Object class and not the Array class, can be used instead of hash tables. Does anyone know the difference between associative arrays and hash tables?

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