Just wondering the best way to create a manual array, without using NSMutalbleArray, I have being researching best possible solutions but without an elegant answer, what do you
Categories on NSMutableArray is the easiest way IMO. I have a category for stacks (LIFO) and queues (FIFO)
Header
#import
@interface NSMutableArray (QueueStack)
-(id)queuePop;
-(void)queuePush:(id)obj;
-(id)stackPop;
-(void)stackPush:(id)obj;
@end
Implementation
#import "NSMutableArray+QueueStack.h"
@implementation NSMutableArray (QueueStack)
// Queues are first-in-first-out, so we remove objects from the head
-(id)queuePop {
@synchronized(self)
{
if ([self count] == 0) {
return nil;
}
id queueObject = [[[self objectAtIndex:0] retain] autorelease];
[self removeObjectAtIndex:0];
return queueObject;
}
}
// Add to the tail of the queue
-(void)queuePush:(id)anObject {
@synchronized(self)
{
[self addObject:anObject];
}
}
//Stacks are last-in-first-out.
-(id)stackPop {
@synchronized(self)
{
id lastObject = [[[self lastObject] retain] autorelease];
if (lastObject)
[self removeLastObject];
return lastObject;
}
}
-(void)stackPush:(id)obj {
@synchronized(self)
{
[self addObject: obj];
}
}
@end
To Make and use a queue:
NSMutableArray *queue = [NSMutableArray array];
//Put an item in the queue
[queue queuePush:myObj];
//Retrieve an item, (this will be the first one)
MyCoolObject *myObject = [queue queuePop];