On Tue, 5 Jan 1999, Invincibill wrote:
>circlemud utilizes arrays(or tables if you prefer) to store its world
>files. i realize the tables are magrinally smaller and at times quicker,
Save 4 bytes per item minus the original 4 byte array pointer overhead.
Much faster random because you pointer arithmetic one pointer instead of
walking all over memory loading random pieces in search of the one you
want.
>but dont you all think that linked lists are better? you would also have
>less problems with segmentation faults and its much easier to avoid
More pointers to corrupt with linked lists, probably more problems. :)
>memory leaks with linked lists(IMHO). also, you could add a little more
>abstraction to it and possibly cut down on the code a bit.
Could, probably will moreso than current.
>i'm wondering if anybody has undertaken converting the whole info_storage
>scheme into linked lists.
I think Ebon Mists MUD did, but it's been awhile since I read his message.
He said it cut down loading time and made it much easier to do OLC with.
>you can more easily utilize faster search routines(BST's etc; i realize
>you can implement a bst with an array but its really really nasty)
Arrays are generally easier to search because you have a known pattern of
placement in memory. However, it depends on your application.
>i have not, for the life of me, been able to undersand why it was done
>this way in the first place.(and i'm sure its because of something i
>dont know, because i'm sure Jer is a helluva lot better coder than i)
Probably because Diku did it that way. And if you've looked at Diku's
code, you'll wonder why they did it that way. (allocate_room() is ugly)
So in short, history.
--
George Greer, greerga@circlemud.org | Genius may have its limitations, but
http://mouse.van.ml.org/ (mostly) | stupidity is not thus handicapped.
http://www.van.ml.org/CircleMUD/ | -- Elbert Hubbard
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