On Tue, 12 Sep 2006, Kyle Klipowicz wrote:
Ah, so is the [pointer] object the same thing as a C pointer (*ptr) traversing a linked list?
It's the closest that you can get in pd, but it's not directly a C pointer:
[pointer] holds one A_POINTER atom like [f] does for A_FLOAT and [symbol] for A_SYMBOL.
an A_POINTER points to a t_gpointer, which is an intermediate thing that makes it safe to use pointers to things that may disappear from memory. (outside pd it's called "weak pointer" or "weakref")
a t_gpointer can only point to a t_scalar or to the element of a t_array. at the same time it also gives access to the canvas containing the scalar or the array containing the element.
However, GEM and GridFlow pretends that it's a direct pointer because Miller gave us no other choice.
I knew the had the same name, but since so many things are named strangely in Pd (right Matju?) I couldn't be sure.
when using Pd it's important to distinguish between pointers, pointers and pointers, as well as between objects, objects, objects and objects, and also canvases vs canvases, but I shall not forget the opposition between lists and lists, and the one between pd, pd, pd and pd. (anyone up for some disambiguation?)
_ _ __ ___ _____ ________ _____________ _____________________ ... | Mathieu Bouchard - tél:+1.514.383.3801 - http://artengine.ca/matju | Freelance Digital Arts Engineer, Montréal QC Canada