Tharsis . Design . StackObjects

Stack objects are such things that can be split into parts, but that not normally have one object for each unit. Much like stacks of coins work at the moment. They have to be able to be splitted when you move only a part of them.

It can include: liquids, sand, hay, grain, and other generic items like pebbles. (what about other generic large objects, like a barrel with fish?)

I say the barrel is a container which only accepts fish, alternatively it is just a normal barrel into which you can put anything, so it could be a barrel of fish that contains a rubber ball -- FantoM - 09 May 2003
- Was not thinking 'barrel' of fish, but barrel 'with fish', or sack 'with fish', the fishes being the stack object, the barrel is just a container they happen to reside in right now -- PumaN

If picked up normally, you only get a small portion, as hands can not carry them effectively.

You need methods to move them around (*must be movable):

From container to container - fill container from container*, empty container* into container, pour container* into container
From container to ground - empty container*, pour out container*
From 'tap' to container - fill container* from 'tap'
- Surely the tap is just a container of a stack which does not allow insertion and has an infinite capacity? -- FantoM - 09 May 2003
  - Not necessarily, a barrel can have a tap, and still be fillable, and thus not infinite, advantage being that you can fill things from the barrel without having the strength to lift the barrel to pour it out -- PumaN
From ground to container (or when container is not moveable) - need a tool which can effectively move it around (a shovel for sand)

Technical detail:

To deal with being able to split itself, a stack object needs to be a container. When you need to move a part of the stack object, you clone a new stack object to the container, and move that one, thus you must know in advance, before you move, how much you can move. This is decided either by the method or the target container. By calling the container with data on how much that wants to be moved, it can clone an appropriate object. If the move fails, the new object will be reinserted.

Alternative: make a stack a container, and base its properties on the stack objects inside it, so that you can stack grain and water together in the same stack, and get porridge...! Problem is to make the container catch all its properties from the objects inside it.
I Prefer the other option. -- FantoM - 09 May 2003

Methods:

stack->can_move_how_much(dest), returns a new clone that fits into dest, checks size and weight
stack->combine stacks(stack2),

The cloning of the new object can possibly be accomplished by saving the object, then loading that savefile on a new clone, and changing the appropriate data, mainly weight, as that will be the decisive factor of the size of the stack. In this way you will not need any special transfer methods of data.

Important data:

weight - decides the weight of the stack
weight_per_unit - decides the smallest possible amount to divide by
density - decides the size of the stack, based on weight
size_per_unit - weight_per_unit * density - decides the size of units, and thus the rate at which it will trickle through holes in the container it is in
(combination_density) - decided how much of it is that will be air when packed, other smaller stackables can thus be combined with this one, optionable
stack_type - decided what material it is, and thus which other stacks it will be combinable with
stack_names - what the stack will be called based on its size - pile, heap, etc...
tool_type - the kind of tool which is needed for this to be moved around

-- PumaN - 29 Apr 2003

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