Category Archives: misc

Haskell Inspired zipWith() Function

By Zevan | March 12, 2010
CLICK HERE TO COPY
Actionscript:
  1. initOperators();
  2.  
  3. trace(zipWith("-", [1,2,3], [1,2,3]));
  4. trace(zipWith("+", [1,2,3], [1,2,3]));
  5. trace(zipWith("*", [1,2,3], [1,2,3]));
  6. trace(zipWith("+", [1,1,1,3], [4,5,6,7]));
  7. trace(zipWith("<<", [2, 4], [1,1]));
  8. /*
  9. outputs:
  10.  
  11. 0,0,0
  12. 2,4,6
  13. 1,4,9
  14. 5,6,7,10
  15. 4,8
  16. */
  17.  
  18. function zipWith(op:String, a:Array, b:Array):Array{
  19.     var aLeng:int = a.length;
  20.     var bLeng:int = b.length;
  21.     var leng:Number = (aLeng <bLeng) ? aLeng : bLeng;
  22.     var zipped:Array = [];
  23.    
  24.     if (!this[op])return [];
  25.    
  26.     for (var i:int = 0; i<leng; i++){
  27.         zipped[i]=this[op](a[i], b[i]);
  28.     }
  29.     return zipped;
  30. }
  31.  
  32. function initOperators():void{
  33.     this["+"]=function(a:Number, b:Number):Number{ return a + b };
  34.     this["-"]=function(a:Number, b:Number):Number{ return a - b };
  35.     this["/"]=function(a:Number, b:Number):Number{ return a / b };
  36.     this["*"]=function(a:Number, b:Number):Number{ return a * b };
  37.     this["%"]=function(a:Number, b:Number):Number{ return a % b };
  38.    
  39.     this["&"]=function(a:Number, b:Number):Number{ return a & b };
  40.     this["<<"]=function(a:Number, b:Number):Number{ return a <<b };
  41.     this["|"]=function(a:Number, b:Number):Number{ return a | b };
  42.     this[">>"]=function(a:Number, b:Number):Number{ return a>> b };
  43.     this[">>>"]=function(a:Number, b:Number):Number{ return a>>> b };
  44.     this["^"]=function(a:Number, b:Number):Number{ return a ^ b };
  45. }

This snippet is basically like the haskell zipWith() function. It can combines two arrays into one array given a single function. In this case I defined a bunch of operator functions, but it would work with any kind of function that takes two arguments and returns a value. You could extend this to work with strings and do other strange things I guess.

If you have yet to go play with haskell ... go do it now.

Also posted in Number, Operators, arrays, binary, functions, return values | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Polar Coordinates Distribution

By Zevan | March 3, 2010

If you're at all interested in watching me free from code. I recorded a video of me coding this snippet (which is about 11 minutes long or so).

In the video I create a few functions that allow you to draw shapes like these:

Mathematically this stuff is really simple ... the free form nature of the video takes a less technical perspective as you'll see (I even made a few funny mistakes).



CLICK HERE TO COPY
Actionscript:
  1. [SWF(width = 600, height = 600)]
  2. var dotNum:int = 1000;
  3. var dotRad:Number = 0.5;
  4.  
  5. x = 120
  6. y = 100;
  7.  
  8. // extra stuff to display what the functions can do
  9. stage.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, onDrawAll);
  10.  
  11. function onDrawAll(evt:Event):void{
  12.     graphics.clear();
  13.     for (var i:int = 0; i<16; i++){
  14.         var m:Number;
  15.    
  16.         var rad:Number = 120;
  17.         var xp:Number = i % 4 * rad
  18.         var yp:Number = int(i / 4) * rad
  19.    
  20.         var type:int = int(Math.random() * 4);
  21.         if (type == 0){
  22.           makeShape(xp, yp, rad-60, Math.random() , 1);
  23.         }else if (type == 1){
  24.            makeShape(xp, yp, rad-60, 1,  Math.random());
  25.         }
  26.         else if (type == 2){
  27.            m = Math.random() * 2;
  28.            makeShape(xp, yp, rad-Math.random()*120, m, m);
  29.         }
  30.         else if (type == 3){
  31.            m = Math.random() * 2;
  32.            makeShape(xp, yp, rad-Math.random()*120, m, m/2);
  33.         }
  34.     }
  35. }
  36.  
  37. // main part from the video
  38. function makeShape(xp:Number, yp:Number,
  39.                    maxRad:Number = 100,m0:Number=1,
  40.                    m1:Number=1):void{
  41.     var polarX:Number;
  42.     var polarY:Number;
  43.     var radius:Number;
  44.     graphics.lineStyle(0, 0);
  45.     var theta:Number = Math.random() * Math.PI * 2;
  46.     for (var i:int = 0; i<dotNum; i++){
  47.         radius = Math.random() * maxRad
  48.         polarX = xp + radius * Math.cos(theta * m0);
  49.         polarY = yp + radius * Math.sin(theta * m1);
  50.         theta += 0.1;
  51.          
  52.         makeDot(polarX, polarY);
  53.        
  54.     }
  55. }
  56.  
  57. function makeDot(xp:Number, yp:Number, fillColor:uint = 0x000000):void{
  58.     graphics.beginFill(fillColor);
  59.     graphics.drawCircle(xp, yp, dotRad);
  60.     graphics.endFill();
  61. }

Here it is over at wonderf:

Also posted in Graphics, Math, functions | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Collecting Colors

By Zevan | February 23, 2010

Some of you may have seen these preliminary test images images on my flickr:


If your up for it .... i am working on collecting colors and words for use with this project ... so watch the video (below) and go to the link (below) you will be able to make a contribution.

LEARN ABOUT THE TOOLS
video, (may not all make sense but the tool is shown which is the important part)

POPULATE THE DB
population tool add some colors

I have a smart filter that checks for people doing weird things like curses etc... so don't bother trying to do that.

Additional info here, scroll down to see our presentation about the project

Posted in misc | Tagged | 2 Comments

Too Many Buttons

By Zevan | January 4, 2010
CLICK HERE TO COPY
Actionscript:
  1. [SWF (width = 500, height = 500)]
  2.  
  3. var canvas:BitmapData = new BitmapData(stage.stageWidth, stage.stageHeight, false, 0xFFFFFF);
  4. addChild(new Bitmap(canvas));
  5.  
  6. var indexCanvas:BitmapData = new BitmapData(stage.stageWidth, stage.stageHeight, false, 0xFFFFFF);
  7.  
  8. var btnNum:int = 5000;
  9. var info:Array = [];
  10.  
  11. var brush:BitmapData = new BitmapData(10,10,false, 0xCCCCCC);
  12. var border:Shape = new Shape();
  13. border.graphics.lineStyle(2, 0x000000);
  14. border.graphics.drawRect(0,0,10,10);
  15. brush.draw(border);
  16.  
  17. var txt:TextField = TextField(addChild(new TextField()));
  18. with (txt) height = 20, width = 50, background = 0xFFFFFF, selectable = false
  19. var tf:TextFormat = new TextFormat();
  20. tf.align = TextFormatAlign.RIGHT;
  21. txt.border= true;
  22. txt.defaultTextFormat = tf;
  23.  
  24. var redRect:Shape = Shape(addChild(new Shape()));
  25. with (redRect.graphics) beginFill(0xFF0000), drawRect(0,0,10,10);
  26.                                              
  27. var pnt:Point = new Point();
  28. var r:Rectangle = new Rectangle(0,0,10,10);
  29. for (var i:int = 0; i <btnNum; i++){
  30.     pnt.x = r.x = int(Math.random() * stage.stageWidth);
  31.     pnt.y = r.y = int(Math.random() * stage.stageHeight);
  32.     indexCanvas.fillRect(r, i);
  33.     canvas.copyPixels(brush, brush.rect, pnt)
  34.     info[i] = [r.x, r.y, i];   
  35. }
  36.  
  37. addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, onCheckBtns);
  38. function onCheckBtns(evt:Event):void{
  39.    var currentIndex:int = indexCanvas.getPixel(mouseX, mouseY);
  40.    if (currentIndex != 0xFFFFFF){
  41.      var currentBox:Array = info[currentIndex]
  42.      redRect.visible = true;
  43.      redRect.x = currentBox[0];
  44.      txt.y = redRect.y = currentBox[1];
  45.      if (mouseX <txt.width){
  46.          tf.align = TextFormatAlign.LEFT;
  47.          txt.defaultTextFormat = tf;
  48.          txt.x = redRect.x + 10;
  49.      }else{
  50.          tf.align = TextFormatAlign.RIGHT;
  51.          txt.defaultTextFormat = tf;
  52.          txt.x = redRect.x - txt.width;
  53.      }
  54.      txt.text = currentBox[2];
  55.      txt.visible = true;
  56.    }else{
  57.      redRect.visible = false;
  58.      txt.visible = false;
  59.    }
  60. }

This is a simplified example of the technique discussed in yesterdays post. The idea is to use a BitmapData image to store index values for a large number of elements that need to be able to act as if the have MouseEvents. For a more detailed description of this technique see yesterdays post.

Have a look at the swf on wonderfl

Also posted in BitmapData, arrays | Tagged , , | Leave a comment