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New to Java. Need some proformance suggestions

 
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I am new to java. I am teaching myself the language. I have this bouncing ball program. When the start button is pressed the ball drops and bounces around the panel. Each time you press start a new ball is created. The problem is each new ball slows down the program. Is there a way to correct this?

Sorry if this isn't the correct place for this topic.




[ December 22, 2008: Message edited by: Lamr Jared ]
 
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Welcome to JavaRanch

How are you scheduling re-drawing the Balls? You are using Thread.sleep(). I think Thread.sleep(1) is a bit short; it can take more than 1 millisecond to repaint the entire GUI. Try giving a longer delay, maybe 20.

There have been problems on Windows with timings which don't divide exactly by 10. I can't remember the details, but it can cause the system clock to show incorrect times.

That sort of question is more difficult than the average beginner's question; it might be appropriate for the Swing forum or the Performance forum, but I think you might get more attention in Swing . . . moving.
 
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So I think you have several problems with this, but the biggest is that you have every ball have its own thread.The more balls you have (quiet down kiddies ) the more threads, and the more work it is to schedule between the threads.

The better bet would be to have just a few background threads, 1 to schedule the moving and another 1 to schedule repainting. Both should be scheduled at a fixed rate, rather than using Thread.sleep, which would be a fixed delay. Take a look at Timer and TimerTask, or ScheduledExecutorService to do this.

The Ball itself would be a normal object which keeps track of its position and can handle painting itself.
 
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> So I think you have several problems with this,...

there are major problems with the whole lot:
- indiscremenent use of the swing thread
- getGraphics() (which is a wrist-slasher)

the only hope is ctrl-a-delete and start again.

to start again, start here:

http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/uiswing/painting/index.html
 
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Lamr, please Use A Meaningful Subject Line. "Java Help" doesn't quite describe the problem accurately; about 99% of all threads are about Java help.

You can use the edit button to change it.
 
Lamar Jared
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I appreciate all the help. I am only 6 months in working with Java. I don't know all the strengths yet. Thanks again everyone.
[ December 22, 2008: Message edited by: Lamar Jared ]
 
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