Java - arrays over a network?

Ciba · 10 Jan 2007 at 17:03

I'm currently making a java chess game which as a requirement is to be played over a network.

Part of my design is to have a multidimensional array (8x8) which holds the information regarding the board data. Is it possible to send a complete array over a network in order to update the opponents array with the last move to have taken place.

I know strings can be sent over a network but can a whole array, if so how?

toString · 10 Jan 2007 at 17:42

Wouldn't it make more sense just to tell the other use of the piece that has moved. Rather than the entire board configuration again.

JIMA · 10 Jan 2007 at 18:36

Another way of doing it would be to hold a single copy of the board that each user can obtain a copy of, and can send moves to. The board could be represented by something simple like an XML document holding positions of pieces.

An example set up would be to hold the XML document on a server and use servlets to obtain copies of the document (board piece positions) and submit moves.

The advantage of each user seeing the same board (via the servlets etc) is that you avoid any synchronizing problems between multiple boards.

Hope that helps.

Jim

kiwi · 10 Jan 2007 at 19:17

edit: repeated what everyone said: just send the moved piece.

Gavstar · 10 Jan 2007 at 21:12

It doesn't seem very efficient, but it is possible to send objects over a network. As far as I remember the easiest way to do this is via RMI.

Visage · 11 Jan 2007 at 10:53

Ciba said:
I'm currently making a java chess game which as a requirement is to be played over a network.

Part of my design is to have a multidimensional array (8x8) which holds the information regarding the board data. Is it possible to send a complete array over a network in order to update the opponents array with the last move to have taken place.

I know strings can be sent over a network but can a whole array, if so how?

Wouldnt it be easier to implement a protocol where if necessary the whoe board can be sent, but mostly you just send sinlge moves to increment board status?

Visage · 11 Jan 2007 at 10:54

Gavstar said:
It doesn't seem very efficient, but it is possible to send objects over a network. As far as I remember the easiest way to do this is via RMI.

Or implement the Serializable interface.

NathanE · 11 Jan 2007 at 11:45

Ciba said:
I'm currently making a java chess game which as a requirement is to be played over a network.

Part of my design is to have a multidimensional array (8x8) which holds the information regarding the board data. Is it possible to send a complete array over a network in order to update the opponents array with the last move to have taken place.

I know strings can be sent over a network but can a whole array, if so how?

Put the array into another class, maybe called something like "BoardLayout" and have it also implement the Serializable interface. You can then use a TCP socket with object streaming to send/receive that object across the network. Java's object streaming handles all the fragmentation and reassembly of the object so you don't need to get into the nitty gritty of TCP programming.

While sending the actual "moves" instead of the board layout each time is more efficient, to be honest the size of the array is going to be tiny anyway. There won't be much in it. Consider that each move will take a few seconds and it isn't even going to register on a bandwidth monitor.