Swift Bug or Coding Error? For Loops in Structs - ios

So I am trying to make an iOS app that checks prime numbers in an input field as practice. I refactored my code to have a struct specifically for calculation functions like isPrime. For some reason my for loops is not working correctly when its in the struct. It works if I refactored it back into the controller.
func isPrime(number:Int) -> Bool{
let start = 2
for var i = number-1; i > 1; i-- {
if (number % i == 0){
return true
}
}
return false
}
The debugger thingy gives back these inputs:
Types 12 into text field
number = 12
i = 14070095816392014214
Why is my variable i in the for loops so damn large? I also tested putting a stray variable inside the function and it does the same thing (ex; start_int = 14214124123232423)?

Did you try printing the value of your number variable inside the function?
Your logic seems to be reversed. if a number x is divisible by another number less than x, then x is not prime. You have returned true if x is divisible. it should be false.

Related

Using ternary operator just for the side effect - Good or Bad?

Suppose we are using AVKit and we have added a target to our play/pause button to handle the playing/pausing of a track. Is it generally bad practice to use a ternary operator just for its side effect, such as below?
// (AVPlayer definition omitted)
#objc fileprivate func handlePlayPause() {
(player.timeControlStatus == .playing) ? player.pause() : player.play()
}
The main reason I am asking this is because of the fact that side effects modify the state of a program and I believe I might have heard that you should handle side effects carefully sometime during one of my first-year courses.
Personally, I use them when I want to set a value to a variable, depending on a condition.
For example, let’s say that if x == 42, I want the variable y to be true. If x is not equal to 42 , then the value of the variable y is false.
So, how do I write that? Just like this…
let y = (x == 42) ? true : false
For if-else, I would argue and be against it.
Why? Take a look at this code:
var y = false
if (x == 42) {
y = true
}
So we can have something like this, assuming you want it to be in one line:
var y = false if (x == 42) { y = true }
Which is ugly and unnecessary, because we can write it like this:
let y = (x == 42) ? true : false
So much cleaner! We reduced seven (4) lines of code to just one (1) line.
Ternary operators are awesome, but they’re not always needed. Suppose you just want to execute a function, or do multiple operations. don’t use ternaries.
Use ternary operators to set a value to a variable, or to reduce code if necessary.
Use if-else statements for everything else.
For this kind of logic, based off an enum, I would choose switch, or an if/else and not ternary, since in future, I might need to put more code in there.
For example
if player.timeControlStatus == .playing) {
player.pause()
// set a button
} else {
player.play()
// un set a button
}
Now you can do this, in ternary as well, but I'd fear it would render the code less readable.

In Swift, how do I set every element inside an array to nil?

var roomsLiveStates = [Firebase?]()
for ref in roomsLiveStates {
if ref != nil {
ref = nil
}
}
}
This doesn't seem to work.
You can just set each to nil:
for index in 0 ..< roomsLiveStates.count {
roomsLiveStates[index] = nil
}
As The Swift Programming Language says in its Control Flow discussion of for syntax:
This example prints the first few entries in the five-times-table:
for index in 1...5 {
println("\(index) times 5 is \(index * 5)")
}
... In the example above, index is a constant whose value is automatically set at the start of each iteration of the loop. As such, it does not have to be declared before it is used. It is implicitly declared simply by its inclusion in the loop declaration, without the need for a let declaration keyword.
As this says, the index is a constant. As such, you can not change its value.
You can also use a map:
roomsLiveStates = roomsLiveStates.map { _ in nil }
This is less code and a good habit to get into for other cases where you may want to create a processed copy of an array without mutating the original.
if you want to set each element in array to a numberic value(int, float, double ...), you can try vDSP framework.
Please check this:
https://developer.apple.com/documentation/accelerate/vdsp/vector_clear_and_fill_functions
You can also just reassign the whole array to one that only contains nil like:
roomsLiveStates = [Firebase?](count: roomsLiveStates.count, repeatedValue: nil)
Although now that I think about it, this doesn't seem so good, because (probably?) new memory gets allocated which is not fast at all
EDIT: I just checked and found that using .map is a lot slower in Debug builds. However on Release builds, .map is about 20% faster. So I suggest using the .map version (which also is quiet a bit prettier ;)):
array = array.map { _ in nil }
Iterating the array to map it, will result in poor performance (iteration + new allocation).
Allocating the array all over (init(repeating...) is better, but still allocates a new array, very costly.
The best way would be to zero out the data without allocating it again, and as every C programmer knows, that's why we have bzero and memset for.
It won't matter much for small arrays in a non repeating action, and as long as you remember it - using the smallest code possible could make sense, so sometimes using map or init makes sense.
Final note on the test - map and init use multiple allocations of the same size in this test, which makes allocation allot faster than in real world usage.
In general, memory allocation is not your friend, it is a time consuming process that may result in having to defragment the heap, calling kernel code to allocate new virtual memory, and also must use locks and/or memory barriers.
import Foundation
guard CommandLine.argc == 2, let size = Int(CommandLine.arguments[1]),size > 0 else {
fatalError("Usage: \(CommandLine.arguments[0]) {size}\nWhere size > 0")
}
var vector = [Int].init(repeating: 2, count: size)
let ITERATIONS = 1000
var start:Date
var end:Date
start = Date()
for _ in 0..<ITERATIONS {
vector = vector.map({ _ in return 0 })
}
end = Date()
print("Map test: \(end.timeIntervalSince(start)) seconds")
start = Date()
for _ in 0..<ITERATIONS {
vector = [Int].init(repeating: 0, count: size)
}
end = Date()
print("init(repeating:,count:) test: \(end.timeIntervalSince(start)) seconds")
start = Date()
for _ in 0..<ITERATIONS {
let size = MemoryLayout.size(ofValue: vector[0]) * vector.count // could optimize by moving out the loop, but that would miss the purpose
vector.withUnsafeMutableBytes { ptr in
let ptr = ptr.baseAddress
bzero(ptr, size)
}
}
end = Date()
print("bzero test: \(end.timeIntervalSince(start)) seconds")
Results when running with an array of 5,000,000 items size (M1 Mac), compiled with optimizations:
Map test: 5.986680030822754 seconds
init(repeating:,count:) test: 2.291425108909607 seconds
bzero test: 0.6462910175323486 seconds
Edit:
Just realized it's also to initialize the memory using the initializeMemory(...) method.
Something like:
_ = vector.withUnsafeMutableBytes { ptr in
ptr.initializeMemory(as: Int.self, repeating: 0)
}
The performance is virtually the same as with bzero, and it is pure swift and shorter.

How to implement functions count and dropLast in swift, IOS?

I am making calculator in Swift. Stuck in backspace button. If user press wrong digit then backspace button would help to delete digit off the display.
Though I wrote dropLast function and works. It return appropriate result. How to use count method, don't understand the return type of count method.
#IBOutlet weak var display: UILabel!
#IBAction func backspace() {
//how to use count method to check collection of elements
//dropLast drop the last digit and display result
let dropedDigit = dropLast(display.text!)
display.text = dropedDigit
}
How about something like this:
private func dropLast(text: String) -> String {
let endIndex = advance(text.endIndex, -1)
return text.substringToIndex(endIndex)
}
It calculates the index where you want to make the cut (endIndex of text - 1) and then returns the substring to this index. This function should drop the last character.
I am not using count method here, but for you reference Swift 1.2 introduces count(<#x: T#>) method that calculates length of sets including Strings.
I know this thread is outdated, but I just went through the process of making this work, myself, in Swift 2.2, and figured I could help answer it.
#IBAction func delButton(sender: AnyObject) {
if display.text != nil {
var tempString = Array(display.text!.characters)
tempString.removeLast(1)
display.text = ""
for num in 0..<tempString.count {
display.text = display.text! + String(tempString[num])
}
}
}
Basically, we're checking to see that the display label has stuff in it, so we don't throw an error, and if so, making a variable in the scope of the function to hold the label's characters individually in a string. After that, we remove the last character from the array, clear out the label to ensure we aren't adding what's already there to our new values, then iterating through the updated array of characters and adding it to the label.
It's important to note that we are casting the values contained in the array as String, because they've been put into the array as character values, which operate differently than the string value the label is expecting.
Like I said, I know the thread is a little out of date, but I've been going through courses in Swift, and have discovered that while there is a plethora of information out there for Objective-C, there is perilously little information out there for how to do a lot of those things in Swift. Since the language is being updated repeatedly, I've noticed a growing divide between the two languages.

Swift: Random number arrays inside images and variables with a for loop

I am creating a game in which, depending on the number of 'swipes' chosen to do, (let's say 3), 3 different patterns show on the screen, one by one. I am working on developing the first pattern.
So I have this:
if (swipes.no_of_swipes) == 3 {
swipeArray = Array<UInt32>(count: 3, repeatedValue: 0)
for i in 0 ..< 3 {
swipeArray[i] = arc4random_uniform(84)}
}
As far as I am aware, this code creates an array with three UInts which can be accessed by doing swipeArray[0], swipeArray[1], and swipeArray[2]. My first question is how long will this swipeArray stay the same? Until the close the view? Should I have a 'refresh button' when the user loses - and if so, how would I make one?
Then I have a property observer. You will notice the for loop, which I am using to keep code concise. I understand that I could do something like x++ somewhere in here so that it will go through each one.
var playBegin: Bool = false{
didSet {
if playBegin == true {
println("\(playBegin)")
var swipes = Menu()
if (swipes.no_of_swipes) == 3 {
for i in 0 ..< 3 {
patternRoom.image = UIImage(named: "pattern\(swipeArray[x])")
//rest of code
}
}
}
The pattern image comes from a set of 84 images named like pattern7 and pattern56. My second question is, how could I code the for loop to go through each swipeArray[x].
Thank you in advance,
Will
how long will this swipeArray stay the same?
This is a bit too open ended. It’ll stay the same until you assign a new value to it, either from this same bit of code or a different part. Only you can know when that will be, by looking at your code.
Since you express an interest in keeping the code concise, here’s a couple of code tips.
You might think about writing your first snippet’s loop like this:
swipeArray = (0..<swipes.no_of_swipes).map { _ in
arc4random_uniform(84)
}
This combines creating a new array and populating the values. By the way, just in case you don’t realize, there’s no guarantee this array won’t contain the same value twice.
It’s also probably better to make swipeArray of type [Int] rather than [UInt32], and to convert the result of arc4random to an Int straight away:
Int(arc4random_uniform(84))
Otherwise the UInt32s will probably be a pain to work with.
For your second for loop, you can do this:
for i in swipeArray {
patternRoom.image = UIImage(named: "pattern\(i)")
// rest of code
}
When writing Swift, usually (but not always), when you find yourself using array[x] there’s a better more expressive way of doing it.

Swift playground execution speed

Is there a way to increase execution speed of a playground?
I want to iterate many cycles and not to wait 10 minutes.
For example:
import UIKit
var count = 0
for var i = 0; i < 1000000000; i++ {
count++
}
This code will execute a way too long. But I want to get quick result.
One of the biggest performance killer is the output at the right side of the playground. Now I will show you how to minimize this output.
See at the end for your example code.
Best Performance
The most performant way is to make all the performance critical code in a .swift file inside the Sources folder in the playground.
Note: In order to use the functions, classes, properties and methods from the Sources folder you have to mark them public. If you want to subclass a class it has to be marked open.
Good Performance but ugly code
The following method (I think this is not official/intended) can be used to disable the playground output but also leads to ugly code. However it is good for temporary disabling the output.
There are two main ways (and two tricks) to achieve the minimum amount of output (If you find a better way let us know):
Use parenthesis around Void (or Void?) expressions like assignments (normally leads to no output, see also 3.).
var x = 0 // output: 0
(x = 1) // NO output
(x = 2 * x - 1) // NO output
(x.negate()) // NO output
Note: In Swift an assignment returns Void and in case of optional chaining it is Void?.
var x: (Int, Int)? = nil
if (x?.0 = 0) != nil {
// assignment was successful (x!=0 and now x=(0, x.1))
} else {
// assignment was not successful (x==nil)
}
Initialize and declare variables separately.
var x: Int // NO output
(x = 0) // NO output
If 1. does not work add an additional no-op (no operation) line above or below ().
This happens in single line closures (and probably in some other contexts) for example: (see also the code below)
[1, 4, 5, 6].mmap{
() // without this line the line below would yield to an output
($1 = $0 + 1)
} as [Int]
Instead of wrapping every line in parenthesis you can also use a tuple of all the expressions which is then assigned to a variable:
var a: Any // this may be a useful definition in this context
var x: Int
var y: Int
(a = (x = 0,
y = 1,
x = y + 1,
y = x*x))
However this could lead to a indentation disaster...
Where it does not work (I've found no way how to remove the output; This list is probably not complete):
returns in functions and closures
Declaration of Optional variables e.g.: var x: Int?
An example of a new map method on Sequence
Usage: See above at Point 3.
The signature of Sequence.map is
func map<T>(_ transform: (Self.Element) throws -> T) rethrows -> [T]
Since I have not found a way how to remove the output of returns one can use a closure with an inout argument (get the "return" value with an assignment). A possible signature could then be:
func mmap<U>(_ transform: (Element, inout U?) -> ()) -> [U]
so we can pass nil in the inout argument since it is a good default for every possible U without imposing a constraint on U which could require an instance generator (e.g.: init() { ... }).
Unfortunately Swfit has a hard time to infer U so you would need to help the compiler with explicit type annotations. In addition var newElement: U? does return nil in the sidebar.
Now I will use Any instead of U?:
extension Sequence {
// ATTENTION: this is not as performant as the normal `map`!
func mmap<U>(transform: (Element, inout Any) -> ()) -> [U] {
var result: [U]
(result = [U]())
for element in self {
var newElement: Any
(newElement = 0) // some placeholder element
(transform(element, &newElement))
// assume the inout element to be of type `U`
(result.append(newElement as! U))
}
return result // the ONLY output in this method
}
}
Your example code
Using Swift 4
var count = 0
for i in 0..<1_000_000_000 {
(count += 1)
if count % 100_000 == 0 {
// print only every 100_000th loop iteration
print(count)
}
}
Without the parenthesis: about 10.000 loop iterations per second
With parenthesis: about 10.000.000 loop iterations per second !!!
I feel your pain, I was playing around with printing 2D functions to [Double] then converting to UIImageView. One of the steps was iterating over millions of pixels, and it took forever.
Anything computationally intensive, or repetitive, or potentially time consuming should be put in the "Sources" folder of the playground. That way the code is precompiled before your playground is run. Put the output of that for loop in a public function that you can call from the playground. Then you won't have to sit there watching the playground count all the times it went through the for loop.
I had a such problem and I have solved it after days of trials. All I needed to do is move all my code in folder Sources of playground. So, after that the execution speed was enhanced.
I hope it helps you.
Note: don't forget to use open classes.
To speed up the build in Xcode Playground and prevent the loading icon to keep spinning forever:
go to the sidebar on the right, and change iOS to macOS in Playground Settings
instead of importing UIKit, import Foundation
(this would work if you're not trying to use specific stuff from the UIKit framework)

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