Efficiently Handling Multiple Custom Event Types
What's the best way to handle multiple custom event types without cluttering my main event loop?
Handling multiple custom event types efficiently is crucial for maintaining clean and manageable code. Here are some strategies to keep your main event loop tidy:
1. Use a Switch Statement
For a small number of event types, a switch statement can be clean and efficient:
#include "UserEvents.h"
#include <SDL.h>
void HandleCustomEvent(const SDL_Event& event) {
switch (event.type) {
case UserEvents::PLAYER_MOVE:
HandlePlayerMove(event.user);
break;
case UserEvents::ENEMY_SPAWN:
HandleEnemySpawn(event.user);
break;
case UserEvents::COLLECT_ITEM:
HandleItemCollection(event.user);
break;
// Add more cases as needed
}
}
int main() {
SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_EVERYTHING);
SDL_Event event;
bool quit{false};
while (!quit) {
while (SDL_PollEvent(&event)) {
if (event.type == SDL_QUIT) {
quit = true;
} else if (event.type >= SDL_USEREVENT) {
HandleCustomEvent(event);
} else {
// Handle other SDL events
}
}
// Game loop logic
}
SDL_Quit();
return 0;
}2. Use an Event Handler Map
For a larger number of event types, consider using a std::unordered_map to map event types to handler functions:
#include "UserEvents.h"
#include <SDL.h>
#include <functional>
#include <unordered_map>
using EventHandler =
std::function<void(const SDL_UserEvent&)>;
class EventManager {
private:
std::unordered_map<Uint32, EventHandler>
handlers;
public:
void RegisterHandler(Uint32 eventType,
EventHandler handler) {
handlers[eventType] = std::move(handler);
}
void HandleEvent(const SDL_Event& event) {
if (event.type >= SDL_USEREVENT) {
auto it = handlers.find(event.type);
if (it != handlers.end()) {
it->second(event.user);
}
}
}
};
int main() {
SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_EVERYTHING);
SDL_Event event;
bool quit{false};
EventManager eventManager;
eventManager.RegisterHandler(
UserEvents::PLAYER_MOVE,
[](const SDL_UserEvent& e) {
/* Handle player move */
});
eventManager.RegisterHandler(
UserEvents::ENEMY_SPAWN,
[](const SDL_UserEvent& e) {
/* Handle enemy spawn */
});
// Register more handlers as needed
while (!quit) {
while (SDL_PollEvent(&event)) {
if (event.type == SDL_QUIT) {
quit = true;
} else {
eventManager.HandleEvent(event);
}
}
// Game loop logic
}
SDL_Quit();
return 0;
}This approach allows you to keep your main loop clean and makes it easy to add or remove event handlers as your game evolves.
3. Use a Component-Based System
For more complex games, consider a component-based system where game objects handle their own events:
#include "UserEvents.h"
#include <SDL.h>
#include <vector>
class GameObject {
public:
virtual void HandleEvent(
const SDL_Event& event) = 0;
virtual void Update() = 0;
virtual ~GameObject() = default;
};
class Player : public GameObject {
public:
void
HandleEvent(const SDL_Event& event) override {
if (event.type == UserEvents::PLAYER_MOVE) {
// Handle player move
}
}
void Update() override {
/* Update player state */
}
};
class Enemy : public GameObject {
public:
void
HandleEvent(const SDL_Event& event) override {
if (event.type == UserEvents::ENEMY_SPAWN) {
// Handle enemy spawn
}
}
void Update() override {
/* Update enemy state */
}
};
int main() {
SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_EVERYTHING);
SDL_Event event;
bool quit{false};
std::vector<std::unique_ptr<GameObject>>
gameObjects;
gameObjects.push_back(
std::make_unique<Player>());
gameObjects.push_back(
std::make_unique<Enemy>());
while (!quit) {
while (SDL_PollEvent(&event)) {
if (event.type == SDL_QUIT) {
quit = true;
} else {
for (auto& obj : gameObjects) {
obj->HandleEvent(event);
}
}
}
for (auto& obj : gameObjects) {
obj->Update();
}
// Render game objects
}
SDL_Quit();
return 0;
}This approach distributes event handling responsibilities among game objects, keeping your main loop clean and making your code more modular and easier to maintain as your game grows in complexity.
Creating Custom Events
Learn how to create and manage your own game-specific events using SDL's event system.