Program To Call Random Methods

[nyamtoko]

I need to write a program to create 5 bicycle objects and call random methods for any of the objects created picked at random. At the end of the execution, the program should tell which of the bicycles has won.

Any ideas??

[CJSLMAN]

• create the 5 bicycle objects
• create the 5 methods
• instantiate the 5 methods and put them in an array
• randomly (using the Random class) pick a number (0-4) and use the selected number as an index to pull a method instance from the array

Luck,
CJSL

[nyamtoko]

I can create the 5 objects and also define the various methods (not necessarily 5). what I don't know how to do is if I can instance methods outside their class definitions and put them in an array. May you elaborate further please.

My post still says

Program To Call Random Methods
I need to write a program to create 5 bicycle objects and call random methods for any of the objects created, picked at random. At the end of the execution, the program should tell which of the bicycles has won.

Any ideas??

[CJSLMAN]

I'm not sure if we're on the same page here.

• You asked for ideas and I give you some ideas. Apparently you didn't need/like/understand them. You're welcome.
• As for the new question:

what I don't know how to do is if I can instance methods outside their class definitions and put them in an array

Answer: Yes you can.

myClassArray[i] = new SomeClass();

CJSL

[neilcoffey]

If I understand right, your problem is how to call a "random method". If you only have a couple of methods, then the simplest way is to just use a swich statement with hard-coded method names:

Random r = previously-created instance of Random
Bicycle b = pickRandomBicycle();
switch (r.nextInt(5)) {
  case 0 :
    b.punctureTyre();
    break;
  case 1 :
    b.testBrakes();
    break;
  ...
}

A more complex approach would be to use the reflection API and have an array of Method objects corresponding to the methods you want to call randomly, then choose a random index into this array. This is not usually good program design unless you really need it for some reason (e.g. you need to create the list of methods dynamically, based on their name or something).

[nyamtoko]

Thanks guys. Let me work on your ideas and see what I come up with.