Double buffering graphics problem

[Guy]

Hey, I'm new to using java's graphics and am just trying to make a simple frame that displays a green rectangle on a black background that you can move around with the wasd keys.

I have been using the double buffering tutorial here: Java:Tutorials:Double Buffering - GPWiki

Here is my code:

import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.image.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.geom.*;

public class graphics extends JFrame {

	
	public graphics() {
		super.setTitle("");
		this.setSize(600, 400);
		this.setUndecorated(true);
		this.setVisible(true);
		this.createBufferStrategy(2);
		gameLoop();
	}

	public void drawStuff() {
		BufferStrategy b = this.getBufferStrategy();
		Graphics g = null;
		
		try {
			g = b.getDrawGraphics();
			
			g2d.draw(g); // Error here: g2d cannot be resolved
		}
		finally {
			g.dispose();
		}
		b.show();
		Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().sync();
	}

	public void drawGraphics(Graphics g) {

		Graphics2D g2d = (Graphics2D)g;
		
		g2d.setBackground(Color.black);
		g2d.setColor(Color.blue);
		Rectangle2D.Float bG = new Rectangle2D.Float(0F, 0F, (float)getSize().width, (float)getSize().height);
		g2d.fill(bG);
	}
	
	public void gameLoop() {
		while (true) {
			drawStuff();
		}
	}
	
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		graphics g = new graphics();

	}
}

My error is at the line: g2d.draw(g);
I understand why I'm getting the 'cannot be resolved error' but I'm not sure how to declare my graphics outside that method. Also not sure if graphics2D is the right thing to be using?

[Junky]

Either declare g2d as an instance variable or pass it as a parameter.

[Norm]

What about defining it like you do here:

Graphics2D g2d = (Graphics2D)g;

[Guy]

Thanks for the replies! How can I make Graphics g an instance variable? I tried Graphics g = new Graphics(); but that didn't work and I can't call my method without having that as an instance variable. The rest seems to be working though.

[Guy]

Ok never mind I managed to get that working. But I am now getting a different error. Here is my code now:

import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.image.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.geom.*;

public class graphics extends JFrame {


	public graphics() {
		super.setTitle("");
		this.setSize(600, 400);
		this.setUndecorated(true);
		this.setVisible(true);
		this.createBufferStrategy(2);
		gameLoop();
	}

	public void drawStuff(Graphics2D g2d) {
		BufferStrategy b = this.getBufferStrategy();
		Graphics g = null;
		
		try {
			g = b.getDrawGraphics();
			
			g2d.draw((Shape) g); // This line is giving errors
		
		}
		finally {
			g.dispose();
		}
		b.show();
		Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().sync();
	}

	public void paint(Graphics g) {

		Graphics2D g2d = (Graphics2D)g;
		
		g2d.setBackground(Color.black);
		g2d.setColor(Color.blue);
		Rectangle2D.Float bG = new Rectangle2D.Float(0F, 0F, (float)getSize().width, (float)getSize().height);
		g2d.fill(bG);
		drawStuff(g2d);
	}
	
	public void gameLoop() {
		while (true) {
			repaint();
		}
	}
	
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		graphics g = new graphics();

	}
}

This code compiles but when I run it it says "Exception in thread "AWT-EventQueue-0" java.lang.ClassCastException: sun.java2d.SunGraphics2D cannot be cast to java.awt.Shape"
I'm not sure how to get it to work if I don't cast it to shape?

[Norm]

How can I make Graphics g an instance variable

Are you referring to a Graphics object for a BufferedImage? It has a method the will return a Graphics object for drawing on the BufferedImage.

[Norm]

Exception in thread "AWT-EventQueue-0" java.lang.ClassCastException: sun.java2d.SunGraphics2D cannot be cast to java.awt.Shape"

What line of code causes the error?

[Norm]

g2d.draw((Shape) g)

What do you expect to be drawn for a Graphics object? It is not a Shape!

Where is the Shape object you want to draw?

[Guy]

What do you expect to be drawn for a Graphics object? It is not a Shape!

Sorry, that was just one of elcipse's suggested fixes and I don't fully understand (obviously) what I'm doing.
What I had originally was just g2d.draw(g); but that says "The method draw(Shape) in the type Graphics2D is not applicable for the arguments (Graphics)"
If I leave that line out completely it runs the 'gameLoop' once and then gives me a null pointer exception at "g.dispose()" and "drawStuff(g2d);"

[Norm]

a null pointer exception at g = b.getDrawGraphics();

Does b have a valid value or is it null?

Can you explain what the code is supposed to do?
And also explain what the steps you are taking in the code to do it?

[Guy]

Sorry I made a mistake, the null pointer exceptions are at "g.dispose()" and "drawStuff(g2d);"

I'm just trying to make a very simple code where a blue rectangle is moved around with the wasd keys. In the code at the moment I am just trying to set up the graphics so that there is a loop the repaints the screen (using double buffering). I my code I have made a JFrame which is my game window and then in the constructor i'm calling gameLoop() which is basically a loop that will repeat until the game is over. In it, repaint() is called. Here is the paint() method:

public void paint(Graphics g) {
		Graphics2D g2d = (Graphics2D)g;
		
		g2d.setColor(Color.blue);
		Rectangle2D.Float bG = new Rectangle2D.Float(0F, 0F, 100F, 100F);
		g2d.fill(bG);
		drawStuff(g2d);
	}

The drawStuff method deals with the buffering and I just followed the tutorial but I don't really understand it (busy reading more about it at the moment but I'm a bit confused)

[Norm]

What is the drawStuff method supposed to do?

You get a Graphics object but never use it?
Where is the Shape that is to be drawn?

[Guy]

The paint() method is meant to be where I actually create the image and then that calls the drawStuff method which is meant to take the rectangle drawn in paint() and add it to the buffer and display it. Sorry for my ignorance, I think theres too much I don't understand like what the Graphics object is, what Graphics2D is, whether I'm meant to be adding the graphics object to the buffer or the actual rectangle I created on the graphics2D. So I guess I should just continue reading tutorials until I start to understand
Thank you for your time!

[Norm]

I agree, your coding has gotten too far ahead of your knowledge.
Time to do some more reading.