Trying to run side by side operations without interference

[Swallock]

Okay, the title is obviously rather hard to understand, but I couldn't think of something more accurate. Now that that's out of the way, here's my problem:

I'm working on a game for java (in swing) for my final project (I'm in my first year of Programming) and I've run into a problem. I'm trying to make it so that I can basically perform multiple operations at once. Basically, I need a JButton to toggle between 2 colors every second without making it so that I can't do anything else, like click buttons. My best idea for delaying the color change would be Thread.sleep(), but doing that temporarily disables everything else. Suggestions?

[Jodokus]

Make some timerclass extending Thread.

[JosAH]

Make some timerclass extending Thread.

Make what?

kind regards,

Jos

[Jodokus]

Sorry Swallock, it is not my habbit to spoonfeed, but I want JOS to understand me.

public class ButtonchangeTimer extends Thread {
	private ITimerTask task;
	private long sleepingTime = 1000;//default is a second
	private boolean pleaseStop = false;
	
	public ButtonchangeTimer(ITimerTask theTask){
		task = theTask;
	}
	public void startAgain(){
		pleaseStop = false;
		run();
	}
	public void pause(){
		pleaseStop = true;
	}
	public void run(){
		while( !pleaseStop ){
			doTask();
			waitASec();
		}
	}
	public void setSleepingTime( int mili ){
		sleepingTime = mili;
	}
	private void waitASec(){
		try{ Thread.sleep( sleepingTime );
		}catch(InterruptedException e){}
	}
	private void doTask(){
		task.doPerTick();
	}
}

[Jodokus]

@Jos
Hey! I see i'm a senior member now. Is that when you reach the 100 posts?
Or am I revealing a topsecret?

[doWhile]

To the OP, its better to read up and understand what the above code does...see the following
Lesson: Concurrency (The Java™ Tutorials > Essential Classes)
but take care to mix multithreading with single threaded GUI models (like AWT/Swing). See
How to Use Swing Timers (The Java™ Tutorials > Creating a GUI With JFC/Swing > Using Other Swing Features)

And in relation to the code Jodokus posted, I will argue that it's better practice to implement runnable and create a thread with that implementation rather than extend Thread

[Jodokus]

@doWhile
Sorry, thread blocked. I'm reading........

[Fubarable]

My vote is to simply use a Swing Timer as linked to in doWhile's post above.

[Swallock]

Thanks, doWhile, I got that swing timer to do exactly what I needed. Thanks for the link!

[JosAH]

Sorry Swallock, it is not my habbit to spoonfeed, but I want JOS to understand me.

public class ButtonchangeTimer extends Thread {
	private ITimerTask task;
	private long sleepingTime = 1000;//default is a second
	private boolean pleaseStop = false;
	
	public ButtonchangeTimer(ITimerTask theTask){
		task = theTask;
	}
	public void startAgain(){
		pleaseStop = false;
		run();
	}
	public void pause(){
		pleaseStop = true;
	}
	public void run(){
		while( !pleaseStop ){
			doTask();
			waitASec();
		}
	}
	public void setSleepingTime( int mili ){
		sleepingTime = mili;
	}
	private void waitASec(){
		try{ Thread.sleep( sleepingTime );
		}catch(InterruptedException e){}
	}
	private void doTask(){
		task.doPerTick();
	}
}

That class doesn't make sense, e.g. the startAgain() method recursively runs the run() method again; I don't think that's what you want. And what does doPerTick() method mean in your own ITimeTask? Better use one of supplied Timers instead.

kind regards,

Jos

[Jodokus]

That class doesn't make sense

Please don't be so harsh on me. I detailed my firsts post in the first place on your request. I once adapted some example and used it in some programs, for instance a clock, obediently ticking away (and never being stopped by me). You are right that using "run();" in startAgain() is not a good idea.
doPerTick() is obviously a method implemented by ITimerTask task, moving my clock or changing OP's buttoncolors.
And of course, being largely an autodidact, there's always a chance of missing some supplied libraryfunction. That's one of my reasons of being here: see how others do it.

[Fubarable]

Please don't be so harsh on me.

Deep breath please as that wasn't a harsh criticism. I've had to endure far worse from Jos and others.

[JosAH]

Deep breath please as that wasn't a harsh criticism. I've had to endure far worse from Jos and others.

Harsh? Who? Me? Have you forgotten about all those bottles of liquor you made me send to you? Hm?

kindest regards,

Jos ;-)

[Fubarable]

Harsh? Who? Me? Have you forgotten about all those bottles of liquor you made me send to you? Hm?

kindest regards,

Have you forgotten the window you helped me through and all the folks with sharp pointy sticks below? Regards indeed.

[JosAH]

Have you forgotten the window you helped me through and all the folks with sharp pointy sticks below? Regards indeed.

Duh, you obviously forgot that I personally helped to get all the cars out of the way so they would be safe from all your bodily fluids and other filthy substances you couldn't keep with you after contact with the pavement.

kindest regards,

Jos ;-)

[Jodokus]

Wow, I obviously stirred up a long endured friendship.
"Harsh" may have been a too strong word. It's just because I appreciated Jos as friendly and forgiving. But now I can sleep the sleep of the innocent again. Thanks Fubarable.

[JosAH]

Wow, I obviously stirred up a long endured friendship.
"Harsh" may have been a too strong word. It's just because I appreciated Jos as friendly and forgiving. But now I can sleep the sleep of the innocent again. Thanks Fubarable.

Right, walk all the way up the stairs to the bedroom, step out of the window and don't look down; thank your for your cooperatiion.

kind regards,

Jos ;-)

[Solarsonic]

Create a new thread.

[Fubarable]

Create a new thread.

Indeed, this thread has been hijacked to outerspace. Blame it on the Nederlanders, as scurvy and skanky a breed of people as I've ever had the distinct pleasure to have known.

[JosAH]

Indeed, this thread has been hijacked to outerspace. Blame it on the Nederlanders, as scurvy and skanky a breed of people as I've ever had the distinct pleasure to have known.

You start another thread because this one is ours; we are going to build a windmill on top of it; put a red light district somewhere in one of its corners and sell weed all over the place; and cheese and beer (Grolsch) and fine black tobacco. It'll be a fine place; this is going to be a world famous thread and I hereby declare me, myself to be the queen of this thread; so there.

kindest regards,

Jos