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This has been fun to be sure, but what about saving our data out and loading it as well? The fancy word for this is serialization, and this is where the OOP principles can really shine!
If we build into each of our classes a ‘Serialize’ and ‘DeSerialize’ feature, we can have it spew out the data into a CSV or JSON formatted file, and we’ll be able to load it back up with minimal hassle. We’ll make a function called ‘Serialize’ in each class, and make it only save out the data that’s relevant.
Usually, I only serialize what I set up in the initialization, i.e.:
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function Ship:init(data) self.name = data.name or "Ship "..RAND(1,999) self.x = data.x or RAND(1,200) self.y = data.y or RAND(1,200) self.dockedAt = data.dockedAt or nil self.civilization = data.civilization or nil self.speed = data.speed or RAND(1,15) self.heading = data.heading or 0 self.destination = data.destination or nil -- print("Created Ship: "..self.name.." at "..self.x..","..self.y..", belongs to "..self.civilization.name.." docked at "..self.dockedAt.name) end function Ship:Serialize() local results = {} table.insert(results,self.x) table.insert(results,self.y) table.insert(results,self.speed) table.insert(results,self.heading) table.insert(results,self.name) table.insert(results,self.civilization.name) -- We can match the name to saved data on de=serialize table.insert(results,self.destination.name) -- We can match the name to saved data on de=serialize return results end |
So we’d wanna make a Serialize function that could spew out all the needed variables as text, JSON preferably. As for the objects that they’re pointing to, like a Ship’s destination, for instance, we’ll write out the ‘.name’ variable, where we can point it back to the object itself when we DeSerialize it.
I’ve moved the Ship and Star creation methods into the Galaxy object itself, too, to further the encapsulation methodology of OOP. I know I haven’t gotten too deep into OOP, but we’ll make it there I’m sure. 🙂
So, after all is said and done, I’ve created the Galaxy:Serialize() function so we can call it and we get output like this: (it’s long, sorry, but you can see it’s kinda nice to have relatively human-readable output):
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{ "stars": [ [1569, 510, "Star 99", "none", [ [16, "Star 99 I"], [1, "Star 99 II"], [4, "Star 99 III"], [10, "Star 99 IV"] ]], [1294, 605, "Calimede", "none", [ [1, "Calimede I"], [10, "Calimede II"], [2, "Calimede III"], [7, "Calimede IV"], [15, "Calimede V"] ]], [1190, 317, "Psamaka", "none", [ [5, "Psamaka I"], [14, "Psamaka II"], [13, "Psamaka III"], [17, "Psamaka IV"], [10, "Psamaka V"], [9, "Psamaka VI"] ]], [920, 202, "Anand", "Empire 258", [ [2, "Anand I"], [16, "Anand II"], [2, "Anand III"], [7, "Anand IV"], [15, "Anand V"], [16, "Anand VI"] ]], [1516, 721, "Kallene", "none", [ [5, "Kallene I"], [2, "Kallene II"], [8, "Kallene III"] ]], [142, 972, "Hegemona", "none", [ [14, "Hegemona I"], [1, "Hegemona II"], [6, "Hegemona III"], [13, "Hegemona IV"], [16, "Hegemona V"], [10, "Hegemona VI"] ]], [400, 525, "Pasiphano", "none", [ [17, "Pasiphano I"], [3, "Pasiphano II"], [1, "Pasiphano III"], [15, "Pasiphano IV"] ]], [1728, 583, "Helia", "none", [ [16, "Helia I"], [2, "Helia II"], [2, "Helia III"], [16, "Helia IV"], [5, "Helia V"] ]], [1102, 868, "Amaka", "none", [ [10, "Amaka I"], [16, "Amaka II"], [4, "Amaka III"], [7, "Amaka IV"], [16, "Amaka V"] ]], [302, 280, "Thaldene", "Empire 616", [ [8, "Thaldene I"], [11, "Thaldene II"], [13, "Thaldene III"], [16, "Thaldene IV"], [13, "Thaldene V"], [4, "Thaldene VI"] ]], [565, 356, "Narvos", "Empire 258", [ [13, "Narvos I"], [12, "Narvos II"], [9, "Narvos III"], [3, "Narvos IV"], [17, "Narvos V"], [7, "Narvos VI"] ]], [991, 526, "Laomethyone", "Empire 258", [ [1, "Laomethyone I"], [1, "Laomethyone II"], [7, "Laomethyone III"] ]], [1078, 105, "Beron", "none", [ [8, "Beron I"], [6, "Beron II"], [4, "Beron III"], [6, "Beron IV"], [2, "Beron V"] ]], [1078, 913, "Harpo", "none", [ [1, "Harpo I"], [12, "Harpo II"], [8, "Harpo III"] ]], [455, 49, "Euportia", "none", [ [14, "Euportia I"], [1, "Euportia II"], [12, "Euportia III"], [9, "Euportia IV"], [4, "Euportia V"] ]], [1258, 924, "Albioriel", "none", [ [6, "Albioriel I"], [6, "Albioriel II"], [4, "Albioriel III"], [3, "Albioriel IV"] ]], [1837, 970, "Galas", "none", [ [6, "Galas I"], [5, "Galas II"], [12, "Galas III"], [2, "Galas IV"] ]], [787, 916, "Sycordelike", "none", [ [15, "Sycordelike I"], [17, "Sycordelike II"], [3, "Sycordelike III"] ]], [1103, 571, "Skatheus", "none", [ [14, "Skatheus I"], [9, "Skatheus II"], [3, "Skatheus III"] ]], [1420, 864, "Ortia", "none", [ [9, "Ortia I"], [4, "Ortia II"], [5, "Ortia III"], [9, "Ortia IV"] ]], [558, 718, "Mimaltheus", "none", [ [8, "Mimaltheus I"], [14, "Mimaltheus II"], [1, "Mimaltheus III"], [11, "Mimaltheus IV"], [17, "Mimaltheus V"] ]], [683, 410, "Neptungr", "Empire 258", [ [9, "Neptungr I"], [4, "Neptungr II"], [15, "Neptungr III"] ]], [774, 639, "Siarnsaxa", "Empire 258", [ [2, "Siarnsaxa I"], [4, "Siarnsaxa II"], [4, "Siarnsaxa III"], [5, "Siarnsaxa IV"], [10, "Siarnsaxa V"], [12, "Siarnsaxa VI"] ]], [1039, 232, "Galassa", "none", [ [8, "Galassa I"], [9, "Galassa II"], [4, "Galassa III"], [7, "Galassa IV"], [10, "Galassa V"], [14, "Galassa VI"] ]], [387, 687, "Methelxinoe", "none", [ [12, "Methelxinoe I"], [17, "Methelxinoe II"], [12, "Methelxinoe III"], [17, "Methelxinoe IV"] ]], [586, 351, "Jarnaq", "Empire 258", [ [17, "Jarnaq I"], [14, "Jarnaq II"], [17, "Jarnaq III"], [15, "Jarnaq IV"] ]], [547, 561, "Tarvi", "Empire 258", [ [10, "Tarvi I"], [3, "Tarvi II"], [14, "Tarvi III"], [12, "Tarvi IV"], [16, "Tarvi V"], [6, "Tarvi VI"] ]], [1539, 926, "Namalthebe", "none", [ [11, "Namalthebe I"], [15, "Namalthebe II"], [16, "Namalthebe III"], [16, "Namalthebe IV"], [8, "Namalthebe V"] ]], [281, 152, "Laome", "none", [ [13, "Laome I"], [4, "Laome II"], [16, "Laome III"], [5, "Laome IV"], [9, "Laome V"], [14, "Laome VI"] ]], [1451, 828, "Desdemone", "none", [ [9, "Desdemone I"], [7, "Desdemone II"], [5, "Desdemone III"], [8, "Desdemone IV"] ]], [656, 371, "Panda", "Empire 258", [ [1, "Panda I"], [12, "Panda II"], [5, "Panda III"] ]], [1218, 440, "Haldene", "none", [ [11, "Haldene I"], [14, "Haldene II"], [4, "Haldene III"], [2, "Haldene IV"], [15, "Haldene V"] ]], [858, 445, "Bebhione", "Empire 258", [ [4, "Bebhione I"], [9, "Bebhione II"], [10, "Bebhione III"], [5, "Bebhione IV"], [10, "Bebhione V"], [11, "Bebhione VI"] ]], [165, 161, "Erissa", "Empire 616", [ [7, "Erissa I"], [10, "Erissa II"], [2, "Erissa III"], [15, "Erissa IV"], [7, "Erissa V"], [4, "Erissa VI"] ]], [579, 359, "Orthone", "Empire 258", [ [13, "Orthone I"], [6, "Orthone II"], [14, "Orthone III"], [16, "Orthone IV"], [17, "Orthone V"] ]], [122, 383, "Methyone", "none", [ [17, "Methyone I"], [1, "Methyone II"], [7, "Methyone III"] ]], [62, 613, "Palyke", "Empire 616", [ [6, "Palyke I"], [17, "Palyke II"], [14, "Palyke III"] ]], [1134, 432, "Promethys", "none", [ [16, "Promethys I"], [14, "Promethys II"], [11, "Promethys III"] ]], [1618, 790, "Helxinope", "none", [ [14, "Helxinope I"], [17, "Helxinope II"], [6, "Helxinope III"] ]], [833, 123, "Cordelinda", "Empire 258", [ [3, "Cordelinda I"], [9, "Cordelinda II"], [4, "Cordelinda III"], [5, "Cordelinda IV"], [8, "Cordelinda V"], [16, "Cordelinda VI"] ]], [1552, 859, "Biancisco", "none", [ [2, "Biancisco I"], [2, "Biancisco II"], [4, "Biancisco III"], [7, "Biancisco IV"], [2, "Biancisco V"] ]], [1661, 190, "Lysithelike", "none", [ [2, "Lysithelike I"], [14, "Lysithelike II"], [10, "Lysithelike III"] ]], [1307, 1032, "Paalinda", "none", [ [15, "Paalinda I"], [2, "Paalinda II"], [4, "Paalinda III"], [16, "Paalinda IV"] ]], [981, 966, "Euporiel", "none", [ [8, "Euporiel I"], [13, "Euporiel II"], [16, "Euporiel III"], [6, "Euporiel IV"], [8, "Euporiel V"] ]], [1556, 759, "Ophelestla", "none", [ [7, "Ophelestla I"], [4, "Ophelestla II"], [11, "Ophelestla III"], [12, "Ophelestla IV"], [12, "Ophelestla V"], [4, "Ophelestla VI"] ]], [1181, 136, "Nereip", "none", [ [17, "Nereip I"], [8, "Nereip II"], [17, "Nereip III"] ]], [740, 382, "Cupiter", "none", [ [14, "Cupiter I"], [8, "Cupiter II"], [3, "Cupiter III"], [11, "Cupiter IV"], [14, "Cupiter V"] ]], [1683, 861, "Umbrie", "none", [ [5, "Umbrie I"], [14, "Umbrie II"], [17, "Umbrie III"], [12, "Umbrie IV"], [2, "Umbrie V"] ]], [1458, 322, "Albiorie", "none", [ [8, "Albiorie I"], [17, "Albiorie II"], [9, "Albiorie III"] ]], [1093, 654, "Karis", "none", [ [11, "Karis I"], [11, "Karis II"], [14, "Karis III"] ]] ], "ships": [ [1562, 859, 6, 114.06664196339, "Ship 1", "Empire 616", "Biancisco"], [1671, 190, 7, 300.43161289077, "Ship 2", "Empire 616", "Cupiter"] ], "civilizations": [ ["Empire 616", { "description": "Three councils of delegates elected by the citizens, often according to different electoral districts.", "type": "Tricameral Republic" }, ["Species", "Insectoid", "Greebly, scuttle-ish", "Barren"] ], ["Empire 435", { "description": "The Constabulary creates and enforces the law, possibly without trials.", "type": "Police State" }, ["Species", "Insectoid", "Greebly, scuttle-ish", "Barren"] ], ["Empire 258", { "description": "One council of elected delegates and another of hereditary nobles.", "type": "Bicameral Parliament" }, ["Species", "Insectoid", "Greebly, scuttle-ish", "Barren"] ] ] |
So notice a couple things, we have 3 parent branches; Stars, Ships and Civilizations, and under those we have outputted our data.
To make the filesize smaller, for example, we can use index numbers for a master table:
local environment = {“Chthonian planet”,”Carbon planet”,”City planet”,”Coreless planet”,”Desert planet”,”Gas dwarf”,”Gas giant”,”Helium planet”,”Ice giant”,”Ice planet”,”Iron planet”,”Lava planet”,”Ocean planet”,”Protoplanet”,”Puffy planet”,”Silicate planet”,”Terrestrial planet”}
[11, “Karis I”],
[11, “Karis II”],
[14, “Karis III”]
Where the 11 and 14 next to the Karis entries correspond to the environment table entries. We could definitely just output the human readable portion to the file in JSON, that would make it easier to read on the fly. I was just experimenting with efficiency.
So, we now have Serialization. What about de-serialization? Tune in next time!
PS: Aliens
