A question from the "red book"

Question

The code was:

open_window();
for(i=0;i<100000;i++){
    clear_the_window();
    draw_frame(i);
    wait_until_a_24th_of_a_second_is_over();
}

The book says the problem with this code is: Suppose the drawing takes nearly a full 1/24 second. Items drawn first are visible for the full 1/24 second and present a solid image on the screen; items drawn toward the end are instantly cleared as the program starts on the next frame.

I don't quite understand what does it mean by "first" and "toward the end"? If the three functions within the loop are called sequentially, what is the problem? Unless it is not a sequential program?

Nick Weaver Nick Weaver · Accepted Answer · 2011-02-26T18:31:38

Say this span of 10 stps covers 1/24th of a second:

Clear window
Item A begin drawing...
A is drawn completely and visible for almost 1/24th second
Item B begin drawing ...
...
... expensive drawing of B ...
B finished drawing -> wont be shown too long
Item C begin drawing...
...
finished drawing C -> will last very short as next iteration is immanent

------- NEXT iteration -------

Clear window
and so on

A question from the "red book"

1 Answers