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What are the differences between NSArray and CCArray? Also, in what cases will one be preferred to the other with respect to game programming?
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An object representing a static ordered collection, for use instead of an Array constant in cases that require reference semantics.
The main difference is that NSArray is for an ordered collection and NSSet is for an unordered collection. There are several articles out there that talk about the difference in speed between the two, like this one. If you're iterating through an unordered collection, NSSet is great.
Difference between an Array and Set in SwiftArray is faster than set in terms of initialization. Set is slower than an array in terms of initialization because it uses a hash process. The array allows storing duplicate elements in it. Set doesn't allow you to store duplicate elements in it.
Swift provides two special types for working with nonspecific types: Any can represent an instance of any type at all, including function types. AnyObject can represent an instance of any class type.
CCArray emulates NSMutableArray. It is a wrapper around a C array (memory buffer). It was developed and is used internally by cocos2d because NSMutableArray was deemed too slow. However the performance improvement is minimal. Any use cases (features) of CCArray that cocos2d itself doesn't use remain a potential source of issues, including weird and hard to debug issues or terrible performance characteristics.
The most important performance critical aspect is reading the array sequential. In my latest tests that's an area where CCArray (no longer?) excels. Specifically fast enumeration: NSMutableArray is around 33 times faster!
CCArray is a perfect example why one should not reinvent the wheel, specifically when it comes to storage classes when there is already a stable, proven, and fast solution available (NSMutableArray). Any speed advantage it may have once had is long gone. What remains is a runtime behavior you will not want to deal with, including some extremely bad performance characteristics (insertion, fast enumeration).
Long story short: do not use CCArray in your own code! Treat CCArray like an internal, private class not to be used in user code (except where unavoidable, ie children array).
NSMutableArray is THE array reference implementation everyone should be using because it's extremely well tested, documented, and stable (both in terms of runtime behavior and speed).
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