Variable delay in timers with _delay?

Solar2D General Questions/Discussion
#1

I have tried to find a way to dynamically set the delay time for timers. The only solution I have found is using _delay like this:

local myTimer local myDelay = 1000 myTimer = timer.performWithDelay(2000, function() myDelay = myDelay + 100     myTimer.\_delay = myDelay     ... logic here end, -1)

This works but I cannot find _delay in the documentation. Is this some kind of hidden internal feature that “may be subject to change without any previous announcement”?

#2

If you are operating on an object, you can make that more self contained as follows:

local obj = newCircle( 10, 10, 10 ) obj.period = 1000 function obj.timer( self ) if( self.removeSelf == nil ) then return end --Safely exit if removed print(self.period) self.period = self.period - 100 self.period = (self.period \< 100) and 100 or self.period timer.performWithDelay( self.period, self ) end timer.performWithDelay( obj.period, obj) -- delete object in 10 seconds to test safety code timer.peformWithDelay( 10000, function() display.remove( obj ) end )
#3

Oh, and to answer your question, I think the answer is yes.  You should not rely on that.  It is probably pretty stable, but it could change in future releases.

#4

@roaminggamer

I tried your code and it worked like a charm (as always). Thanks!

#5

Note: I just made a small update.  Seems I left out:

  • over time reduction by 100ms
  • safety code for minimum period of 100ms
#6

Anything prefixed with _ indicates that it is private and should never be directly referenced.

#7

If you are operating on an object, you can make that more self contained as follows:

local obj = newCircle( 10, 10, 10 ) obj.period = 1000 function obj.timer( self ) if( self.removeSelf == nil ) then return end --Safely exit if removed print(self.period) self.period = self.period - 100 self.period = (self.period \< 100) and 100 or self.period timer.performWithDelay( self.period, self ) end timer.performWithDelay( obj.period, obj) -- delete object in 10 seconds to test safety code timer.peformWithDelay( 10000, function() display.remove( obj ) end )
#8

Oh, and to answer your question, I think the answer is yes.  You should not rely on that.  It is probably pretty stable, but it could change in future releases.

#9

@roaminggamer

I tried your code and it worked like a charm (as always). Thanks!

#10

Note: I just made a small update.  Seems I left out:

  • over time reduction by 100ms
  • safety code for minimum period of 100ms
#11

Anything prefixed with _ indicates that it is private and should never be directly referenced.