Better syntax for Java array

[nativescript]

Better syntax for Java array

[blagoev]

Also consider this syntax
Array.create(android.view.View, 20);

[vakrilov]

Suggestion 5) looks most explicit to me for primitive types. For reference types we would have to have a method that accepts type parameter.

[hshristov]

+1 for point 4 - var arr = JavaArray.create("byte", 10);
Where byte is the full name of the type. In my opinion most of the time we will use it with primitive types so it will be easier if byte, int are allowed as type specifiers.

[NathanaelA]

I actually ran into this and asked a question (which I just closed now that I see the proper answer)
+1 for point 3; I like enhancing the existing Array function, since we are dealing with Arrays. Although 5 is also acceptable since we are dealing with a JavaArray...

[blagoev]

I suggest this syntax to be only for arrays of reference types. Primitive arrays should be covered by the typed arrays support. #65

[blagoev]

suggest using Array.of syntax similar to this: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Array/of

Array.of(android.view.View, 20)

we can monkey patch this as this:
if (!Array.of) {
Array.of = function() {
return Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments);
};
}

so it will be
Array.of = function(type, number) {
return java.lang.reflect.Array.newInstance(type.class, number);
}

actually I think I just implemented it in this comment. That's called "in comment driven development" :)

[blagoev]

We can create globals.js or use our prepareExtends.js to include js functions like this.

[slavchev]

I would be confused to use Array.of to create Java objects. If I read the docs correctly

Array.of(element0[, element1[, ...[, elementN]]])

it would create JavaScript array [element0<, element1,...>]. Let's keep it that way and don't change the standard JavaScript features.

[blagoev]

Consider this as a better variant of Array.fromJavaType. So to take the best of both I suppose Array.ofJavaType is better. The "from" implies an iteratable objects in Javascript

[slavchev]

I am fine with Array.create. The point is to avoid any breaking change. For example if you currently run

var a = Array.of(java.lang.Object, 10);
console.log("a.length=" + a.length);

it will print 2 as expected. So, in short Array.create sounds good to me.

[atanasovg]

+1 for Array.create(type, count)