Grid definition, shape

[andretchen0]

The way grids are defined and implemented requires more care than would otherwise be necessary. They look like this:

interface GridDefinition {
	numRows: number;
	numCols: number;
	isFirstRowFull: boolean;
}

But this definition is a "lie" in the sense that not every row has numCols hexes. Only "full" rows do. Because the resulting grid currently looks like this:

. . . . . // numCols
 . . . .  // numCols - 1
. . . . . // numCols
 . . . .  // numCols - 1
. . . . . // numCols

Every 2*m row has numCols hexes. Every 2*m+1 have numCols-1. Or vice versa, depending on isFirstRowFull.

A more straight-forward definition might be this, courtesy of the great Hex resource compiled at Red Blob Games:

interface GridDefinition {
	numRows: number;
	numCols: number;
	shoveEvenRight: boolean;
}

With this result:

. . . . .  // numCols
 . . . . . // numCols
. . . . .  // numCols
 . . . . . // numCols
. . . . .  // numCols

All rows have the same number of hexes.

That makes storage simpler:

• You can store hexes and hex info in flat arrays and easily go from i to x, y and back with straight forward modulo/division or addition/multiplication.

It also makes bounds checking simpler:

• Is x < numCols? It's in bounds. Otherwise it's out of bounds.

It makes the code more understandable:

• A "grid" is a full grid. numCols is the number of columns. Just like it says on the tin.

---

I'm taking a wild guess, but is the reason for the short/long rows to make the grid symmetrical and "fair" for each player? If that's the case, then this setup is one of many symmetrical start states, with a constant number of rows.

 . . . . .
. . . 2 .
 . 1 . . .
. . . . .

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So ...

I'd like to switch to use numCols for all rows. Thoughts?

[DreadKnight]

Considered this type of stuff big time back in the day.
No chance, triggers ocd, it's non symmetrical and worst of all, makes things more awkward/uneven in 2vs2 matches.
Formula could perhaps be optimized since the odd rows are the shorter ones, just a thought.