Methods: Communicating with Objects

To get a clearer picture of the interaction that takes place when we invoke takeSticks() and pass it an int value, let’s write a main() method to test our new version of OneRowNim.

Our first version of main() is shown in Figure 3.2. We will use it to trace how the parameter of takeSticks() interacts with the instance variables nSticks and player. The statements in the main() program simply create an instance of OneRowNim that is referenced by game and invoke the setSticks() method with an argument of 3.

Figure 3.2: A main() method to test the takeSticks() method.

Figure 3.3: Figure 3.3: Tracing the state of game (a) Just before calling takeSticks(3). (b) Just before executing the body of takeSticks(3). (c) Just after executing the body of takeSticks(3). (d) After flow of control leaves takeSticks().

To get a clearer understanding of how a parameter works, it will be instructive to trace through the code in main(). Figure 3.3 displays how the states of the instance variables of game and the parameter of takeSticks() interact.

Executing the first two statements of main() creates the instance game of OneRowNim. Figure 3.3(a) shows the initial state of game. When the takeSticks(3) method call is made, a parameter (which is a local variable) named num is created and the value 3 is stored in it. The state of the instance variables and the parameter are shown in (b). Then the body of takeSticks() is executed. The new state of game is shown in (c). After the flow of control leaves the body of takeSticks() and returns to main(), the memory location which stored the value of the parameter num is released for other uses. The state of game at this point is shown in (d). Notice that the value of nSticks has been reduced to 4.