Passing a byte[] array as multiple arguments for a method

Question

Consider the following situation: (Pseudo-ish code)

//All our luscious data
char theChar = 123;
int theInt = 4324;
char[] theCharArray = "sometext";

//Make an array to hold all of that data.
byte[] allTheVars = new *byte[sizeOfArray];

//Copy all vars into "allTheVars"
copyToEndOfArray(theChar, allTheVars);
copyToEndOfArray(theInt, allTheVars);
copyToEndOfArray(theCharArray, allTheVars);

So the idea is that you end up with a bunch of variables strung together into the same byte array. This array is then passed over the internet. Now say all these variables were sent over to call a remote function, like below.

//This is the function that will take in the data we sent over the network.
void remotelyCalledInternetFunction(char aChar, int anInt, char[] aCharArray)
{

}

Instead of manually splitting up each variable into it's specified type by means of tediously copying from the byte array, can you have the method "auto-split" the varaibles by doing something like this?

//Pass the byte array. The method knows what types it needs, maybe it will auto-split the data correctly?
remotelyCalledInternetFunction(allTheVars);

If not, is there anything similar I could do?

EDIT: Any way to do something like this?

remotelyCalledInternetFunction(allTheVars);
//Takes first 2 bytes of the array, the next 4 bytes, and the rest for the char[]?
void remotelyCalledInternetFunction(char aChar, int anInt, char[] aCharArray)
{

}

I dunno what you are trying to achieve, but cant you use sockets and byte buffers? — Montaldo
– Montaldo, Commented Nov 8, 2013 at 21:59
What you're describing is called "marshalling" arguments. All RPC libraries provide methods to do this automatically. Use one of them instead of reinventing the wheel. — Barmar
– Barmar, Commented Nov 8, 2013 at 22:10
Excellent info Barmar! I'll google around to find a good one, any suggestions? — Sequence
– Sequence, Commented Nov 8, 2013 at 22:12

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 11:57:31Z

1

I would suggest to use a structure to store and transmit the data as below. That would take care of the splitting of the data at the receiving function automatically.

struct myStruct {
char theChar;
int theInt;
char[] theCharArray;
}

You can then use memcopy with arguments for this structure, refer -> Send struct over socket in C.

edited May 23, 2017 at 11:57

CommunityBot

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answered Nov 8, 2013 at 22:09

jozef

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1 Comment

Sequence Over a year ago

This is very close to what I'm trying to accomplish! The RPC libraries that Barmar mentioned with automatic "Marshaling" is closer, though. Thanks for your input!

Sequence · Accepted Answer · 2013-11-09 14:16:19Z

0

Ok, as Barmar said in the comments, what I'm trying to accomplish has already been done through RPC (Remote Procedure Calls) and marshaling. He recommended finding a good library instead of reinventing the wheel.

A library I found that seems pretty good: https://github.com/cinemast/libjson-rpc-cpp

(jozef also had a pretty good solution of using structs, thanks for that :D)

EDIT: I need a library for low-latency online game stuff, so I'll probably end up writing my own anyways.

edited Nov 9, 2013 at 14:16

answered Nov 8, 2013 at 22:54

Sequence

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