Subj : spidermonkey: byte arrays - again
To   : netscape.public.mozilla.jseng
From : Jens Thiele
Date : Thu Sep 16 2004 12:22 pm

Hi,

I am at the byte arrays again ;-)

Intro:
Unfortunately Javascript does not have a native/primtive c-style byte
array for raw data. Especially when wrapping native code you need it.
(For example networking, image processing, compression/decompression,
....)

Possible "solutions":
1. use javascript string:
  a) only use 8bit of 16bit chars
     + simple
     - bloat
     - confusing / error prone
  b) use all 16 bit
     - what about odd number of bytes? needs some ugly hack

2. use javascript array:
  I only did a quick look at how the arrays are done and guess
  this would be real bloat

3. write some native/host object:
  + efficient (memory and cpu)
  - no literal notation => solution 1 or 2 needed to get
    something close to a literal notation:
    new ByteArray("thisisraw8bitdatastoredin16bit")
    new ByteArray([10,20,30,...])
    new ByteArray("\u3744\u....",odd|even) or similar hack

probably best thread for implementing 3:
http://groups.google.de/groups?th=35ba422a08cd0319


Now the real question:
Did someone write a ByteArray object/class and wants to share the code?

Thanks
Jens

.