/*!
    @file Iterator.h
    @brief Definition of the Iterator class.

    The Iterator of a given class allows to iterate through an ObjectList, containing all objects of that type.
    This is the only way to access the objects in an ObjectList.

    Usage:
    for (Iterator<class> it = ObjectList<class>::start(); it != 0; ++it)
    {
        it->someFunction(...);
        class* myObject = *it;
    }

    Warning: Don't delete an object directly through the iterator.
*/

#ifndef _Iterator_H__
#define _Iterator_H__

namespace orxonox
{
    //! The iterator allows to iterate through an ObjectList of a given class.
    template <class T>
    class Iterator
    {
        public:
            /**
                @brief Constructor: Sets the element whereon the iterator points to zero.
            */
            Iterator()
            {
                this->element_ = 0;
            }

            /**
                @brief Constructor: Sets the element whereon the iterator points to a given element.
                @param element The element to start with
            */
            Iterator(ObjectListElement<T>* element)
            {
                this->element_ = element;
            }

            /**
                @brief Overloading of the ++it operator: Iterator iterates to the next object in the list.
                @return The Iterator itself
            */
            Iterator<T> operator++()
            {
                this->element_ = this->element_->next_;
                return *this;
            }

            /**
                @brief Overloading of the --it operator: Iterator iterates to the previous object in the list.
                @return The Iterator itself
            */
            Iterator<T> operator--()
            {
                this->element_ = this->element_->prev_;
                return *this;
            }

            /**
                @brief Overloading of the *it operator: returns the pointer to the object.
                @return The object the Iterator points at
            */
            T* operator*()
            {
                return this->element_->object_;
            }

            /**
                @brief Overloading of the it-> operator: returns the pointer to the object.
                @return The object the Iterator points at
            */
            T* operator->() const
            {
                return this->element_->object_;

            }

            /**
                @brief Overloading of the typecast-operator to bool: returns true if the iterator points to an existing object.
                @return True if the iterator points to an existing object.
            */
            operator bool()
            {
                return (this->element_ != 0);
            }

            /**
                @brief Overloading of the (it != int) operator: Used for (it != 0) instead of typecast-operator to bool.
                @param compare The integer (must be zero, everything else makes no sense).
                @return True if the iterator points to an existing object.
            */
            bool operator!=(int compare)
            {
                // Comparing with something except zero makes no sense
                if (compare != 0)
                    std::cout << "Warning: Comparing the " << ClassIdentifier<T>::getIdentifier()->getName() << "-List-Iterator with " << compare << " has no effect. Only comparison with 0 works.\n";

                return (this->element_ != 0);
            }

        private:
            ObjectListElement<T>* element_;     //!< The element the Iterator points to
    };
}

#endif