/*!
 * @file garbage_collector.h
 */

#ifndef _GARBAGE_COLLECTOR_H
#define _GARBAGE_COLLECTOR_H

#include "base_object.h"

#include "fast_factory.h"

//! this class maintains the garbage collection.
/**
 * you can pass everything to this class that you want to be collected
 * just use GarbageCollector->collect(POINTER); to pass a collectable to the GarbageCollector
 * it will then be handled acording to the class
*/
class GarbageCollector : public BaseObject {

 public:
  virtual ~GarbageCollector();
  /** @returns a Pointer to the only object of this Class */
  inline static GarbageCollector* getInstance() { if (!singletonRef) singletonRef = new GarbageCollector();  return singletonRef; };

  void setCollectionDelay(float delay);

  void forceCollection();

  void collect(BaseObject* object);

  void tick(float time);
  void update();

 private:
  GarbageCollector();

 private:
  static GarbageCollector*    singletonRef;           //!< The reference to this class (singleton)

  FastObjectMember*           collectedObjects;       //!< A list of recently collected Objects, that want to be deleted.
  FastObjectMember*           unusedContainers;       //!< A list of unused containers.
  float                       delay;                  //!< this is the delay to wait until collection.
  float                       time;                   //!< the current time

};

#endif /* _GARBAGE_COLLECTOR_H */