Doin' the "Sequence Shuffle" (or not)

Question

Here's a problem: Check out [javafx.util.Sequences API|http://java.sun.com/javafx/1/docs/api/javafx.util/javafx.util.Sequences.html] . It has some nifty functions like sort and shuffle. However, say you make a sequence of stuff with an id attribute: syntax may not be 100% correct but the idea is the same
var circles:Circles[] = for(i in [1...10]) Circle{
x: x + i
y: y + i
radius: 10 - i
id: "{i}"
}Because Sequences.shuffle only takes Objects not Circles, how can you type cast a Circle?
circles = Sequences.shuffle((Object)circles) // IDE identifies this as an errorLets sort something with a Comparator:
c:Comparator = MyCircleComparator{}
circles = Sequences.sort(circles, c);  // good luckI guess you could try to wrap up a Circle inside of a JComponent because this ain't happening either:
class MyCircleComparator implements Comparator<Circle>{
public int compare(Circle o1, Circle o2){
     return o1.getId().compareTo(o2.getId());
}Why would the JavaFX developers tease us like this? It's just cruel!
So here's the challenge.
Write a java.util.Comparator and pass it to Sequence.sort() function or a sequence of CustomNode objects by some custom attribute. There's 10 of my precocious Duke Stars in it for the best solution. Oooooooh.....Aaaaaaaaaah.
Edited by: bthayer on Jan 7, 2009 10:45 PM

Answer 1

Here is how it is done.
var circles : Circle[] = for(i in [1..10]) {
    Circle{
        id: "{i}"
println("--- shuffle ---");
circles = Sequences.shuffle(circles) as Circle[];
for ( c in circles ) { println("{c.id}"); }
println("--- sort with comparator ---");
class MyCircleComparator extends java.util.Comparator {
    override function compare(o1: Object, o2: Object) {
        var c1 = o1 as Circle;
        var c2 = o2 as Circle;
        c1.id.compareTo(c2.id);
    override function equals(other: Object) {
        other == this;
def c = MyCircleComparator{}
circles = Sequences.sort(circles, c) as Circle[];
for ( c in circles ) { println("{c.id}"); }