Data Structures

Introduction

In Script-Fu, data structures are essential tools for organizing, storing, and manipulating data. They enable developers to build efficient, readable, and reusable scripts. By choosing the right data structure for a specific problem, you can optimize both the performance and clarity of your code.

Key Data Structures in Script-Fu

Script-Fu provides several powerful and versatile data structures, each suited for specific tasks. The primary data structures include:

Lists

Lists are ordered collections of elements that can dynamically grow or shrink. They are ideal for sequential or hierarchical data and are widely used in functional programming.

Key features:

• Dynamically sized.
• Elements can be of mixed types.
• Commonly used for recursive algorithms and representing tree-like structures.

Examples of use:

• Managing collections of items.
• Representing sequences or hierarchies.

Vectors

Vectors are fixed-size collections of elements, indexed for fast access. They are best suited for scenarios where performance and positional access are critical.

Key features:

• Fixed size at creation.
• Elements are accessed by their index.
• Faster than lists for certain operations like random access.

Examples of use:

• Storing fixed-size configurations or data.
• Quick lookups and updates based on position.

Choosing the Right Data Structure

The decision to use a list or a vector depends on the specific needs of your script. Here are some guidelines: