Simplify Type Deprive

Simple library to help you access to data in memory with less restain from C# or VB language limited.

What's in V 1.0 ?

3 extension method
ref(of T) as pointer

ref(Of T) type

A new type for unsafe pointer, it's value of reference type aka it's value type but invoke by method as reference type.

Property

value As T

Get and set value via pointer.

A.value = 8

Default Readonly index(Offset As Int64) As ref(Of T)

Move current pointer to other index offset of T unit.

Dim Base = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
Dim A = Base(1).ref
Dim B = A(1)

'A.value is 2
'B.value is 3

Readonly range(Destination As ref(Of T)) As Int64

Measure distance between this pointer and Destination pointer in T unit.

Dim Base = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
Dim A = Base(1).ref
Dim B = Base(4).ref

'B.range(A) is 4

Share size As UInt64

Get size of T unit.

'ref(Of Int64).size is 8
'ref(Of Int32).size is 4

Method

Sub copy(Destination As ref(Of T), Length As UInt64)

Copy data from this pointer to Destination pointer.

Dim Base = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
Dim A = Base(0).ref
Dim B = Base(3).ref

A.copy(B, 2)
'Base is {1, 2, 3, 1, 2}

Function change(Of V)() As ref(Of V)

Get new pointer of V type point at the same address as this pointer.

Dim Base = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
Dim A = Base(0).ref
Dim B = A.change(Of Int64)

B.value = 0
'Base is {0, 0, 3, 4, 5}

Extension method

ref(Of T)(ByRef Input As T) As ref(Of T)

Create pointer from target, field of class and element of array are most safe pointer you can create without any concern, pointer of local var and value type should be use within their life cycle.

Dim Base = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
Dim A = Base(0).ref

ref(Of T, V)(ByRef Input As T) As ref(Of V)

Same as previous but you can change its type to other on create.

mirror(Of T As Class)(Input As T) As T

It's MemberwiseClone for duplicate a reference type object.

Dim Base = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
Dim A = Base.mirror

A(0) = 56
'Base(0) still be 1

as(Of T, V)(Input As T) As V

Unsafe cast type on .net, you can cast object to any type, doesn't matter if it ref type or val type, highly cause an error if you don't know what are you doing.

Dim Base = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
Dim A = Base.as(Of ref(Of Intptr))

'A(1).change(UInt64) is 5, aka Base.Length
'A(2).change(Int32) is Base(0).ref

FAQ

Becareful when refer from local var.

Any local var always end life cycle with method, when extied method, any pointer refer to those local var will be volatile.

Dim Base = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
Dim A = Base.ref
Dim B = Base(0).ref

Return A
'A is refer to Base not Int32() so when exited current method, this refer going to be volatile soon.
'However if return B instead, it won't be volatile because it refer to a part of Int32().

You need to know very well about data structure you cast with 'as' method.

Mismatch data on cast type won't be report as an error on worst case when you use 'as' method, you will get corrupt data instead; cast on interface type can be done but require an implement method match to original data you refer to, invoke any method hasn't implement will cause an error.

RevensofT/STD