Call by reference or call by value

[tomkev300]

Hi to alll, I want to know when I have call by value and when call by reference.

For Example I have these four classes

Generator := class():

var Counter: float = 0.0

  CountUp():void=
    set Counter += 1

  GetCounter():float=
    return Counter

Meow := class():

  SingleGenerator : Generator = Generator{}
  MainCounter  : float = 0.0

  Init():void =
    Generator.CountUp()
    set MainCounter = Generator.GetCounter() # Not working as it is not a var MainCounter

MakeMeowClass<constructor>(GeneratorConstructor:Generator, MainCounterConstructor:float) := Meow :
    SingleGenerator := GeneratorConstructor
    MainCounter := MainCounterConstructor

Test := class():
  MainCounter : float = 0.0

MakeTestClass<constructor>(MainCounterConstructor:float) := Test :
    MainCounter := MainCounterConstructor

Manager := class()
  var Generator : Generator = Generator{}
  var MainCounter : float = 0.0

  Initiate():void = 
    set Meow = MakeMeowClass(Generator, MainCounter)

If I put in the Manager Constructor my Generator object found out that I have a call by reference, but the MainCounter is only call by value. How can I have a reference in the Meow class? Do I have to create a seperat class only for the MainCounter with functions such as Increase(value:float) or Decrease(value:float)? Is that event correct that I have a call by reference for the Generator inside the constructor?
I just want that the values of the MainCounter in the Test class and Meow class should be the same (just a reference) if I change it in one class

[swaggod (sixonetwo games)]

In Meow Init() you gotta change your references from Generator to SingleGenerator, as Generator is referencing the class as a whole. Same in the Manager class, you have set Meow = but there is no initialization of Meow, and if you make a Meow named Meow you’ll get an ambiguous definition error. You’ll have to make a newMeow := MakeMeowClass(Generator, MainCounter)If you want to change all instances of a class you’ll have to store them in an array and iterate through.

[im_a_lama (LAMA)]

Only objects can be and are passed by reference

Primitives, arrays, maps, and structs are always passed by value

[tomkev300]

Thank you! This is what I’ve been looking for. Is there something in the documentation about this? I couldn’t find anything there.
This means for me that I need a seperate class for the MainCounter to implement for example a global balance. So I can upgrade for example a building and remove the balance of the class or add balance at some generators

[im_a_lama (LAMA)]

I’m not sure about the documentation but I feel like it’s how most high-level programing languages work?

It seems that you already had a class in your examples, which would either be the generator or the manager, you could pass this class along instead of making another one