RollingArray

RollingArray is a container that always stores the last arraySize elements added. New elements are added via Append(), which automatically rolls over once the maximum number of elements is reached, overwriting the oldest element. array[i] always returns the oldest element that still exists + i. That way, this container always stores the last arraySize elements added.

Adding is O(1), retrieving is O(1) and (with the exception of GetEnumerator()) no new memory is allocated after the initial creation.

You can read more about the GetEnumerator() memory problem (and Unity's dreadful memory allocation troubles) here under "Should you avoid foreach loops?": http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/WendelinReich/20131109/203841/C_Memory_Management_for_Unity_Developers_part_1_of_3.php

Example

{C#}
public class RollingArrayExample : MonoBehaviour
{
    [SerializeField] Transform indicatorObject;

    RollingArray<Vector2> mousePositions;
    Camera mainCamera;

    void Awake()
    {
        // Save the last 50 elements
        mousePositions = new RollingArray<Vector2>(50);

        // Cache a reference to the main camera
        mainCamera = Camera.main;
    }

    void FixedUpdate()
    {
        // Get the mouse position in a fixed interval
        // If we get to 50 positions, the oldest position will be replaced
        mousePositions.Append(mainCamera.ScreenToWorldPoint(Input.mousePosition));
    }

    void Update()
    {
        // Only continue if we have at least one mouse position
        if (mousePositions.IsEmpty)
            return;

        // Go through all the saved mouse positions from oldest to newest to get the average
        Vector2 averagePosition = new Vector2();
        for (var i = 0; i < mousePositions.Count; i++)
        {
            averagePosition += mousePositions[i];
        }
        averagePosition /= mousePositions.Count;

        // Set the indicator object to the average position
        indicatorObject.position = averagePosition;
    }
}

Dependencies

None.