Question

I want to send through ObjectStream an object of class: (Packet is Serializable)

public class ServerPlayersListPacket extends Packet {

    private static final long serialVersionUID = -7141960214853425631L;

    private ArrayList<Player> players;


    public ServerPlayersListPacket(ArrayList<Player> players) {
        this.setPlayers(players);
    }


    public ArrayList<Player> getPlayers() {
        return new ArrayList<Player>(Collections.synchronizedList(players));
    }


    public void setPlayers(ArrayList<Player> players) {
        this.players = players;
    }
}

But there is a problem with ArrayList. While reciving it from the other site I got OptionalDataException.

I found it’s issue related to ArrayList synchronization. But how to make it work?

Answer 1

My trick is:

1. send initial packet ServerPlayersListInitPacket
2. send ServerNextPlayerPacket in loop with one Player per Packet

This solution also allows client site to update players list dynamically which is more smooth.