PathFinder.java

package stray.pathfinding;

/**
 * A description of an implementation that can find a path from one location on
 * a tile map to another based on information provided by that tile map.
 * 
 * @see TileBasedMap
 * @author Kevin Glass
 */
public interface PathFinder {

	/**
	 * Find a path from the starting location provided (sx,sy) to the target
	 * location (tx,ty) avoiding blockages and attempting to honour costs
	 * provided by the tile map.
	 * 
	 * @param mover
	 *            The entity that will be moving along the path. This provides a
	 *            place to pass context information about the game entity doing
	 *            the moving, e.g. can it fly? can it swim etc.
	 * 
	 * @param sx
	 *            The x coordinate of the start location
	 * @param sy
	 *            The y coordinate of the start location
	 * @param tx
	 *            The x coordinate of the target location
	 * @param ty
	 *            Teh y coordinate of the target location
	 * @return The path found from start to end, or null if no path can be
	 *         found.
	 */
	public Path findPath(Mover mover, int sx, int sy, int tx, int ty);
}