I have a function that will calculate a random point on a circle
based on a specified radius and total number of points. The only
point in question is the first point. I get different values when
the code compiles in Release and Debug mode.
Here is some code:
Vector2f getPoint(uint index)
{
static const(float) pi = 3.141592654f;
float angle = index * 2 * pi / m_pointCount - pi / 2;
float x = cos(angle) * m_radius;
float y = sin(angle) * m_radius;
return Vector2f(m_radius + x, m_radius + y);
}
Vector2f is simply a struct that has 2 floats.
In debug mode this works as expected. Let's say the radius is 50.
getPoint(0) returns a vector that prints X: 50 Y: 0. For some
reason, the same function will return a vector that prints X: 50
Y: 4.77673e-14. Now, 4.77673e-14 is a crazy small number that
might as well be 0, but why the difference?
Also, consider the following change in the function:
Vector2f getPoint(uint index)
{
static const(float) pi = 3.141592654f;
float angle = index * 2 * pi / m_pointCount - pi / 2;
float x = cos(angle) * m_radius;
float y = sin(angle) * m_radius;
Vector2f temp = Vector2f(m_radius + x, m_radius + y);
return temp;
}
Surprisingly, when calling getpoint(0), this will return a
Vector2 that will print X: 50 Y: 0 even in Release mode.
Again, it's probably not that big of a deal since 4.77673e-14 is
so small, but I'm curious about this. Anyone wanna shed some
light on this?
