[redivcram]

What is the key difference between registering a thinking entity and calling a function with set_task repeatedly in intervals? Separate threads? Interrupts? Why would one (or whether would one) choose one method over another?

[JocAnis]

im using entity over set task when i need task to repeat with less that 0.1 sec, otherwise i guess its totally the same

[Natsheh]

using set_task is better because it doesn't consume entities since the entities in the game are limited. beside you can also pass parameters to the task...

basically entity think is for entities to assign them certain tasks such as movements, effects, etc...

for example NPC's, lasers, rockets, etc...


so the answer is use what you need for the job to get done.

[thEsp]

I did a basic test and seems that tasks are faster, tho I am unsure if I did it correctly or not because:

• There is a check in "thinkRepeat" forward.
• Server performance depends on the number of entities created (I tested it in a local game, 0 other third-party plugins).

#include <amxmodx>
#include <engine>

new g_dummyEntity;

new Float:g_iEntityTime, Float:g_iTaskTime, g_szMessage[8]; 

public plugin_init()
{
    register_think("info_target", "thinkRepeat");
    set_task(0.1, "taskRepeat", .flags = "b");

    g_dummyEntity = create_entity("info_target");
    entity_set_float(g_dummyEntity, EV_FL_nextthink, 0.1);
    entity_set_string(g_dummyEntity, EV_SZ_message, "dummy");

    register_clcmd("say /perftest", "cmdPerfomanceTest");
}

public thinkRepeat(ent)
{
    entity_get_string(ent, EV_SZ_message, g_szMessage, charsmax(g_szMessage));

    if (!equal(g_szMessage, "dummy"))
        return;

    g_iEntityTime = get_gametime();
    entity_set_float(ent, EV_FL_nextthink, 0.1);
}

public taskRepeat()
{
    g_iTaskTime = get_gametime();
}

public cmdPerfomanceTest(id)
{
    client_print(id, print_chat, "PerfTest: Task = %f <<->> Entity = %f", g_iTaskTime, g_iEntityTime);
}

Output:

PerfTest: Task = 117.940032 <<->> Entity = 117.990051
PerfTest: Task = 129.233001 <<->> Entity = 129.233001
PerfTest: Task = 134.867950 <<->> Entity = 134.891281
PerfTest: Task = 152.870132 <<->> Entity = 152.967751

Counting on some knowledgeable guy to state his opinion.

[Bugsy]

Here's some threads on the topic. Seems like it doesn't really matter, difference comes in when you need it to repeat faster than 0.1 interval since set_task() is clamped at that. I've personally been using thinking entities when I need something to constantly run, not sure if it's 100% ideal from a performance perspective, but I think it's cleaner.

https://forums.alliedmods.net/showthread.php?t=43049
https://forums.alliedmods.net/showthread.php?p=2577003

[redivcram]

Thanks for the replies.