Aug 30/31 updates. Tinkering with shared_ptr. Working towards exposing UI objects to Python UI. Color object updated for shared_ptr structure that will be repeated for the rest of the UI objects. Still a lot of open questions, but committing here to get back on track after a few hours wasted trying to solve this problem too generally via templates.

src/GameEngine.cpp

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ GameEngine::GameEngine()
     //std::cout << "Constructing MenuScene" << std::endl;
     scenes["menu"] = new MenuScene(this);
     scenes["uitest"] = new UITestScene(this);
+
     //std::cout << "Constructed MenuScene" <<std::endl;
     //scenes["play"] = new UITestScene(this);
     //api = new McRFPy_API(this);
@@ -119,3 +120,21 @@ void GameEngine::sUserInput()
         }
     }
 }
+
+std::vector<std::shared_ptr<UIDrawable>>* GameEngine::scene_ui(std::string target)
+{
+    /* 
+    // facts about maps
+    // You just can't do this during scenes["new_menu"] being assigned.
+    std::cout << "Current scene is: " << scene << ". Searching for: " << target << ".\n";
+    std::cout << "scenes.size(): " << scenes.size() << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "scenes.count(target): " << scenes.count(target) << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "scenes.find(target): " << std::distance(scenes.begin(), scenes.find(target)) << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "iterators: " << std::distance(scenes.begin(), scenes.begin()) << " " <<
+        std::distance(scenes.begin(), scenes.end()) << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "scenes.contains(target): " << scenes.contains(target) << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "scenes[target]: " << (long)(scenes[target]) << std::endl;
+    */
+    if (scenes.count(target) == 0) return NULL;
+    return &scenes[target]->ui_elements;
+}

src/GameEngine.h

@@ -42,4 +42,6 @@ public:
     std::vector<sf::SoundBuffer> sfxbuffers;
     sf::Music music;
     sf::Sound sfx;
+    std::vector<std::shared_ptr<UIDrawable>>* scene_ui(std::string scene);
+    
 };

src/McRFPy_API.cpp

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include "GameEngine.h"
 #include "Grid.h"
 #include "UI.h"
+#include "Resources.h"
 
 // static class members...?
 std::map<std::string, UIMenu*> McRFPy_API::menus;
@@ -99,6 +100,8 @@ static PyMethodDef mcrfpyMethods[] = {
 	
 	{"camFollow", McRFPy_API::_camFollow, METH_VARARGS, ""},
 
+    {"sceneUI", McRFPy_API::_sceneUI, METH_VARARGS, "sceneUI(scene) - Returns a list of UI elements"},
+
     {NULL, NULL, 0, NULL}
 };
 
@@ -118,14 +121,17 @@ PyObject* PyInit_mcrfpy()
     }
     
     // This code runs, but Python segfaults when accessing the UIFrame type.
-    std::cout << "Adding UIFrame object to module\n";
+    //std::cout << "Adding UIFrame object to module\n";
     PyModule_AddType(m, &mcrfpydef::PyColorType);
+    
+    /* 
     if (PyModule_AddType(m, &mcrfpydef::PyUIFrameType) < 0)
     {
         std::cout << "Error adding UIFrame type to module; aborting" << std::endl;
         Py_DECREF(&mcrfpydef::PyUIFrameType);
         return NULL;
     }
+    */
 
     return m;
 }
@@ -1115,3 +1121,14 @@ PyObject* McRFPy_API::_camFollow(PyObject* self, PyObject* args) {
 	Py_INCREF(Py_None);
     return Py_None;
 }
+
+//McRFPy_API::_sceneUI
+PyObject* McRFPy_API::_sceneUI(PyObject* self, PyObject* args) {
+	const char *scene_cstr;
+	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s", &scene_cstr)) return NULL;
+
+    auto ui = Resources::game->scene_ui("uitest");
+    if(ui) std::cout << "vector returned has size=" << ui->size() << std::endl;
+    Py_INCREF(Py_None);
+    return Py_None;
+}

src/McRFPy_API.h

@@ -113,6 +113,8 @@ public:
     static void camFollow();
     static PyObject* _camFollow(PyObject*, PyObject*);
 
+    static PyObject* _sceneUI(PyObject*, PyObject*);
+    
     // accept keyboard input from scene
     static sf::Vector2i cursor_position;
     static void player_input(int, int);

src/Resources.cpp

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include "Resources.h"
-
+#include <list>
+#include "UI.h"
 // Resources class members memory allocation
 
 sf::Font Resources::font;

src/Resources.h

@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 #include "Common.h"
+#include <list>
+#include "UI.h"
 
 class GameEngine; // forward declared
 

src/Scene.h

@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 #define ACTIONPY ((name.size() > 3 && name.compare(name.size() - 3, 3, "_py") == 0))
 
 #include "Common.h"
+#include <list>
+#include "UI.h"
 //#include "GameEngine.h"
 
 class GameEngine; // forward declare
@@ -37,4 +39,6 @@ public:
     virtual bool registerActionInjected(int, std::string);
     virtual bool unregisterActionInjected(int, std::string);
     
+    std::vector<std::shared_ptr<UIDrawable>> ui_elements;
+
 };

src/UI.cpp

@@ -10,27 +10,33 @@ void UIDrawable::render()
 UIFrame::UIFrame():
 x(0), y(0), w(0), h(0), outline(0)
 {
+    /*
     pyOutlineColor = NULL;
     pyFillColor = NULL;
     _outlineColor = NULL;
     _fillColor = NULL;
+    */
 }
 
 UIFrame::UIFrame(float _x, float _y, float _w, float _h):
 x(_x), y(_y), w(_w), h(_h), outline(0)
 {
+    /*
     pyOutlineColor = NULL;
     pyFillColor = NULL;
     _outlineColor = NULL;
     _fillColor = NULL;
+    */
 }
 
 UIFrame::~UIFrame()
 {
+    /*
     if (pyOutlineColor) Py_DECREF(pyOutlineColor);
     else if (_outlineColor) delete _outlineColor;
     if (pyFillColor) Py_DECREF(pyFillColor);
     else if (_fillColor) delete _fillColor;
+    */
 }
 
 /*
@@ -43,68 +49,23 @@ UIFrame::~UIFrame()
     void outlineColor(PyObject* pyColor); // Python setter
 */
 
-sf::Color UIFrame::fillColor()
-{
-    if (_fillColor == NULL) return sf::Color();
-    return *_fillColor;
-}
-
-void UIFrame::fillColor(sf::Color c)
-{
-    if (pyFillColor) { Py_DECREF(pyFillColor); }
-    else { delete _fillColor; }
-    _fillColor = new sf::Color(c.r, c.g, c.b, c.a);
-    pyFillColor = NULL;
-}
-
-void UIFrame::fillColor(PyColorObject* pyColor)
-{
-    if (pyFillColor) { Py_DECREF(pyFillColor); }
-    else { delete _fillColor; }
-    Py_INCREF(pyColor);
-    pyFillColor = pyColor;
-    _fillColor = &(pyFillColor->color);
-}
-
-sf::Color UIFrame::outlineColor()
-{
-    if (_outlineColor == NULL) return sf::Color();
-    return *_outlineColor;
-}
-
-void UIFrame::outlineColor(sf::Color c)
-{
-    if (pyOutlineColor) { Py_DECREF(pyOutlineColor); }
-    else { delete _outlineColor; }
-    _outlineColor = new sf::Color(c.r, c.g, c.b, c.a);
-    pyOutlineColor = NULL;
-}
-
-void UIFrame::outlineColor(PyColorObject* pyColor)
-{
-    if (pyOutlineColor) { Py_DECREF(pyOutlineColor); }
-    else { delete _outlineColor; }
-    Py_INCREF(pyColor);
-    pyOutlineColor = pyColor;
-    _outlineColor = &(pyOutlineColor->color);
-}
 
 void UIFrame::render(sf::Vector2f offset)
 {
     //std::cout << "Rendering UIFrame w/ offset " << offset.x << ", " << offset.y << "\n";
     //std::cout << "position = " << x << ", " << y << "\n";
-    //box.move(offset);
+    box.move(offset);
-    //Resources::game->getWindow().draw(box);
-    //box.move(-offset);
-    sf::RectangleShape box = sf::RectangleShape(sf::Vector2f(w,h));
-    sf::Vector2f pos = sf::Vector2f(x, y);
-    box.setPosition(offset + pos);
-    if (_fillColor) { box.setFillColor(fillColor()); }
-    if (_outlineColor) { box.setOutlineColor(outlineColor()); }
-    box.setOutlineThickness(outline);
     Resources::game->getWindow().draw(box);
+    box.move(-offset);
+    //sf::RectangleShape box = sf::RectangleShape(sf::Vector2f(w,h));
+    //sf::Vector2f pos = sf::Vector2f(x, y);
+    //box.setPosition(offset + pos);
+    //if (_fillColor) { box.setFillColor(fillColor()); }
+    //if (_outlineColor) { box.setOutlineColor(outlineColor()); }
+    //box.setOutlineThickness(outline);
+    //Resources::game->getWindow().draw(box);
     for (auto drawable : children) {
-        drawable->render(offset + pos);
+        drawable->render(offset + box.getPosition());
     }
 }
 

src/UI.h

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+#pragma once
 #include "Common.h"
 #include "Python.h"
 #include "structmember.h"
@@ -14,12 +15,18 @@ public:
     std::string action;
 };
 
-//PyColorObject struct required to embed Python colors into UIFrame
+//Python object types & forward declarations
-
+/*
 typedef struct {
     PyObject_HEAD
     sf::Color color;
 } PyColorObject;
+*/
+
+typedef struct {
+    PyObject_HEAD
+    std::shared_ptr<sf::Color> data;
+} PyColorObject;
 
 class UIFrame: public UIDrawable
 {
@@ -27,14 +34,15 @@ public:
     UIFrame(float, float, float, float);
     UIFrame();
     ~UIFrame();
-    //sf::RectangleShape box;
+    sf::RectangleShape box;
 
     //Simulate RectangleShape
     float x, y, w, h, outline;
-    std::vector<UIDrawable*> children;
+    std::vector<std::shared_ptr<UIDrawable>> children;
     void render(sf::Vector2f) override final;
     void move(sf::Vector2f);
     
+    /*
     sf::Color fillColor(); // getter
     void fillColor(sf::Color c); // C++ setter
     void fillColor(PyColorObject* pyColor); // Python setter
@@ -42,10 +50,14 @@ public:
     sf::Color outlineColor(); // getter
     void outlineColor(sf::Color c); // C++ setter
     void outlineColor(PyColorObject* pyColor); // Python setter
+    */
     
 private:
+    //std::shared_ptr<sf::Color> fillColor, outlineColor;
+    /*
     sf::Color *_fillColor, *_outlineColor;
     PyColorObject *pyFillColor, *pyOutlineColor;
+    */
 };
 
 class UICaption: public UIDrawable
@@ -64,45 +76,72 @@ public:
     sf::Sprite sprite;
 };
 
+/*
+template<typename T>
+struct CPythonSharedObject {
+    PyObject_HEAD
+    std::shared_ptr<T> data;
+};
+
+typedef CPythonSharedObject<UIFrame> PyUIFrameObject;
+*/
+
+//equivalent
+/*
+typedef struct {
+    PyObject_HEAD
+    std::shared_ptr<UIFrame> data;
+} PyUIFrameObject;
+*/
+
+typedef struct {
+    PyObject_HEAD
+    std::shared_ptr<UICaption> data;
+} PyUICaptionObject;
+
+typedef struct {
+    PyObject_HEAD
+    std::shared_ptr<UISprite> data;
+} PyUISpriteObject;
+
 namespace mcrfpydef {
     
     // Color Definitions
     // struct, members, new, set_member, PyTypeObject
 
+    /* for reference: the structs to implement
+    typedef struct {
+        PyObject_HEAD
+        std::shared_ptr<sf::Color> data;
+    } PyColorObject;
     
-    static PyMemberDef PyColor_members[]
+    typedef struct {
-    {
+        PyObject_HEAD
-        {"r", T_BYTE, offsetof(PyColorObject, color.r), 0},
+        std::shared_ptr<UIFrame> data;
-        {"g", T_BYTE, offsetof(PyColorObject, color.g), 0},
+    } PyUIFrameObject;
-        {"b", T_BYTE, offsetof(PyColorObject, color.b), 0},
-        {"a", T_BYTE, offsetof(PyColorObject, color.a), 0},
-        {NULL}
-    };
     
-    static PyObject* PyColor_new(PyTypeObject* type, PyObject* args, PyObject* kwds)
+    typedef struct {
-    {
+        PyObject_HEAD
-        PyColorObject* self = (PyColorObject*)type->tp_alloc(type, 0);
+        std::shared_ptr<UICaption> data;
-        if (self != NULL)
+    } PyUICaptionObject;
-        {
+    
-            self->color.r = 0;
+    typedef struct {
-            self->color.g = 0;
+        PyObject_HEAD
-            self->color.b = 0;
+        std::shared_ptr<UISprite> data;
-            self->color.a = 255;
+    } PyUISpriteObject;
-        }
+    */
-        return (PyObject*) self;
-    }
     
     static PyObject* PyColor_get_member(PyColorObject* self, void* closure)
     {
         auto member_ptr = reinterpret_cast<long>(closure);
-        if (member_ptr == offsetof(PyColorObject, color.r))
+        if (member_ptr == 0)
-            return PyLong_FromLong(self->color.r);
+            return PyLong_FromLong(self->data->r);
-        else if (member_ptr == offsetof(PyColorObject, color.g))
+        else if (member_ptr == 1)
-            return PyLong_FromLong(self->color.g);
+            return PyLong_FromLong(self->data->g);
-        else if (member_ptr == offsetof(PyColorObject, color.b))
+        else if (member_ptr == 2)
-            return PyLong_FromLong(self->color.b);
+            return PyLong_FromLong(self->data->b);
-        else if (member_ptr == offsetof(PyColorObject, color.a))
+        else if (member_ptr == 3)
-            return PyLong_FromLong(self->color.a);
+            return PyLong_FromLong(self->data->a);
         else
         {
             PyErr_SetString(PyExc_AttributeError, "Invalid attribute");
@@ -120,14 +159,14 @@ namespace mcrfpydef {
             else if (int_val > 255)
                 int_val = 255;
             auto member_ptr = reinterpret_cast<long>(closure);
-            if (member_ptr == offsetof(PyColorObject, color.r))
+            if (member_ptr == 0)
-                self->color.r = static_cast<sf::Uint8>(int_val);
+                self->data->r = static_cast<sf::Uint8>(int_val);
-            else if (member_ptr == offsetof(PyColorObject, color.g))
+            else if (member_ptr == 1)
-                self->color.g = static_cast<sf::Uint8>(int_val);
+                self->data->g = static_cast<sf::Uint8>(int_val);
-            else if (member_ptr == offsetof(PyColorObject, color.b))
+            else if (member_ptr == 2)
-                self->color.b = static_cast<sf::Uint8>(int_val);
+                self->data->b = static_cast<sf::Uint8>(int_val);
-            else if (member_ptr == offsetof(PyColorObject, color.a))
+            else if (member_ptr == 3)
-                self->color.a = static_cast<sf::Uint8>(int_val);
+                self->data->a = static_cast<sf::Uint8>(int_val);
         }
         else
         {
@@ -138,18 +177,67 @@ namespace mcrfpydef {
     }
     
     static PyGetSetDef PyColor_getsetters[] = {
-        {"r", (getter)PyColor_get_member, (setter)PyColor_set_member, "Red component", (void*)offsetof(PyColorObject, color.r)},
+        {"r", (getter)PyColor_get_member, (setter)PyColor_set_member, "Red component",   (void*)0},
-        {"g", (getter)PyColor_get_member, (setter)PyColor_set_member, "Green component", (void*)offsetof(PyColorObject, color.g)},
+        {"g", (getter)PyColor_get_member, (setter)PyColor_set_member, "Green component", (void*)1},
-        {"b", (getter)PyColor_get_member, (setter)PyColor_set_member, "Blue component", (void*)offsetof(PyColorObject, color.b)},
+        {"b", (getter)PyColor_get_member, (setter)PyColor_set_member, "Blue component",  (void*)2},
-        {"a", (getter)PyColor_get_member, (setter)PyColor_set_member, "Alpha component", (void*)offsetof(PyColorObject, color.a)},
+        {"a", (getter)PyColor_get_member, (setter)PyColor_set_member, "Alpha component", (void*)3},
         {NULL}
     };
 
-    static PyTypeObject PyColorType = {
+    
+     static PyTypeObject PyColorType = {
         //PyVarObject_HEAD_INIT(NULL, 0)
         .tp_name = "mcrfpy.Color",
         .tp_basicsize = sizeof(PyColorObject),
         .tp_itemsize = 0,
+        .tp_dealloc = (destructor)[](PyObject* self)
+        {
+            PyColorObject* obj = (PyColorObject*)self;
+            obj->data.reset(); 
+            Py_TYPE(self)->tp_free(self); 
+        },
+        //.tp_repr = (reprfunc)PyUIFrame_repr,
+        //.tp_hash = NULL,
+        //.tp_iter
+        //.tp_iternext
+        .tp_flags = Py_TPFLAGS_DEFAULT,
+        .tp_doc = PyDoc_STR("SFML Color object (RGBA)"),
+        //.tp_methods = PyUIFrame_methods,
+        //.tp_members = PyColor_members,
+        .tp_getset = PyColor_getsetters,
+        //.tp_base = NULL,
+        //.tp_init = (initproc)PyUIFrame_init,
+        .tp_new = [](PyTypeObject* type, PyObject* args, PyObject* kwds) -> PyObject*
+        { 
+            PyColorObject* self = (PyColorObject*)type->tp_alloc(type, 0);
+            if (self) self->data = std::make_shared<sf::Color>();
+            return (PyObject*)self;
+        }
+    };
+
+
+
+    /* 
+    static PyTypeObject PyUIFrameType = {
+        .tp_name = "mcrfpy.Frame",
+        .tp_basicsize = sizeof(PyUIFrameObject),
+        .tp_itemsize = 0,
+        .tp_dealloc = (destructor)[](PyObject* self) {
+            PyUIFrameObject* obj = (PyUIFrameObject*)self;
+            obj->data.reset();
+            Py_TYPE(self)->tp_free(self);
+        },
+        //.tp_init = (initproc)PyUIFrame_init, // needs implementation
+        //.tp_new = PyUIFrame_new, // needs implementation
+    };
+    */
+
+    /*
+    static PyTypeObject PyUIFrameType = {
+        //PyVarObject_HEAD_INIT(NULL, 0)
+        .tp_name = "mcrfpy.Frame",
+        .tp_basicsize = sizeof(PyColorObject),
+        .tp_itemsize = 0,
         //.tp_dealloc = [](PyObject* obj) { Py_TYPE(obj)->tp_free(obj); },
         //.tp_repr = (reprfunc)PyUIFrame_repr,
         //.tp_hash = NULL,
@@ -165,10 +253,50 @@ namespace mcrfpydef {
         .tp_new = PyColor_new, //PyType_GenericNew ?
     };
     
+    static PyTypeObject PyCaptionType = {
+        //PyVarObject_HEAD_INIT(NULL, 0)
+        .tp_name = "mcrfpy.Caption",
+        .tp_basicsize = sizeof(PyColorObject),
+        .tp_itemsize = 0,
+        //.tp_dealloc = [](PyObject* obj) { Py_TYPE(obj)->tp_free(obj); },
+        //.tp_repr = (reprfunc)PyUIFrame_repr,
+        //.tp_hash = NULL,
+        //.tp_iter
+        //.tp_iternext
+        .tp_flags = Py_TPFLAGS_DEFAULT,
+        .tp_doc = PyDoc_STR("SFML Color object (RGBA)"),
+        //.tp_methods = PyUIFrame_methods,
+        //.tp_members = PyColor_members,
+        .tp_getset = PyColor_getsetters,
+        //.tp_base = NULL,
+        //.tp_init = (initproc)PyUIFrame_init,
+        .tp_new = PyColor_new, //PyType_GenericNew ?
+    };
+    
+    static PyTypeObject PySpriteType = {
+        //PyVarObject_HEAD_INIT(NULL, 0)
+        .tp_name = "mcrfpy.Sprite",
+        .tp_basicsize = sizeof(PyColorObject),
+        .tp_itemsize = 0,
+        //.tp_dealloc = [](PyObject* obj) { Py_TYPE(obj)->tp_free(obj); },
+        //.tp_repr = (reprfunc)PyUIFrame_repr,
+        //.tp_hash = NULL,
+        //.tp_iter
+        //.tp_iternext
+        .tp_flags = Py_TPFLAGS_DEFAULT,
+        .tp_doc = PyDoc_STR("SFML Color object (RGBA)"),
+        //.tp_methods = PyUIFrame_methods,
+        //.tp_members = PyColor_members,
+        .tp_getset = PyColor_getsetters,
+        //.tp_base = NULL,
+        //.tp_init = (initproc)PyUIFrame_init,
+        .tp_new = PyColor_new, //PyType_GenericNew ?
+    };
+    */
 
     // UIFrame Definitions
     // new, init, repr, set_size, methods, members, PyTypeObject
-    
+    /*
     static PyObject* PyUIFrame_new(PyTypeObject* type, PyObject* args, PyObject* kwds)
     {
         std::cout << "New called\n";
@@ -221,6 +349,7 @@ namespace mcrfpydef {
             "Set the width and height of the UIFrame's visible box"},
         {NULL, NULL, 0, NULL}
     };
+    */
     
     /*
     static PyMemberDef PyUIFrame_members[] = {
@@ -229,6 +358,7 @@ namespace mcrfpydef {
     };
     */
     
+    /*
     static PyTypeObject PyUIFrameType = {
         //PyVarObject_HEAD_INIT(NULL, 0)
         .tp_name = "mcrfpy.UIFrame",
@@ -247,6 +377,6 @@ namespace mcrfpydef {
         .tp_init = (initproc)PyUIFrame_init,
         .tp_new = PyUIFrame_new, //PyType_GenericNew ?
     };
-         
+    */  
          
 }

src/UITestScene.cpp

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include "UITestScene.h"
 #include "ActionCode.h"
+#include "Resources.h"
 
 UITestScene::UITestScene(GameEngine* g) : Scene(g)
 {
@@ -12,37 +13,50 @@ UITestScene::UITestScene(GameEngine* g) : Scene(g)
     //registerAction(ActionCode::KEY + sf::Keyboard::Up, "up");
     //registerAction(ActionCode::KEY + sf::Keyboard::Down, "down");
     
+    auto ui = Resources::game->scene_ui("uitest");
+    if (ui)
+    {
+        std::cout << "Got back a UI vector from Resources::game.\n";
+    } else {
+        std::cout << "No UI vector was returned.\n";
+    }
 
     // Create a UI element or three?
-    e1 = UIFrame(100,150,400,400);
+    auto e1 = std::make_shared<UIFrame>(100,150,400,400);
-        //e1.box.setPosition(100, 150);
+    e1->box.setPosition(100, 150);
-        //e1.box.setSize(sf::Vector2f(400,400));
+    e1->box.setSize(sf::Vector2f(400,400));
-        //e1.box.setFillColor(sf::Color(255, 0, 0));
+    e1->box.setFillColor(sf::Color(255, 0, 0));
-    e1.fillColor(sf::Color(255,0,0));
+    //e1.fillColor(sf::Color(255,0,0));
+    //if (ui) ui->push_back(e1);
+    ui_elements.push_back(e1);
 
-    e1a = UIFrame(50,50,200,200);
+    auto e1a = std::make_shared<UIFrame>(50,50,200,200);
-        //e1a.box.setPosition(50, 50);
+    e1a->box.setPosition(50, 50);
-        //e1a.box.setSize(sf::Vector2f(200,200));
+    e1a->box.setSize(sf::Vector2f(200,200));
-        //e1a.box.setFillColor(sf::Color(0, 255, 0));
+    e1a->box.setFillColor(sf::Color(0, 255, 0));
-    e1a.fillColor(sf::Color(0, 255, 0));
+    //e1a.fillColor(sf::Color(0, 255, 0));
-    e1.children.push_back(&e1a);
+    e1->children.push_back(e1a);
     
-    e1aa = UIFrame(5,5,100,100);
+    auto e1aa = std::make_shared<UIFrame>(5,5,100,100);
-        //e1aa.box.setPosition(5, 5);
+    e1aa->box.setPosition(5, 5);
-        //e1aa.box.setSize(sf::Vector2f(100,100));
+    e1aa->box.setSize(sf::Vector2f(100,100));
-        //e1aa.box.setFillColor(sf::Color(0, 0, 255));
+    e1aa->box.setFillColor(sf::Color(0, 0, 255));
-    e1aa.fillColor(sf::Color(0, 0, 255));  
+    //e1aa.fillColor(sf::Color(0, 0, 255));  
-    e1a.children.push_back(&e1aa);
+    e1a->children.push_back(e1aa);
     
-    e2 = UICaption();
+    auto e2 = std::make_shared<UICaption>();
-    e2.text.setFont(game->getFont());
+    e2->text.setFont(game->getFont());
-    e2.text.setString("Hello World.");
+    e2->text.setString("Hello World.");
     //e2.text.setColor(sf::Color(255, 255, 255));
-    e2.text.setPosition(50, 250);
+    e2->text.setPosition(50, 250);
     
-    ui_elements.push_back(&e1);
+    //if (ui) ui->push_back(e2);
-    ui_elements.push_back(&e2);
+    ui_elements.push_back(e2);
+    //ui_elements.push_back(&e1);
+    //ui_elements.push_back(&e2);
     
+    if (ui)
+    std::cout << "pointer to ui_elements now shows size=" << ui->size() << std::endl;
 }
 
 void UITestScene::update()
@@ -70,10 +84,14 @@ void UITestScene::sRender()
     game->getWindow().draw(text);
     
     // draw all UI elements
+    //for (auto e: ui_elements)
+    //auto ui = Resources::game->scene_ui("uitest");
+    //if (ui)
     for (auto e: ui_elements)
     {
         //std::cout << "Rendering element\n";
-        e->render();
+        if (e)
+            e->render();
     }
     
     //e1.render(sf::Vector2f(0, 0));

src/UITestScene.h

@@ -3,15 +3,15 @@
 #include "Common.h"
 #include "Scene.h"
 #include "GameEngine.h"
-#include <list>
+//#include <list>
-#include "UI.h"
+//#include "UI.h"
 
 class UITestScene: public Scene
 {
     sf::Text text;
-    UIFrame e1, e1a, e1aa;
+    //UIFrame e1, e1a, e1aa;
-    UICaption e2;
+    //UICaption e2;
-    std::vector<UIDrawable*> ui_elements;
+    //std::vector<UIDrawable*> ui_elements;
 
 public:
     UITestScene(GameEngine*);