Automatically invoke the correct block constructor

And store delegates of dynamic methods invoking constructors
Tested with the automated tests

GamecraftModdingAPI/Block.cs

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 using System;
-using System.Reflection;
-using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Linq;
+using System.Reflection.Emit;
 
 using Svelto.ECS;
 using Svelto.ECS.EntityStructs;
@@ -67,10 +68,6 @@ namespace GamecraftModdingAPI
 		/// Place a new block at the given position. If scaled, position means the center of the block. The default block size is 0.2 in terms of position.
 		/// Place blocks next to each other to connect them.
 		/// The placed block will be a complete block with a placement grid and collision which will be saved along with the game.
-		/// <para></para>
-		/// <para>This method waits for the block to be constructed in the game which may take a significant amount of time.
-		/// Only use this to place a single block.
-		/// For placing multiple blocks, use PlaceNew() then AsyncUtils.WaitForSubmission() when done with placing blocks.</para>
 		/// </summary>
 		/// <param name="block">The block's type</param>
 		/// <param name="color">The block's color</param>
@@ -81,23 +78,15 @@ namespace GamecraftModdingAPI
 		/// <param name="scale">The block's non-uniform scale - 0 means <paramref name="uscale"/> is used</param>
 		/// <param name="player">The player who placed the block</param>
 		/// <returns>The placed block or null if failed</returns>
-		public static async Task<Block> PlaceNewAsync(BlockIDs block, float3 position,
+		public static T PlaceNew<T>(BlockIDs block, float3 position,
 			float3 rotation = default, BlockColors color = BlockColors.Default, byte darkness = 0,
-			int uscale = 1, float3 scale = default, Player player = null)
+			int uscale = 1, float3 scale = default, Player player = null) where T : Block
 		{
 			if (PlacementEngine.IsInGame && GameState.IsBuildMode())
 			{
-				try
-				{
-					var ret = new Block(PlacementEngine.PlaceBlock(block, color, darkness,
-						position, uscale, scale, player, rotation));
-					await AsyncUtils.WaitForSubmission();
-					return ret;
-				}
-				catch (Exception e)
-				{
-					Logging.MetaDebugLog(e);
-				}
+				var egid = PlacementEngine.PlaceBlock(block, color, darkness,
+					position, uscale, scale, player, rotation);
+				return New<T>(egid.entityID, egid.groupID);
 			}
 
 			return null;
@@ -109,7 +98,7 @@ namespace GamecraftModdingAPI
 		/// <returns>The block object</returns>
 		public static Block GetLastPlacedBlock()
 		{
-			return new Block(BlockIdentifiers.LatestBlockID);
+			return New<Block>(BlockIdentifiers.LatestBlockID);
 		}
 
 		/// <summary>
@@ -130,6 +119,75 @@ namespace GamecraftModdingAPI
 			remove => BlockEventsEngine.Removed -= value;
 		}
 
+		private static Dictionary<Type, Func<EGID, Block>> initializers = new Dictionary<Type, Func<EGID, Block>>();
+
+		private static Dictionary<Type, ExclusiveGroupStruct[]> typeToGroup =
+			new Dictionary<Type, ExclusiveGroupStruct[]>
+			{
+				{typeof(ConsoleBlock), new[] {CommonExclusiveGroups.BUILD_CONSOLE_BLOCK_GROUP}},
+				{typeof(Motor), new[] {CommonExclusiveGroups.BUILD_MOTOR_BLOCK_GROUP}},
+				{typeof(Piston), new[] {CommonExclusiveGroups.BUILD_PISTON_BLOCK_GROUP}},
+				{typeof(Servo), new[] {CommonExclusiveGroups.BUILD_SERVO_BLOCK_GROUP}},
+				{
+					typeof(SpawnPoint),
+					new[]
+					{
+						CommonExclusiveGroups.BUILD_SPAWNPOINT_BLOCK_GROUP,
+						CommonExclusiveGroups.BUILD_BUILDINGSPAWN_BLOCK_GROUP
+					}
+				},
+				{typeof(TextBlock), new[] {CommonExclusiveGroups.BUILD_TEXT_BLOCK_GROUP}},
+				{typeof(Timer), new[] {CommonExclusiveGroups.BUILD_TIMER_BLOCK_GROUP}}
+			};
+
+		private static T New<T>(uint id, ExclusiveGroupStruct? group = null) where T : Block
+		{
+			var type = typeof(T);
+			EGID egid;
+			if (!group.HasValue)
+			{
+				if (typeToGroup.TryGetValue(type, out var gr) && gr.Length == 1)
+					egid = new EGID(id, gr[0]);
+				else
+					egid = BlockEngine.FindBlockEGID(id) ?? throw new BlockTypeException("Could not find block group!");
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				egid = new EGID(id, group.Value);
+				if (typeToGroup.TryGetValue(type, out var gr)
+				    && gr.All(egs => egs != group.Value)) //If this subclass has a specific group, then use that - so Block should still work
+					throw new BlockTypeException($"Incompatible block type! Type {type.Name} belongs to group {gr.Select(g => g.ToString()).Aggregate((a, b) => a + ", " + b)} instead of {group.Value}");
+			}
+
+			if (initializers.TryGetValue(type, out var func))
+			{
+				var bl = (T) func(egid);
+				return bl;
+			}
+
+			//https://stackoverflow.com/a/10593806/2703239
+			var ctor = type.GetConstructor(new[] {typeof(EGID)});
+			if (ctor == null)
+				throw new MissingMethodException("There is no constructor with an EGID parameter for this object");
+			DynamicMethod dynamic = new DynamicMethod(string.Empty,
+				type,
+				new[] {typeof(EGID)},
+				type);
+			ILGenerator il = dynamic.GetILGenerator();
+
+			il.DeclareLocal(type);
+			il.Emit(OpCodes.Ldarg_0); //Load EGID and pass to constructor
+			il.Emit(OpCodes.Newobj, ctor); //Call constructor
+			il.Emit(OpCodes.Stloc_0);
+			il.Emit(OpCodes.Ldloc_0);
+			il.Emit(OpCodes.Ret);
+
+			func = (Func<EGID, T>) dynamic.CreateDelegate(typeof(Func<EGID, T>));
+			initializers.Add(type, func);
+			var block = (T) func(egid);
+			return block;
+		}
+
 		public Block(EGID id)
 		{
 			Id = id;
@@ -344,12 +402,9 @@ namespace GamecraftModdingAPI
 			// C# can't cast to a child of Block unless the object was originally that child type
 			// And C# doesn't let me make implicit cast operators for child types
 			// So thanks to Microsoft, we've got this horrible implementation using reflection
-			ConstructorInfo ctor = typeof(T).GetConstructor(types: new System.Type[] { typeof(EGID) });
-			if (ctor == null)
-			{
-				throw new BlockSpecializationException("Specialized block constructor does not accept an EGID");
-			}
-			return (T)ctor.Invoke(new object[] { Id });
+			
+			//Lets improve that using delegates
+			return New<T>(Id.entityID, Id.groupID);
 		}
 
 #if DEBUG

GamecraftModdingAPI/Blocks/BlockTests.cs

@@ -30,9 +30,8 @@ namespace GamecraftModdingAPI.Blocks
 		[APITestCase(TestType.EditMode)]
         public static void TestTextBlock()
 		{
-			Block newBlock = Block.PlaceNew(BlockIDs.TextBlock, Unity.Mathematics.float3.zero + 1);
 			TextBlock textBlock = null; // Note: the assignment operation is a lambda, which slightly confuses the compiler
-			Assert.Errorless(() => { textBlock = newBlock.Specialise<TextBlock>(); }, "Block.Specialize<TextBlock>() raised an exception: ", "Block.Specialize<TextBlock>() completed without issue.");
+			Assert.Errorless(() => { textBlock = Block.PlaceNew<TextBlock>(BlockIDs.TextBlock, Unity.Mathematics.float3.zero + 1); }, "Block.PlaceNew<TextBlock>() raised an exception: ", "Block.PlaceNew<TextBlock>() completed without issue.");
 			if (!Assert.NotNull(textBlock, "Block.Specialize<TextBlock>() returned null, possibly because it failed silently.", "Specialized TextBlock is not null.")) return;
 			if (!Assert.NotNull(textBlock.Text, "TextBlock.Text is null, possibly because it failed silently.", "TextBlock.Text is not null.")) return;
 			if (!Assert.NotNull(textBlock.TextBlockId, "TextBlock.TextBlockId is null, possibly because it failed silently.", "TextBlock.TextBlockId is not null.")) return;

GamecraftModdingAPI/Blocks/ConsoleBlock.cs

@@ -12,33 +12,19 @@ namespace GamecraftModdingAPI.Blocks
 {
 	public class ConsoleBlock : Block
     {
-		public static ConsoleBlock PlaceNew(float3 position,
-            float3 rotation = default, BlockColors color = BlockColors.Default, byte darkness = 0,
-            int uscale = 1, float3 scale = default, Player player = null)
+	    public ConsoleBlock(EGID id): base(id)
         {
-	        if (PlacementEngine.IsInGame && GameState.IsBuildMode())
-	        {
-		        EGID id = PlacementEngine.PlaceBlock(BlockIDs.ConsoleBlock, color, darkness,
-			        position, uscale, scale, player, rotation);
-		        return new ConsoleBlock(id);
-	        }
-
-	        return null;
-        }
-
-		public ConsoleBlock(EGID id): base(id)
-        {
-			if (!BlockEngine.GetBlockInfoExists<ConsoleBlockEntityStruct>(this.Id))
-			{
-				throw new BlockTypeException($"Block is not a {this.GetType().Name} block");
-			}
+		    if (!BlockEngine.GetBlockInfoExists<ConsoleBlockEntityStruct>(this.Id))
+		    {
+			    throw new BlockTypeException($"Block is not a {this.GetType().Name} block");
+		    }
         }
 
-		public ConsoleBlock(uint id): base(new EGID(id, CommonExclusiveGroups.BUILD_CONSOLE_BLOCK_GROUP))
+	    public ConsoleBlock(uint id): base(new EGID(id, CommonExclusiveGroups.BUILD_CONSOLE_BLOCK_GROUP))
         {
-			if (!BlockEngine.GetBlockInfoExists<ConsoleBlockEntityStruct>(this.Id))
+		    if (!BlockEngine.GetBlockInfoExists<ConsoleBlockEntityStruct>(this.Id))
             {
-				throw new BlockTypeException($"Block is not a {this.GetType().Name} block");
+			    throw new BlockTypeException($"Block is not a {this.GetType().Name} block");
             }
         }
 

GamecraftModdingAPI/Blocks/Motor.cs

@@ -11,29 +11,6 @@ namespace GamecraftModdingAPI.Blocks
 {
 	public class Motor : Block
     {
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Places a new motor.
-        /// Any valid motor type is accepted.
-        /// This re-implements Block.PlaceNew(...)
-        /// </summary>
-		public static new Motor PlaceNew(BlockIDs block, float3 position,
-            float3 rotation = default, BlockColors color = BlockColors.Default, byte darkness = 0,
-            int uscale = 1, float3 scale = default, Player player = null)
-        {
-			if (!(block == BlockIDs.MotorS || block == BlockIDs.MotorM))
-            {
-                throw new BlockTypeException($"Block is not a {typeof(Motor).Name} block");
-            }
-            if (PlacementEngine.IsInGame && GameState.IsBuildMode())
-            {
-                EGID id = PlacementEngine.PlaceBlock(block, color, darkness,
-                                                     position, uscale, scale, player, rotation);
-                return new Motor(id);
-            }
-
-            return null;
-        }
-
         public Motor(EGID id) : base(id)
         {
             if (!BlockEngine.GetBlockInfoExists<MotorReadOnlyStruct>(this.Id))

GamecraftModdingAPI/Blocks/Piston.cs

@@ -11,30 +11,7 @@ namespace GamecraftModdingAPI.Blocks
 {
 	public class Piston : Block
     {
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Places a new piston.
-        /// Any valid piston type is accepted.
-        /// This re-implements Block.PlaceNew(...)
-        /// </summary>
-		public static new Piston PlaceNew(BlockIDs block, float3 position,
-            float3 rotation = default, BlockColors color = BlockColors.Default, byte darkness = 0,
-            int uscale = 1, float3 scale = default, Player player = null)
-        {
-			if (!(block == BlockIDs.ServoPiston || block == BlockIDs.StepperPiston || block == BlockIDs.PneumaticPiston))
-            {
-				throw new BlockTypeException($"Block is not a {typeof(Piston).Name} block");
-            }
-            if (PlacementEngine.IsInGame && GameState.IsBuildMode())
-            {
-                EGID id = PlacementEngine.PlaceBlock(block, color, darkness,
-                                                     position, uscale, scale, player, rotation);
-				return new Piston(id);
-            }
-
-            return null;
-        }
-
-		public Piston(EGID id) : base(id)
+        public Piston(EGID id) : base(id)
         {
             if (!BlockEngine.GetBlockInfoExists<PistonReadOnlyStruct>(this.Id))
             {

GamecraftModdingAPI/Blocks/Servo.cs

@@ -11,29 +11,6 @@ namespace GamecraftModdingAPI.Blocks
 {
 	public class Servo : Block
     {
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Places a new servo.
-        /// Any valid servo type is accepted.
-        /// This re-implements Block.PlaceNew(...)
-        /// </summary>
-        public static new Servo PlaceNew(BlockIDs block, float3 position,
-            float3 rotation = default, BlockColors color = BlockColors.Default, byte darkness = 0,
-            int uscale = 1, float3 scale = default, Player player = null)
-        {
-			if (!(block == BlockIDs.ServoAxle || block == BlockIDs.ServoHinge || block == BlockIDs.ServoPiston))
-            {
-				throw new BlockTypeException($"Block is not a {nameof(Servo)} block");
-            }
-            if (PlacementEngine.IsInGame && GameState.IsBuildMode())
-            {
-                EGID id = PlacementEngine.PlaceBlock(block, color, darkness,
-                                                     position, uscale, scale, player, rotation);
-				return new Servo(id);
-            }
-
-            return null;
-        }
-
 		public Servo(EGID id) : base(id)
         {
             if (!BlockEngine.GetBlockInfoExists<ServoReadOnlyStruct>(this.Id))

GamecraftModdingAPI/Blocks/SignalingBlock.cs

@@ -14,25 +14,6 @@ namespace GamecraftModdingAPI.Blocks
     /// </summary>
 	public class SignalingBlock : Block
 	{
-		/// <summary>
-        /// Places a new signaling block.
-        /// Any valid functional block type with IO ports will work.
-        /// This re-implements Block.PlaceNew(...)
-        /// </summary>
-		public static new SignalingBlock PlaceNew(BlockIDs block, float3 position,
-            float3 rotation = default, BlockColors color = BlockColors.Default, byte darkness = 0,
-            int uscale = 1, float3 scale = default, Player player = null)
-        {
-            if (PlacementEngine.IsInGame && GameState.IsBuildMode())
-            {
-                EGID id = PlacementEngine.PlaceBlock(block, color, darkness,
-                                                     position, uscale, scale, player, rotation);
-				return new SignalingBlock(id);
-            }
-
-            return null;
-        }
-
 		public SignalingBlock(EGID id) : base(id)
 		{
 			if (!BlockEngine.GetBlockInfoExists<BlockPortsStruct>(this.Id))

GamecraftModdingAPI/Blocks/SpawnPoint.cs

@@ -13,30 +13,7 @@ namespace GamecraftModdingAPI.Blocks
 {
     public class SpawnPoint : Block
     {
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Places a new spawn point.
-		/// Any valid spawn block type is accepted.
-		/// This re-implements Block.PlaceNew(...)
-        /// </summary>
-		public static new SpawnPoint PlaceNew(BlockIDs block, float3 position,
-            float3 rotation = default, BlockColors color = BlockColors.Default, byte darkness = 0,
-            int uscale = 1, float3 scale = default, Player player = null)
-        {
-			if (!(block == BlockIDs.LargeSpawn || block == BlockIDs.SmallSpawn || block == BlockIDs.MediumSpawn || block == BlockIDs.PlayerSpawn))
-			{
-				throw new BlockTypeException($"Block is not a {nameof(SpawnPoint)} block");
-			}
-            if (PlacementEngine.IsInGame && GameState.IsBuildMode())
-            {
-                EGID id = PlacementEngine.PlaceBlock(block, color, darkness,
-                                                     position, uscale, scale, player, rotation);
-					return new SpawnPoint(id);
-            }
-
-            return null;
-        }
-
-		public SpawnPoint(EGID id) : base(id)
+	    public SpawnPoint(EGID id) : base(id)
         {
 			if (!BlockEngine.GetBlockInfoExists<SpawnPointStatsEntityStruct>(this.Id))
             {

GamecraftModdingAPI/Blocks/TextBlock.cs

@@ -12,21 +12,6 @@ namespace GamecraftModdingAPI.Blocks
 {
 	public class TextBlock : Block
     {
-
-		public static TextBlock PlaceNew(float3 position,
-            float3 rotation = default, BlockColors color = BlockColors.Default, byte darkness = 0,
-            int uscale = 1, float3 scale = default, Player player = null)
-        {
-            if (PlacementEngine.IsInGame && GameState.IsBuildMode())
-            {
-				EGID id = PlacementEngine.PlaceBlock(BlockIDs.TextBlock, color, darkness,
-				  									 position, uscale, scale, player, rotation);
-				return new TextBlock(id);
-            }
-
-            return null;
-        }
-
 		public TextBlock(EGID id) : base(id)
         {
             if (!BlockEngine.GetBlockInfoExists<TextBlockDataStruct>(this.Id))

GamecraftModdingAPI/Blocks/Timer.cs

@@ -13,23 +13,6 @@ namespace GamecraftModdingAPI.Blocks
 {
     public class Timer : Block
     {
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Places a new timer block.
-        /// </summary>
-        public static Timer PlaceNew(float3 position,
-            float3 rotation = default, BlockColors color = BlockColors.Default, byte darkness = 0,
-            int uscale = 1, float3 scale = default, Player player = null)
-        {
-            if (PlacementEngine.IsInGame && GameState.IsBuildMode())
-            {
-				EGID id = PlacementEngine.PlaceBlock(BlockIDs.Timer, color, darkness,
-                                                     position, uscale, scale, player, rotation);
-                return new Timer(id);
-            }
-
-            return null;
-        }
-
         public Timer(EGID id) : base(id)
         {
             if (!BlockEngine.GetBlockInfoExists<TimerBlockDataStruct>(this.Id))

GamecraftModdingAPI/Tests/GamecraftModdingAPIPluginTest.cs

@@ -232,6 +232,28 @@ namespace GamecraftModdingAPI.Tests
 						}
 					}).Build();
 
+				CommandBuilder.Builder()
+					.Name("PlaceConsole")
+					.Description("Place a bunch of console block with a given text")
+					.Action((float x, float y, float z) =>
+					{
+						Stopwatch sw = new Stopwatch();
+						sw.Start();
+						for (int i = 0; i < 100; i++)
+						{
+							for (int j = 0; j < 100; j++)
+							{
+								var block = Block.PlaceNew<ConsoleBlock>(BlockIDs.ConsoleBlock,
+									new float3(x + i, y, z + j));
+								block.Command = "test_command";
+							}
+						}
+						
+						sw.Stop();
+						Logging.CommandLog($"Blocks placed in {sw.ElapsedMilliseconds} ms");
+					})
+					.Build();
+
 				GameClient.SetDebugInfo("InstalledMods", InstalledMods);
 				Block.Placed += (sender, args) =>
 					Logging.MetaDebugLog("Placed block " + args.Type + " with ID " + args.ID);