-module(star).
-export([go/3, build_ring/2, proc/0, send/4]).

%% recreates this: http://www.erlang.org/course/ex3.gif

% build a list of pids while starting the processes
% build(N, L) where N is the number of processes to spawn
% and L the list to append to
build_ring(0, L) ->
    L;
build_ring(N, L) ->
    List = lists:append(L, [spawn(star, proc, [])]),
    build_ring(N - 1, List).

% send the message across the ring surrounding the process
% in the center (the main process). If the list of processes
% gets empty a loop is done so start again. When the count
% of bounces reaches 0 we're done. 
send(_, _, 0, _) -> 
    exit(normal);
send(Msg, [], N, Orig_Pid_List) ->
    send(Msg, Orig_Pid_List, N, Orig_Pid_List);
send(Msg, [Next_PID | Rest], N, Orig_Pid_List) ->
    Next_PID ! {self(), Msg},
    io:format("sent to ~w~n", [Next_PID]),
    receive
        {Pid, Msg} ->
            io:format("received from ~w~n", [Pid]),
            send(Msg, Rest, N - 1, Orig_Pid_List)
    end.

% proc identifies the node, it only has to bounce the message
% and go back to listen
proc() ->
    receive
        {Pid, Msg} ->
            Pid ! {self(), Msg},
            proc()
    end.

% the entry point of the program.
go(Num_Processes, Num_Bounces, Msg) ->
    Pid_List = build_ring(Num_Processes, []),
    io:format("built ~w processes.~n", [Num_Processes]),
    send(Msg, Pid_List, Num_Bounces, Pid_List).