PIXI.utils.TextCache instead of PIXI.loader.resource?

[leeenx]

I thought every texture that Pixi create, will be stored in PIXI.utils.TextCache. But as use PIXI.loader, Pixi’s development team recommends use PIXI.loader.resources.

I am confused aboute it. So, I make a demo:

PIXI.loader
	.add([
		"images/1.png", 
		"images/2.png"
	]) 
	.load(function() {
		var sprite = new PIXI.Sprite(PIXI.utils.TextureCache["images/[email protected]"]); 
		app.stage.addChild(sprite); 
	}); 

I found that PIXI.utils.TextCache works well。

Can I always use PIXI.utils.TextCache instead of PIXI.loader.resource.

[ova2]

I'm interested in the answer too. @kittykatattack What is the difference between usage of PIXI.utils.TextureCache and PIXI.loader.resources in the load callback?

Thanks in advance.

[RexSkz]

I found something (loader.js#L74-L83) in PIXI's source code, the textureParser calls fromLoader, which can add resource into cache (Texture.js#L452-L453). So once the resource is loaded, you can find them in PIXI.utils.TextureCache.

Then I found the loader of PIXI extends from englercj/resource-loader, this line (Loader.js#L389-L401) means that everything you have loaded will be destroyed once you call loader.reset().

In a word, reset can only destroy resources in Loader, not in TextureCache. So I think at this moment using PIXI.utils.TextureCache instead of PIXI.loader.resources is better, unless you prefer writing a cache system yourself. (See "Update 2".)

---

Update 1:

Sometimes I have to call reset so that I can load more resources in bad network situation. And reset can destroy all resources I have loaded, so I can't use texture in PIXI.loader.resources anymore, but PIXI.utils.TextureCache still work.

---

Update 2:

After some searching, I found I was wrong in some words, see the reply below.

[ova2]

@RexSkz Thanks for the explanation. But why the Pixi’s development team recommends use PIXI.loader.resources then? :-)

[RexSkz]

@ova2 I did some searching, maybe (or maybe not) you're talking about this article. The developer shows that PIXI provides two ways to load images: PIXI.loader and fromImage, the latter one (which I didn't know before) uses the TextureCache, and when we have loaded the resource, it won't reload again.

So I come to a conclusion:

• When you're writting a callback function for loader.setup, use PIXI.loader.resources.
• When you're sure the image has been loaded, use PIXI.Texture.fromImage.
• DO NOT use PIXI.utils.TextureCache anyway (which shows that my previous reply was wrong, sorry about that).

[kittykatattack]

@ova2 Go ahead and use TextureCache, it's fine! 😄
I've never encountered a situation where it doesn't work.

[ova2]

Thanks for your answers, guys. @kittykatattack I just bought your PIXI book. It's amazing :-) Do you plan a second edition with last changes and more content? I know API is almost the same, but some advanced content like WebGL Shaders would be great to have in the book.

[kittykatattack]

@ova2 Thanks! I I don't have plans for a second edition yet - but maybe when Pixi v5 stabilizes.
(There are some API changes between v3 and v4, but fortunately v4 is backwards compatible so all the v3 code will work - and you'll get messages in the console telling you what the API changes have been.)