i have to write a real fast char by char reader in swift. This is my solution so far.
For a 1.4mb file i get it in 0m0.932s. For a 150mb file it took 1m42.931s
Do you know a faster solution?
import Foundation
class CharReader {
let encoding : String.Encoding
let chunkSize : Int
var fileHandle : FileHandle!
let buffer : NSMutableData!
var atEof : Bool = false
var characterPointer: UnsafeMutablePointer<Character>
var startPointer: UnsafeMutablePointer<Character>
var stored_cnt: Int = 0;
var stored_idx: Int = 0;
init?(path: String, encoding: String.Encoding = String.Encoding.utf8, chunkSize : Int = 1024) {
    self.chunkSize = chunkSize
    self.encoding = encoding
    characterPointer = UnsafeMutablePointer<Character>.allocate(capacity: chunkSize)
    startPointer = characterPointer
    if let fileHandle = FileHandle(forReadingAtPath: path),
        let buffer = NSMutableData(capacity: chunkSize){
        self.fileHandle = fileHandle
        self.buffer = buffer
    } else {
        self.fileHandle = nil
        self.buffer = nil
        return nil
    }
}
deinit {
    self.close()
}
func nextChar() -> Character? {
    if atEof {
        return nil
    }
    if stored_cnt > (stored_idx + 1) {
        stored_idx += 1
        let char = characterPointer.pointee
        characterPointer = characterPointer.successor()
        return char
    }
    let tmpData = fileHandle.readData(ofLength: (chunkSize))
    if tmpData.count == 0 {
        atEof = true
        return nil
    }
    if let s = NSString(data: tmpData, encoding: encoding.rawValue) as String! {
        stored_idx = 0
        let characters = s.characters
        stored_cnt = characters.count
        characterPointer = startPointer
        characterPointer.initialize(from: characters)
        let char = characterPointer.pointee
        characterPointer = characterPointer.successor()
        return char
    }
    return nil;
}
/// Close the underlying file. No reading must be done after calling this method.
func close() -> Void {
    fileHandle?.closeFile()
    fileHandle = nil
}
}
please let me know.
I test the class with this main.swfit:
import Foundation
if CommandLine.arguments.count < 2 {
    print("Too less arguments.")
    exit(0)
}
let file = CommandLine.arguments[1]
if let aCharReader = CharReader(path: file) {
defer {
    aCharReader.close()
}
while let char = aCharReader.nextChar() {
    continue
}
}
The Project is on GitHub: https://github.com/petershaw/charsinfile
Thanks a lot, ps
