Switch statements are bad? [closed]

Answer 1

Use commands. Wrap the action in an object and let polymorphism do the switch for you. In C++ (shared_ptr is simply a pointer, or a reference in Java terms. It allows for dynamic dispatch):

void GameServer::perform_action(shared_ptr op) {
    op->execute();
}

Clients pick an action to perform, and once they do they send that action itself to the server so the server doesn't need to do any parsing:

void BlueClient::play() {
    shared_ptr a;
    if( should_move() ) a = new Move(this, NORTHWEST);
    else if( should_attack() ) a = new Attack(this, EAST);
    else a = Wait(this);
    server.perform_action(a);
}