/** ParentContainer.h
 * J Scott Cameron
 *
 * Defines Container class for the parent window
 * data in the Genetic Images app
 */
#include "NodeContainer.h"

class ParentContainer{
public:
	
	/* constructor */
	ParentContainer(PopulationContainer*);
	
	/* vector of possible parent images */
	vector<NodeContainer*> ncs;

	/* population container to generate images into*/
	PopulationContainer* pc;
	
	/* controls whether parent mutate when creating new generation*/
	bool mutate;

	/* controls whether parents cross when creating new generation*/
	bool crossover;

	/* amount of time genes mutate */
	float percMutation;
	
	/* adds a new parent to the mix */
	void addNode(NodeContainer*);

	/* generates New Population based on current state of container*/
	void generateNewPopulation();

	/* empties the vector of parent images */
	void emptyContainer();

	/* returns the number of parents in the vector */
	int getSize();

	/* returns a randomly chosen parent image from the vector*/
	Binary_Node* ParentContainer::randomNode();
	
	/* handle to the application instance */
	HINSTANCE hinstance;
	
};