How to Make a Method Call Itself Twice?

Hey! I'm working on a slightly modified version of the veinminer plugin, and I'm not quite sure how to go about checking all of the blocks and breaking them.

Here's my code:
@EventHandler
public void onBreakBlock(BlockBreakEvent event) {

checkDirections(event.getBlock());

}

public void checkDirections(Block block) {

if(block.getWorld().getBlockAt(block.getLocation().add(0, 1, 0)).getType() == block.getType()) {
checkDirections(block.getWorld().getBlockAt(block.getLocation().add(0, 1, 0)));
block.getWorld().getBlockAt(block.getLocation().add(0, 1, 0)).breakNaturally();
}
if(block.getWorld().getBlockAt(block.getLocation().add(0, -1, 0)).getType() == block.getType()) {
checkDirections(block.getWorld().getBlockAt(block.getLocation().add(0, -1, 0)));
block.getWorld().getBlockAt(block.getLocation().add(0, -1, 0)).breakNaturally();
}
if(block.getWorld().getBlockAt(block.getLocation().add(1, 0, 0)).getType() == block.getType()) {
checkDirections(block.getWorld().getBlockAt(block.getLocation().add(1, 0, 0)));
block.getWorld().getBlockAt(block.getLocation().add(1, 0, 0)).breakNaturally();
}
if(block.getWorld().getBlockAt(block.getLocation().add(-1, 0, 0)).getType() == block.getType()) {
checkDirections(block.getWorld().getBlockAt(block.getLocation().add(-1, 0, 0)));
block.getWorld().getBlockAt(block.getLocation().add(-1, 0, 0)).breakNaturally();
}
if(block.getWorld().getBlockAt(block.getLocation().add(0, 0, 1)).getType() == block.getType()) {
checkDirections(block.getWorld().getBlockAt(block.getLocation().add(0, 0, 1)));
block.getWorld().getBlockAt(block.getLocation().add(0, 0, 1)).breakNaturally();
}
if(block.getWorld().getBlockAt(block.getLocation().add(0, 0, -1)).getType() == block.getType()) {
checkDirections(block.getWorld().getBlockAt(block.getLocation().add(0, 0, -1)));
block.getWorld().getBlockAt(block.getLocation().add(0, 0, -1)).breakNaturally();
}
}

As you can see, I am trying to have a method call itself. But when I call it, none of the code below runs. This is probably a bad way to do this. Do you know of a way to make this work? Thanks!

 

That's a good way to get a StackOverflow. Imagine mining stone with vein miner, it would crash the server for sure.

Print out the value of event.getBlock().getType(), what is it?

 

Having a method call itself is called recursion.
In recursion, you need to start with a base case (and work towards that), otherwise the method calls itself infinitely and

So you have to specify a condition in which you exit your method at the top of your method, and work towards that goal in the remainder of your method. If this is not possible, recursion should not be used.
Hope that made sense.

If not, study the article.

 

This is just a test and I will check for certain blocks in the future.

 

Sounds like you are making a vein miner type of plugin. I'd suggest reading over Choco's github, may give you an idea.

https://github.com/2008Choco/VeinMiner/