/*
 * DOM node creation for jQuery.
 *
 * Author  :  Sean Gilbertson
 * Created :  2006-01-04
 *
 */

$.create = function() {
    if (arguments.length == 0) {
        return [];
    }

    var first_arg = arguments[0];

    /*
     * In case someone passes in a null object,
     * assume that they want an empty string.
     */
    if (first_arg == null) {
        first_arg = "";
    }

    if (first_arg.constructor == String) {
        if (arguments.length > 1) {
            var second_arg = arguments[1];

            if (second_arg.constructor == String) {
                var elt = document.createTextNode(first_arg);

                var elts = [];

                elts.push(elt);

                var siblings = $.create.apply(null, Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments, 1));

                elts = elts.concat(siblings);

                return elts;
            } else {
                var elt = document.createElement(first_arg);

                /*
                 * Set element attributes.
                 */
                var attributes = arguments[1];

                for (var attr in attributes) {
                    $(elt).attr(attr, attributes[attr]);
                }

                /*
                 * Add children of this element.
                 */
                var children = arguments[2];

                children = $.create.apply(null, children);

                $(elt).append(children);

                /*
                 * If there are more siblings, render those too.
                 */
                if (arguments.length > 3) {
                    var siblings = $.create.apply(null, Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments, 3));

                    return [elt].concat(siblings);
                }

                return elt;
            }
        } else {
            return document.createTextNode(first_arg);
        }
    }    else {
        var elts = [];

        elts.push(first_arg);

        var siblings = $.create.apply(null, (Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments, 1)));

        elts = elts.concat(siblings);

        return elts;
    }
}