+
+/**
+ * @function Split_System
+ * @purpose Helper to divide one system into an array of systems
+ * Each sub system will have N = (s->N / n) bodies in it
+ * @param s - The original system (typically &universe)
+ * @param n - The number of sub systems in the array
+ *
+ * WARNING: It is the caller's responsibility to free() the returned array
+ */
+System * Split_System(System * s, unsigned n)
+{
+ System * result = (System*)(calloc(n, sizeof(System)));
+ if (result == NULL)
+ {
+ perror("Couldn't create array of sub systems");
+ QuitProgram(true);
+ pthread_exit(NULL);
+ }
+
+ unsigned n_per_system = (s->N) / n;
+ unsigned remainder = (s->N) % n;
+
+ for (unsigned i = 0; i < n; ++i)
+ {
+ result[i].N = n_per_system;
+ if (i == n-1)
+ result[i].N += remainder;
+ result[i].body = (s->body) + (n_per_system * i);
+ result[i].steps = 0;
+ }
+ return result;
+}
+
+/**
+ * @function Allocate_Threads
+ * @purpose Helper function to allocate an array of pthread_t objects
+ * Handles all the pointless, er, "important" error checking that should be done
+ * @param n - Number of threads in the array
+ *
+ * WARNING: Remember to free() the array!!!
+ */
+pthread_t * Allocate_Threads(unsigned n)
+{
+ pthread_t * result = (pthread_t*)(calloc(n, sizeof(pthread_t)));
+ if (result == NULL)
+ {
+ perror("Unable to allocate memory for threads");
+ QuitProgram(true);
+ pthread_exit(NULL);
+ }
+ return result;
+}