pearlstyle

String format(String str, int length, int alignment) {
    int diff = length - str.length();

    if(diff < 0) return str.substring(0, length);

    char[] source = str.toCharArray();
    char[] result = new char[length];

    for(int i=0; i < result.length; i++)
        result[i] = ' ';

    switch(alignment) {
        case CENTER :
            System.arraycopy(source, 0, result, diff/2, source.length);
            break;
        case RIGHT :
            System.arraycopy(source, 0, result, diff, source.length);
            break;
        case LEFT :
        default :
            System.arraycopy(source, 0, result, 0, source.length);
    }

    return new String(result);
}