handle multiple key presses ignoring repeated key

I had asked this in the comments section of another question (> How do I handle simultaneous key presses in Java?), and was asked to make a new question altogether.

My problem is that when I create an ArrayList of keypresses they are not removed fast enough via the keyReleased event if the user holds down the keys. I want movement to be with "asdf" and North, East, South, West, NorthEast... etc.

Here is my code for both events:

@Override
public void keyPressed(KeyEvent e) {
    if(chatTextField.isFocusOwner() == true){
        //do nothing - don't walk
    } else {
        logger.debug("Key Pressed: " + e.getKeyChar());
        lastKey = keysPressed.get(keysPressed.size()-1);

        for (String key : keysPressed){
            if (!key.contains(String.valueOf(e.getKeyChar())) && !lastKey.contains(String.valueOf(e.getKeyChar()))){
                keysPressed.add(String.valueOf(e.getKeyChar()));
                System.out.println("ADDED: " + keysPressed);
            }
        }

        String keysList = keysPressed.toString();
        if (keysList.contains("w")){
            if (keysList.contains("d")){
                requestCharacterMove("NorthEast");
            } else if(keysList.contains("a")){
                requestCharacterMove("NorthWest");
            } else{
                requestCharacterMove("North");
            }
        } else if (keysList.contains("s")){
            if (keysList.contains("d")){
                requestCharacterMove("SouthEast");
            } else if(keysList.contains("a")){
                requestCharacterMove("SouthWest");
            } else{
                requestCharacterMove("South");
            }
        } else if (keysList.contains("d")){
            requestCharacterMove("East");
        } else if (keysList.contains("a")){
            requestCharacterMove("West");
        }
    }
}

@Override
public void keyReleased(KeyEvent e) {
    if(chatTextField.isFocusOwner() == true){
        //do nothing - don't walk
    } else {
        logger.debug("Key Released: " + e.getKeyChar());
        for (String key : keysPressed){
            if (key.contains(String.valueOf(e.getKeyChar()))){
                keysPressed.remove(String.valueOf(e.getKeyChar()));
                System.out.println("REMOVED: " + keysPressed);
            }
        }
    }
}

@Override
public void keyTyped(KeyEvent arg0) {
    // TODO Auto-generated method stub

}

Until I added the second check in there via the lastKey(String) variable the pyramid created was enormous. Even with that second check the list grows and almost always has two-three duplicates. Any help on this would be great as my character is moving awkwardly. :(

Also any way to remove duplicate conversions to char, string, arrayList would be great as I'm nervous I used too many types for something "simple".

Your obseravtion that things are handled slowly most likely is caused solely be the many System.out.println() statements.

Your problem that you do not get diagonal movement stems from your somewhat faulty checking logic - instead of explicitly checking if (for example) keys A and B are pressed, just check them independently - key A moves the character in one direction, B in another. In total (e.g.), by moving WEST and NORTH you will have effectively moved NORTHWEST.

Instead of a list of pressed keys, you could use a java.util.BitSet and just set the bit for each key that is currently pressed. That should also drastically reduce the amount of code you need to write (keyPressed just sets the bit indicated by key code, keyReleased clears it). To check if a key is pressed you ask the BitSet then if the bit for the code is currently set.

EDIT: Example of using BitSet instead of a list

public class BitKeys implements KeyListener {

    private BitSet keyBits = new BitSet(256);

    @Override
    public void keyPressed(final KeyEvent event) {
        int keyCode = event.getKeyCode();
        keyBits.set(keyCode);
    }

    @Override
    public void keyReleased(final KeyEvent event) {
        int keyCode = event.getKeyCode();
        keyBits.clear(keyCode);
    }

    @Override
    public void keyTyped(final KeyEvent event) {
        // don't care
    }

    public boolean isKeyPressed(final int keyCode) {
        return keyBits.get(keyCode);
    }

}

I made the example implement KeyListener, so you could even use it as is. When you need to know if a key is pressed just use isKeyPressed(). You need to decide if you prefer with raw key code (like I did) or go with key character (like you currently do). In any case, you see how using the BitSet class the amount of code for recording the keys reduces to a few lines :)