programming help? (java/c#/torque)

[Mew2King]

so I'm in this really big/bad dilemma. Vidjo is WAY ahead of me and I'm stupid because I waited until NOW to start to learn programming. I started Hello World in Java like 4 days ago at home and as of yesterday I'm in 2d game programming with torque class (first few days on c#).

sooooooo... ****kkkkk this is bad. I think I have down most of the basics, I'm a little shaky on loops mainly when to use them but I think I'm pretty good at it, shaky on functions and arrays, but in class like first or 2nd day we're doing delegates and stuff which I never even heard of. I can't drop out because Vidjo isn't so I basically have to spend a lot of time learning this stuff. Anyone that can help? Advice or something? Websites to go on, or anything?

send me a PM or hit me up on aim if I'm online at ooVideoGameGodoo or post here if you think and/or would like to help at all. Thanks.

 

[Transient]

On the topic of loops in Java - you want to use them when you need to do a repetitive action, or test to make sure user input is correct.
For example, if you have a program that is an ATM, and you want to have it so that after a user enters their information, they are shown a main menu with various options to edit their account. You would want it so that the user could return to that main menu after they have done a transaction, checked their balance, etc. You would have a loop that checks to see whether a user has inputted the number 5, which is the number they should press to exit.

//code getting input from user as to do what command
while (userInput != 5)
{
// if statements regarding inputs from 1-5, invalid input, etc.
}

if the user does not enter 5, they continue to stay in that menu. I hope this example made sense to show repetitive actions. You could also use it to add values to an array.

Say you have an array of numbers, called nums, established as an array of integers with a length of 5.

to populate the array with values, you would use this code:

for(int i = 0; i < nums.length; i++)
{
nums = 2;
}

While this isn't a very practical loop, it should get the point across.

You also use loops with recursive methods in Java - this is done when sorting arrays in specific ways.

I made a huge study guide for my AP Computer Science course last year involving the basics of Java. I IM'd you just a couple of minutes ago. So, if you want it or any other help, I'll be glad to get you through the basics! (My AIM is buckd1chjetzt).

=D

 

[AltF4]

Do you have much math experience? Programming is very similar to math in many respects, so that might help.

But honestly, video games are one of the harder things you can do with programming. There's a lot that goes into it from a technical standpoint. If you're only just learning your first hello world, then you're going to have to put in a lot of time to learning the basics before you can make an actual program, let alone game.

There's way too much about programming to teach anyone over a message board like this, but I can try to give you some background information that can be helpful.


Both C# .NET and Java (which you indicated that you're using) are called Managed Languages. When your program is running, there is a master process running which controls it. It takes care of a lot of little things for you which you would otherwise have to take care of yourself as the programmer. Some of it is housekeeping tasks like automatic garbage collection, sometimes security related like dynamic buffer boundary checking, sometimes portability related.

If you want to know exactly what's going on behind the scenes with your program, you'll have to know a lot about the managed environment you're working in.


What IDE are you working with? (The program you use to edit your program files / compile the code) Eclipse and NetBeans are two good choices if you haven't decided.

 

[#HBC | Mac]

Transient, I would love to see that guide.

im me at yedispaghetti

 

[Crimson King]

Start here: http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Topic:Introduction_to_Programming

Wikiversity has tons of courses on programming. I remember one course for programming required everyone to contribute to a building virtual world. The Java one is good too:

http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Topic:Java

Alt, where is a good place to start? I want to learn Python to help contribute to Ubuntu apps, but I've heard Python is terrible to start in.

 

[noradseven]

Go to a community college for like $500 a class its p. cheap, sure the first semester of it will be mad easy, but after a few semester you will be learning stuff thats harder to learn on your own and you will have more specialized course options too. Having those credits too isn't so bad either.

Also shaky on loops/functions/arrays that's like first week stuff right there bro. Its not hard just google ****. Google+copy paste is a huge friend in programming. Note DO NOT COPY FROM CLASSMATES this never helps you learn.
Copying **** you found on some different random sites online that will work after some adjustments and additions of your own though is real world programming.

For information on java just go here http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/docs/api/ its actually good stuff.

Start here: http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Topic:Introduction_to_Programming

Wikiversity has tons of courses on programming. I remember one course for programming required everyone to contribute to a building virtual world. The Java one is good too:

http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Topic:Java

Alt, where is a good place to start? I want to learn Python to help contribute to Ubuntu apps, but I've heard Python is terrible to start in.

I don't know who you heard that from Python is mad easy though.

 

[Crimson King]

Not hard, but bad to learn in.

 

[Super_ness]

Python's fine to learn in. You'll love automatic memory managment. The only problem is it's interpreted, and slower.

 

[AltF4]

Python's a scripting language, not a general purpose programming language. It's not designed for "typical programs". It's designed for automating tasks which you could do manually but would be easier if the computer could do it for you. Like moving files around, starting and stopping processes, etc...

 

[rathy Aro]

@AltF4: I'm not completely following you. If that's what a scripting language does then what would a general purpose programming language be able to do that python can't?

 

[Super_ness]

@Alt4 Be that as it may, Python still is able to teach you the basics of programming like loops, variables, and objects.