geckojsc
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Computer Geek
Posts: 65
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Post by geckojsc on Aug 1, 2009 17:24:18 GMT
Just thought you guys might like to know that I'm getting used to using the Micro Lua engine for the DS, and as one of my first projects I think I'll remake my rather crap old Flash game that all my ASCIImator friends will remember. This will be better than the original Flash version, but the gameplay will be slightly different. There are some ships that you have to dodge, and others that must be shot at. If I have too much trouble creating an in-game keyboard, I might just make a simple INI file or something, so you have to create your ship before playing the game (which can be done with a free DS text editor, such as the one that comes with DSOrganize. After I'm done with ASCIIship DS, I'll start on another project (not wanting to give too much away, but it's partially related to the above. Excited yet? ) If you have worked out what it is, I would like your advice: should I learn C++ and use PAlib, or stick to Micro Lua?
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Post by OpenCoder on Aug 1, 2009 18:47:02 GMT
guessing it's an implementation of ASCIImator for the DS.....
advice: learn C++, it's (probably) more powerful, and definitely more useful if you ever want a job in programming (it'll look better on your CV, since everyone knows what it is, whereas i had to google "Micro Lua" to know what it was)
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geckojsc
The Team
Computer Geek
Posts: 65
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Post by geckojsc on Aug 1, 2009 21:29:05 GMT
Hmm, yes, I do want to be a programmer when I'm older, but mostly working for myself. Anyway, you guessed right. I've set myself a target to learn (or at least partially learn) C++ by the time I'm 14 (in a few months). I've been learning quite a bit about programming recently, and I think I should soon me ready to move on to C++ sometime soon.
I was thinking, to help make the ASCIImator DS compatable with the online ASCIImator, I could use a similar save format to that of the "scrollbar animation" export option in ASCIImator 3.0, although it might require a little bit of hand-editing before importing to ASCIImator.
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Post by OpenCoder on Aug 3, 2009 0:12:48 GMT
On a side note, do you remember ASCIImator Home Edition? I put it on hold while I did my GCSEs, but kept learning programming throughout. At the time, I wasn't too sure how to go about it - but my new knowledge means that I am now ready to resume AMHE and (hopefully) finish it by the end of the year!
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geckojsc
The Team
Computer Geek
Posts: 65
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Post by geckojsc on Aug 3, 2009 12:05:33 GMT
Great! I'm going on holiday soon. I think I'll pick up a beginner's guide to C++ for when I go away. I won't have my laptop with me, but I think it will be a good idea to learn C++ without being near a computer, then come back and use my knowledge all at once. What do you think?
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Post by OpenCoder on Aug 3, 2009 16:54:54 GMT
Sounds good. Here's what I did when I was learning C# (a microsoft-only C++ based language): 1) Experiment and make a bunch of random programs 2) Choose a specific program that could be improved, but would need complicated code to do so. 3) Learn the code and improve the program 4) Use the new code to improve older programs that could work faster/better etc. 5) check this out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1A54MhQeQg (Yes, I made that.)
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geckojsc
The Team
Computer Geek
Posts: 65
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Post by geckojsc on Aug 3, 2009 22:29:54 GMT
Woooooooooooow!
Have you got a link for that screensaver? If I had it on two monitors, would it be laggy? (the Free Fire Screensaver was quite laggy on two screens)
Anyway, I went to BlueWater this evening and got "C++ A Beginner's Guide" by Herbert Schildt and an 8 gig iPod Touch as a holiday treat from my mum. It will surely come in useful on this site!
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Post by OpenCoder on Aug 4, 2009 16:50:51 GMT
Link = No link as of yet - it needs to be compiled on my dad's office copy of the IDE for distribution to be legal (I only have the free license at home). 2 Monitors = no idea. Probably wouldn't show the windows of the second screen at all. iPod = nice one! if you're thinking of jailbreaking it, I recommend having at least a month of settling-in time before you do, just to get used to the iPod itself.
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geckojsc
The Team
Computer Geek
Posts: 65
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Post by geckojsc on Aug 4, 2009 21:11:20 GMT
Is jailbreaking legal, or at least partially legal depending on what you do with it? About IDEs, are you allowed to distribute Visual C++ Express creations (that's a stupid question, you probably are)?
Also, have you by any chance got Moonlights on your iPhone? I know (through the internet) the guy who created it.
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Post by OpenCoder on Aug 4, 2009 23:32:14 GMT
Jailbreaking modifies the firmware, potentially breaching the Digital Millenium Copyright Act - but we are yet to hear an official declaration. It only becomes DEFINITELY illegal if you use Cydia (the app you get when you jailbreak) to get the app which lets you download and install pirated apps for free. One forum I go on has actually banned all mention of installous and pirating of apps. I only really use the jailbreak to add custom themes to the UI, and occasionally toying with config files for my legally downloaded apps.
C++ distribution - if it's on the Visual Studio Express IDE (and there was no payment involved in obtaining it), then I don't think you're allowed (by the EULA) to distribute creations. However, you are permitted to distribute source code (obviously).
And no, I don't have moonlights, but having looked it up I kinda wish I did - looks awesome. Unfortunately I haven't got enough iTunes store credit (I only use the gift cards) to get it.
Edit: also, I don't have an iPhone, I have an iPod touch 8GB, same as you.
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geckojsc
The Team
Computer Geek
Posts: 65
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Post by geckojsc on Aug 5, 2009 11:28:06 GMT
I finished the first chapter of my book last night, and I threw this together in a few minutes just now: #include "stdafx.h" //stdafx has instructions to include <iostream> and stuff inside it.
using namespace std;
int main () { double number; double answer; cout << "Hello World! (^_^)\nThis is awesome!\n\nWhat's your favourite number?\n"; cin >> number; cout << "Great! You like the number " << number << ".\n\nNow, what do you get if you add five to your number?\n"; cin >> answer; if(answer==number+5) { cout << "Congratulations! You got it right!\nYou can exit this program now...\n\n"; } if(answer!=number+5) { cout << "You phail. (-_-)\n\n"; } return 0; }I know I could have made the if's shorter, since blocks are not necessary when there is only one statement, but I like code blocks. It makes the code easier to read for me. So yea... I feel that I'm learning at a reasonable pace, and having experience with Actionscript, Lua, and a few other languges sure helps... I don't think I will jailbreak my iPod. DS homebrew is good fun, and I sure it can do most of the stuff that any third-party iPod apps can do. I don't want to jailbreak my iPod knowing it could be illegal and it could make my iPod buggy. I feel that there are more bad points than there are good, especially since so many new and useful apps are being developed for the store anyway... That's a bummer about the Visual C++ Express licence... There must be a way round it without getting a new compiler. (I don't like the other free compilers. They all seem to have problems...)
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Post by OpenCoder on Aug 5, 2009 12:20:52 GMT
Nice one. Nothing too complicaed to start with is always a good idea.
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geckojsc
The Team
Computer Geek
Posts: 65
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Post by geckojsc on Aug 5, 2009 16:51:40 GMT
WTH!?!?!?!? Okay, so Visual C++ Express crashed for no reason (I wasn't even using it at the time, I just had the window open on my other monitor).
When I tried to run it again, windows prompted me to search for the location of the program. I looked in the Visual C++ folder, and there was nothing there...
[edit] Ah, it seems Visual C++ somehow installed onto the F: drive (which is where my micro SD card is). It should be safe to simply move it to the C: drive right?
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Post by OpenCoder on Aug 5, 2009 18:00:37 GMT
!!!!!! i guess so... try it. if it doesn't work, reinstall it.
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geckojsc
The Team
Computer Geek
Posts: 65
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Post by geckojsc on Aug 5, 2009 20:11:38 GMT
Got it sorted... Took enough time though!
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