Need advice for getting into programming.

[pompey_spud]

OK, i am seriously considering a career working with games, but the trouble is, as enthusiastic as i am at the moment, i haven't got the slightest clue as to anything programmy.

 

 

 

I need something that will ease me into it, start me off with some basic projects, and generally just show me the ropes, get me started etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I looked on http://www.borders.co.uk just now, under the '____ for dummies' search results, and there are a ton of programming books, with things like VDA and Excel etc. I dunno which one is what i want :?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Does anyone have any advice on the matter? Any free tutorials, tips on where to get the software/hardware i might need?

[Diminished2b]

The easiest way to learn is taking a class. A lot of colleges have game programming classes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Though, as a suggestion for the future, use OpenGL and OpenAL over DirectX. Program your games in a language like C or C++..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I learned a lot by snooping around open source game communities. Like, when Quake 1 was open-sourced, I was all over it. There was, and still is a large development community around Quake 1-3, as well as most other open-source games.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Be patient -- it's a very hard task to learn programming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also suggest you learn a lot of mathematics, or at least the basic concepts of mathematics like geometry. Game programming is full of mathematical requirements. Though, if you take a college course, it should cover the mathematics for the most part.

 

 

 

Things like physics, and almost every aspect of game programming revolves around math.

 

 

 

For example, if I wanted to make stencil-buffered shadows I'd need to know how to calculate the shadow's position by using mathematics based on the light locations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The software you'll need is a compiler, and/or IDE (Integrated development environment), which you can use Dev C++ for both. It uses the MingW (GCC-like) compiler. Though, I don't want to go over your head. Just look for C/C++ tutorials or whatnot. They're simple, you learn the basics, and then I suggest you wait until you can grab a college course on it. Of course, if you're really ambitious you can try yourself -- but as I've said before, it's a VERY RIGOROUS task.

[pompey_spud]

i'm sorry, but i did not understand half of that. I literally have never even LOOKED into this before, so things like OpenGL, C++ etc are just going over my head. The last paragraph in particular had me stumped.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So i'll have to take maths as an A level if i want this to go anywhere serious? Also, my school/sixth form doesn't do programming, which is why i'm needing to do it myself.

[JoeDaStudd]

If you want a easy as pie language to learn and have a psp (although lua can and is used on windows) then try lua.

 

 

 

It can be learnt in a week allowing you to make basic/meduim level games.

 

 

 

If you dont have a psp then Visual Basic would be a easy language to start on.

 

 

 

For major programming you should look into C or C++. As a large amount of programming languages are based on C/C++, it means that you can change languages more easily.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recap

 

 

 

For fun and messing around Lua

 

 

 

For a more in depth, but still simple language the try VB (Visual Basic)

 

 

 

For a more powerfull and harder to learn language try C/C++.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personally I started on Lua and made a few games, then HTML, then Visual Basic and now C/C++ (I'm slowly learning this in my spare time)

[Parabola]

So i'll have to take maths as an A level if i want this to go anywhere serious?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No. I recently completed my OpenGL university module with no maths A level. All of the maths in it was very simple. What's more, the lecturer said he'd be happy to take any of us on as researchers too, so you can go places without A level maths.

[pompey_spud]

If you want a easy as pie language to learn and have a psp (although lua can and is used on windows) then try lua.

 

 

 

It can be learnt in a week allowing you to make basic/meduim level games.

 

 

 

If you dont have a psp then Visual Basic would be a easy language to start on.

 

 

 

For major programming you should look into C or C++. As a large amount of programming languages are based on C/C++, it means that you can change languages more easily.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recap

 

 

 

For fun and messing around Lua

 

 

 

For a more in depth, but still simple language the try VB (Visual Basic)

 

 

 

For a more powerfull and harder to learn language try C/C++.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personally I started on Lua and made a few games, then HTML, then Visual Basic and now C/C++ (I'm slowly learning this in my spare time)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I get what you're saying, but i don't get what you're saying it about. Wtf is C/C++? Visual Basic? Lua?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I repeat - i am an utter newb at this

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And Parabola, tyvm lol, thats a huge weight off my shoulders.

[Diminished2b]

Every piece of software, game, or operating system is made using a programming language. C/C++ is a programming language. A compiler, say GCC or MingW, turns the source code nto machine readable code.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An example of a C program would be

 

 

 

#include 







int main()



{



        printf("Hello World!");



        return 0;



}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This would print out 'Hello World.' When you get into programming games, the code gets very complex. One of the first concepts you should learn is research. So, if you don't know what someone is talking about, it's best to use Google or Wikipedia to help figure it out yourself.. :)

[pompey_spud]

righto, ill read up on wiki soon enough, but in the mean time, more help would be greatly appreciated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ty everyone who has posted so far.

[JoeDaStudd]

Lua, Visual Basic and C/C++ are all programming languages.

[weezcake]

 

So i'll have to take maths as an A level if i want this to go anywhere serious?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No. I recently completed my OpenGL university module with no maths A level. All of the maths in it was very simple. What's more, the lecturer said he'd be happy to take any of us on as researchers too, so you can go places without A level maths.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Really? All the computer programmers that I know have to take quite a bit of math.

[Parabola]

Really? All the computer programmers that I know have to take quite a bit of math.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most may well have; however I'm demonstrating that it isn't necessary.

[peterbluer]

I suggest VB because it is extremely simple. I have one game with VB(it uses a engine whihc you can get at this site: http://www.newworlddynasty.com/). Have fun!

 

 

 

P.S: Say hi to me, please. And a lot of people will help you out at the start if you're not a jerk.

[Parabola]

VB is not a good way to learn programming for games, no serious games are written in it. C++, on the other hand, is.

[Aznhuskarl]

 

 

So i'll have to take maths as an A level if i want this to go anywhere serious?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No. I recently completed my OpenGL university module with no maths A level. All of the maths in it was very simple. What's more, the lecturer said he'd be happy to take any of us on as researchers too, so you can go places without A level maths.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Really? All the computer programmers that I know have to take quite a bit of math.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Only a bit. it also depends what fied you're going as well. A normal computer science student must learn Calculus II or III and some basic programing languages while others don't even use it at all like Electrotech.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The programming knowledge requires the language. The only math skills you need is to calculate the hexadecimal, binary and all the computer calculations. The remains of the courses relies on the micro-computer basic knowledge and your creativity.

[Fadfdfd]

If you really want to get the feeling of writing a game, try GameMaker. It won't help you code, even if you do learn GML, but it'll give you the feeling of what making a game is sort of like, except more complex. :P

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope I helped a bit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

( http://www.gamemaker.nl )

[Guest Toshiba23]

Personally, if you want to understand the hard stuff. I would suggest web programming first...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I learned my languages in this order:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. HTML

 

 

 

2. CSS

 

 

 

3. Javascript

 

 

 

4. PHP

 

 

 

5. mySQL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After I learned all of those (And fluently could use them) I started learning CSS (About 1 month ago), and trust me. It's easier when you understand PHP or Javascipt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For example, this website is driven by PHP and mySQL, and look how much it is used, games may be fun to make. But take a look at some websites and look at how much those people do (And they will always have a job because websites need updates)

[himy_name_is]

Math, you don't need much of actually. It depends on what you are doing, and your level of comprehension. I say that if you are 12+ you can be a genius programmer! Bill Gates started programming at an age of 14, I started at 13 (currently 14) so there are really no limitations besides what you have to work with. I will say one thing, programming can be a real pain in the arse! Especially when in java you misspell one thing and you can't compile it, you see the error but spend 3 hours searching for such a simple thing! If you keep up with anything you can accomplish so much. I have taught my self everything I know in about 10 months, now people are complimenting on how good of a coder I am. Google will be your very best friend, next to that a good support forum will be a good friend. I have used google for probably a combined amount of 100+ hours in the last 10 months. That shows you alot. I have also spent more than 1160 hours on a computer in those 10 months (out of about 7000 hours in 10 months). You need a lot of time to do this. Its always nice to have a good buddy that is good at programming. You can always reach me through [email protected] or msn ([email protected]). ;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would reccomend you start with something simple. Learn web languages no matter what, they are the most simple languages one can find that can produce something useful, and languages lots of people use so you can get maximum help. I say first learn html to go along with other web langauges, then javascript to get used to programming with an actual language (html isn't really a language. Noy very hard to say the least). After that you could learn php which is actually a rather complicated language that is more powerful than people think. After that you're set! Java, C, C++, and C# will be a snap. Its just learning all of the functions and such.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One thing parabola: I found it ironic that you said you don't have a large math knowledge, but your user name is parabola, and as your avatar you have a fractal. :P (I always like fractals, especially the really splotchy ones!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So I hope I helped you and didn't spend too much of your time by making such a long post :P.

[PhelimReagh]

As a programmer in the real world, I would be very careful about your introduction into programming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are two programming models/methodologies out there: procedural and object-oriented.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Procedural programming is the way of the past, object-oriented is the way of the present and future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you learn a procedural language (like Visual Basic) first, it will make the transition to object-oriented programming (C++, Java, Microsoft *.net, etc.) more difficult.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I envy that you're just starting out. Go straight for object-oriented programming (OOP) languages and methodologies. As an older person such as myself, the transition to OOP was rather difficult. Procedural is very easy to understand, but it is also fundamentally different way of thinking about programming from OOP. Learning procedural first runs the risk of getting you into bad, outdated habits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With all that said, if an old fart like me can wrap my head around it, no doubt a young person with a sincere interest in programming can do it very easily. It's not as hard as it seems or sounds.

[runesmithie]

As a programmer in the real world, I would be very careful about your introduction into programming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are two programming models/methodologies out there: procedural and object-oriented.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Procedural programming is the way of the past, object-oriented is the way of the present and future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you learn a procedural language (like Visual Basic) first, it will make the transition to object-oriented programming (C++, Java, Microsoft *.net, etc.) more difficult.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I envy that you're just starting out. Go straight for object-oriented programming (OOP) languages and methodologies. As an older person such as myself, the transition to OOP was rather difficult. Procedural is very easy to understand, but it is also fundamentally different way of thinking about programming from OOP. Learning procedural first runs the risk of getting you into bad, outdated habits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With all that said, if an old fart like me can wrap my head around it, no doubt a young person with a sincere interest in programming can do it very easily. It's not as hard as it seems or sounds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visual Basic has been OO for a while :P

[Celt23]

I recommend a Complete Idiots Guide to... on Java or C/C++. The For Dummies ones are good too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also recommend the Blitz3D demo (full version is $100 :( ), it will give you a taste of what programming games is like if you have no experience in it.

[runesmithie]

I recommend a Complete Idiots Guide to... on Java or C/C++. The For Dummies ones are good too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also recommend the Blitz3D demo (full version is $100 :( ), it will give you a taste of what programming games is like if you have no experience in it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Torque Engine is also a good one (also at $100 available from http://www.garagegames.com, but a demo is available). It was the engine used to power Tribes 2!

[Celt23]

 

I recommend a Complete Idiots Guide to... on Java or C/C++. The For Dummies ones are good too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also recommend the Blitz3D demo (full version is $100 :( ), it will give you a taste of what programming games is like if you have no experience in it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Torque Engine is also a good one (also at $100 available from http://www.garagegames.com, but a demo is available). It was the engine used to power Tribes 2!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haven't tried that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This program looks useful, but I haven't tried it yet:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/visualc/

[Guest]

I recommend a Complete Idiots Guide to... on Java or C/C++. The For Dummies ones are good too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also recommend the Blitz3D demo (full version is $100 :( ), it will give you a taste of what programming games is like if you have no experience in it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

**Shudders** I got bad memories of Biltz. Having to do it last year in Computers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As previously mentioned I agree with learning a web language first, it helps with the basics (well for me it did). :)