Creating Programs....

BlackMan890 · Tue 19/10/2004 22:04:48

humm.. qbasic 4.5 is VERY easy and it can create an .exe file
i have it and i have been playing with it for a long time

BorisZ · Tue 19/10/2004 23:01:50

I would recomend Delphi (turbo pascal compiler). It is much easyer then C++ and much faster for finshing applications and it has the same possilbilites as C++.

Mr Jake · Wed 20/10/2004 07:41:44

theres always alot of fun to be had with Assembler

Gilbert · Wed 20/10/2004 07:46:20

Or better, enter byte codes for raw machine language with a Hex editor.

Edwin Xie · Thu 21/10/2004 06:07:31

Man, I need a tutorial on how to use compilers one of these days, the "command prompt" programs are confusing.

Edwin Xie · Thu 21/10/2004 06:37:39

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Quote from: redruM on Mon 18/10/2004 09:04:38
Edwin Xie, my friend, I think you made the mistake of assuming you can easily program outside AGS because you've mastered AGS scripting. Just because it's the same language, doesn't mean it's in the same country, so to speak.

I have discovered that C++ is easier to use when I discovered the use of AGS's scripting. Right now, I am trying to expand to even more difficult C++ scripting.

Quote from: Hotspot on Mon 18/10/2004 09:36:15
but once you know AGS you have a good starting ground for learning C/C++

Yes, Hotspot, it serves as a beginning for me.

Quote from: shbazjinkens on Mon 18/10/2004 06:38:12
He needs a compiler, they're out there, you just need to search for them in google or something.

Seriously, it isn't hard to find freeware apps. I have this philosophy of only helping people who are going to help themselves, otherwise you're just wasting everyone's time.

I have searched a long time on the internet to find some compilers, yet each time, I fail to find a compiler that best matches what I need; I need an easy, and under 5MB download file. I do not want some of those command promt ones like Microsoft Virtual C++ Toolbox. I can't even figure out how to use them with no documentation. I am considering Bloodshed Dev-C++ though.

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Quote from: Hotspot on Wed 20/10/2004 07:41:44
theres always alot of fun to be had with Assembler

Where do you get that?

Quote from: notloggedin on Tue 19/10/2004 22:00:00
get libSDL, cygwin, emacs and GCC

Where and what are those?

Quote from: Bernie on Mon 18/10/2004 13:44:03
I think your best bet would be getting DevC++ or a similar compiler and downloading the Allegro SDK. (Without one of those, you can't do much).
Allegro is as easy as it gets when it comes to real programming, and focuses on 2D. It can do some 3D as well, but doesn't support hardware rendering.

Hmm, Allegro? The library AGS uses?

Sorry if this post is very long, I had to catch up with those.

Mr Jake · Thu 21/10/2004 07:30:35

Assembler is a few... non-English language. I dont have a compiler but you can try searching for one, however be careful, dont format your harddrive -_-

Gilbert · Thu 21/10/2004 07:39:46

Quote
Quote from: Hotspot on Wed 20/10/2004 07:41:44
theres always alot of fun to be had with Assembler
Where do you get that?

If you don't even want to mess with "command line compilers", you shouldn't care about Assembly, which is the most powerful weapon.

Quote
Quote from: Bernie on Mon 18/10/2004 13:44:03
I think your best bet would be getting DevC++ or a similar compiler and downloading the Allegro SDK. (Without one of those, you can't do much).
Allegro is as easy as it gets when it comes to real programming, and focuses on 2D. It can do some 3D as well, but doesn't support hardware rendering.
Hmm, Allegro? The library AGS uses?

Yes.

Actually you can find links for some of the tools from the "credits" section of the AGS manual already, at leasr for Allegro and DJGPP (a DOS port of GCC), probably these sites already have extensive helps and links for various related stuff already.

LGM · Thu 21/10/2004 23:46:46

Okay.. You're best bet.. If you want to LEARN how to use C++, is to go get a nice book from your library, or buy one from the bookstore. Most of these books come with a companion CD, that usually includes an free-use educational version of Microsoft Visual Studio, or Bloodshed DevC++, or Borland (those are the most popular.)

The books go through everything. I mean everything.. So if you know the basics already, you CAN skip ahead a few chapters and get right into the good stuff.

You can't just expect to find a program and magically delve right into scripting. It takes alot of time and alot of dedication. And believe me, it's not as easy as AGS is (AGS Scripting isn't even that easy)

There are many good books out there that can help you. There are even some sites (not very good sites, mind you) out there. If you're hindered by 56k to download anything bigger than 5MB, then you should definitely look into buying a book.

Some good brands are: Sams Teach Yourself C++ in 21 Days or C++ for Dummies

I hope that helps.

Edwin Xie · Sat 23/10/2004 05:59:14

Hmm, I didn't know there was a book C++ for Dummies...

Squinky · Sat 23/10/2004 06:09:58

Yep, I've got a copy of c++ for dummies....and it is soo way over my head....and I even have some experience in c++....but obviously not much....

I don't know if getting a c++ dummie book is so good at first. I would try googling for tutorials, theres some good ones out there just to get you started...

Mr Jake · Sat 23/10/2004 08:40:43

I also ways C++ for Dummies, I like it, but tutorials are always a good place to start.

Edwin Xie · Sat 23/10/2004 21:29:38

Ok, I got to start going the library one of these days.

Snarky · Sat 23/10/2004 23:20:13

For people who know programming, it's easy to take for granted facts that may not be obvious to the non-expert.

OK, I'll take pity on you, Edwin Xie. This is how it works:

A programming language is a definition for how to write programs. It's not a specific program. If you want to write programs in C++ (for example), there are many different programs you can choose between to help you.

You probably should choose a programming language before you choose the specific program you'll use. AGS scripting is a lot like C, so that's a good one to start. If you choose C++ or Java you'll have to learn about Object Oriented Programming (OOP), which can be difficult.

One important thing to know is that making a Windows application is more difficult than making one that doesn't use Windows buttons, menus, scrollbars etc., and very difficult indeed in C or C++. If you want to make a Windows application, I strongly urge you to use Java, Visual Basic or C#.

When you do real programming, the simplest thing is usually to write your code in a text editor (like Notepad). You save your program as a text file. Then you run a program (called a compiler) that turns your text file into an .EXE program for you to run. (Usually you'll first have to rename the text file from .TXT to something else, like .CPP for a C++ program.)

You have to tell the compiler which file you want to turn into a program, and other options. Most compilers let you set these options through command line arguments. These aren't actually that difficult to use once you figure out the basics, and I'm sure people here will help you set the right options.

The other alternative is to get an integrated development environment (IDE). This is an application where you handle all the aspects of programming, from writing the code to compiling it. Most IDEs are for a specific programming language, but Visual Studio from Microsoft lets you program in several.

All IDEs are pretty large downloads, and many are expensive. They're really intended to make things quicker for experienced programmers. In my opinion, you're better off using a command line compiler, unless you want to make Windows programs.

Edwin Xie · Sun 24/10/2004 00:21:44

Uh, I created a calculator taken from the documentary of Bloodshed Dev C++ but that didn't compile.

Mr Jake · Sun 24/10/2004 07:56:17

why didnt it compile? Error?