Topic awaiting preservation: Programming Language Recommendations

Hi, I want to learn a programming language but I want to create some fun things like little games and such to start with, maybe a tetris clone or a pong clone, something simple but fun so it makes me want to learn.

I've done a little Visual Basic and a bit of Pascal and ASM (I think) in the past so I know general programming basics, I just want a suggestion of what would be a good language to learn to do thing like little games to start with so I can learn in and then possibly expand my knowledge and do bigger scale things, not quite sure what yet though.

I thought about C++ but I don't want to start it if it's not good for what I want it for. So could you guys suggest some please?

Thanks.

well, c++ is a beast, and I wouldn't start with it.

I'd recomend python - there's a pretty good 'game' extension called pyGame, it is fairly object oriented and well documented.

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I would suggest Java for a start.

Later you might want to learn C++, OpenGL and game physics and stuff.

--
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Elias

Thanks for the input.

I want Win32 'apps' and C++ does look like it'll be the best for the job, I've been looking around and have found a tutorial which teaches you how to make a Tetris clone in an hour with C++ and it explains the code pretty well.

I really need to get a good C++ book too, doesn't have to be on games, just so I can get the basics of the language down and stuff.

To begin with I'll just be doing clone games, one tutorial suggested going from Tetris to Breakout to Pacman to Mario.

I just want a kind of project, something for me to do when I get bored, something with a bit more going for it than sitting on MSN messenger half the time when I get bored.

Well if it's C++ that you are going toward I'd like to recomend a nice program to do C++ in. It's Dev C++.

Later,

C:\


~Binary is best~

The poster has demanded we remove all his contributions, less he takes legal action.
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Thanks Cprompt, I'll give that a shot and if you could find that link Ini, that would be awesome.

well, I know I wouldn't start programming today in any language that a) wasn't able to handle generics (drops out java and c#) and b) doesn't have a garbage collector (bye bye C++).

InI is right in one point though: Python is designed as a multi paradigm language, and especially as a teaching language. Which isn't true for anything but pascal - and well, pascal's just annoying.
Plus, python got a nice, interactive interpreter, is at home at almost any platform, can actually compile to java byte code (and call talk to any java objects), has pyGame, which is great for any 2d game that isn't action heavy (I wouldn't do space invaders, but tetris ought to be doable), and it's syntax is APL-style enough to let you convert easily later on to c/C++/c#/java/pascal - you name it.


And I wouldn't want to start programming with C++, if that meant DirectX - that's complicated, you know (even more so now that DirectDraw is being phased out in favour of Direct3D.).


(And Ini: You for all people should've heard about the incompatiblities between the different java runtimes ;-). Your code might run everywhere, but real life often turns around and bites you.)

edit: prawnstar: hey, post the link to that tetris tutrial ;-)

[This message has been edited by Tyberius Prime (edited 11-25-2003).]

The poster has demanded we remove all his contributions, less he takes legal action.
We have done so.
Now Tyberius Prime expects him to start complaining that we removed his 'free speech' since this message will replace all of his posts, past and future.
Don't follow his example - seek real life help first.

well, C++ doesn't have a garbage collector. Sure you can build one, or use a third party one, but I've seen enviromentes where this is out of the question.

About converting to other languages: Somehow, I doubt InI that you've used much beside java. Sooner or later in any shop that ain't inhouse, you'll have to use something besides your favourite language.

I'll let you holler a bit more, point is, if I am asked by someone who wants to learn to code, I'll direct them to python.
It is fast (I'm thinking compile time here!, thanks to the interpreter this can be equal to 0), clean, easy to learn, and what you learn easily transposes to other languages.

edit: ini, please elaborate on 'context bound semi-scripting' - What does that mean?


[This message has been edited by Tyberius Prime (edited 11-25-2003).]

I might looking into Python too, there's no rule saying I have to choose 1, I can start on both and see which I feel more comfortable with.

I'll find the Tetris in an hour link in a minute, just going to start downloading C++ Dev

The poster has demanded we remove all his contributions, less he takes legal action.
We have done so.
Now Tyberius Prime expects him to start complaining that we removed his 'free speech' since this message will replace all of his posts, past and future.
Don't follow his example - seek real life help first.

Just my luck, went to download C++ Dev and my ISP lets me down, webpages haven't been working for a couple of hours yet MSN has been for the last hour.

It's still being a bit flaky so I can't get to the Tetris page either.

*sobs*


EDIT - I've managed to d/l Dev C++ looks nice, cept I can't get to any resource sites to test it out as my net is still playing up on certain sites.


[This message has been edited by prawnstar69 (edited 11-25-2003).]

actually, since python can compile to java byte code, it'll run on the same VM...

and it can be 'frozen' into complete standalone win32 exes as well.

On most projects, I'd alternate hard and soft layers anyhow... write it in python, profile, and if some things are to slow, write a c extension to do them.

Also, I think barrier of entry is lower with python, than with java, or especially c. The syntax makes it easier to learn, the live interpreter makes it easier to try things out.

NNNOOOO!

Stay away from coding... it's evil. Look at Bill Gates and tell me he hasnt jumped in bed with Satan... Probably into that tentacle porn stuff too!

Trying to learn C++, and its attendant compilers and java, and python, and all of that is what made me run screaming over to graphics manipulation.

Ahhh, copy, paste, transform, and filterize... so much more comforting.
Paint buckets, brushes, and layers... these are nice things.

Variables, while loop, compilers... these are evil things.

But, if you find some really good c++ tutorials dont forget to put a link back here.
Some Unknown-Curs might be interested.

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While avoiding the two conflicting opinions here, it seems to me that Java is a good language to learn because its syntax is similar to many other languages; because it forces an appreciation (even if grudging) of object orientation and strict typing; and because it runs on all platforms.

I hear Python is good because it's easy and fast to code in, and also has strong object orientation; but I agree with InI's point that Python's syntax is not as applicable to other languages as Java's would be.

Cell 1250 :: alanmacdougall.com :: Illustrator tips

Well after a good night's sleep and some weird dreams my internet is back up.

The Tetris clone in an hour link is...
http://www.gamedev.net/community/forums/topic.asp?topic_id=192483

I have half a day at work today cos I have to wait around at home for the insurance company to bring me a courtesy car and take my damaged car to the garage. I had a car crash on sunday
So I'll start my C++ adventure then.


[This message has been edited by prawnstar69 (edited 11-26-2003).]

http://nehe.gamedev.net/

...an awsome place to learn OpenGL... and in so doing, I've *really* sharpened my Cplusplus skills..


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Hey, I'm having a bit of a problem with Dev C++

I've started a new console project and I wrote my code and went to compile and it can't find 'iostream', so I downloaded Borland's C++ CommandLineTools compiler and when I try to compile anything it says it can't open the 'iostrem.h' file.

(For borland) My code is:

#include <iostream.h>

void main ()

{
cout << "Hello world\n";
cout << "Welcome to C++\n";
}

I borrowed a book from work too, it's pretty good, helped me out a lot. I've read up to data type modifiers but haven't been able to do anything because of the compiler errors with iostream.

If anyone can help me that'd be great.

The poster has demanded we remove all his contributions, less he takes legal action.
We have done so.
Now Tyberius Prime expects him to start complaining that we removed his 'free speech' since this message will replace all of his posts, past and future.
Don't follow his example - seek real life help first.

The poster has demanded we remove all his contributions, less he takes legal action.
We have done so.
Now Tyberius Prime expects him to start complaining that we removed his 'free speech' since this message will replace all of his posts, past and future.
Don't follow his example - seek real life help first.

could be, that you neet do replace 'iostram.h' with 'iostream'. that's because the iostream standard changed, sometime in thelast few years, I believe... well, at least my copy of visual study at work has both, but the docs say 'iostream' is the newer one.

Thanks for the help, i tried just iostream in Dev C++ but after reading the link InI gave I'm downloading v4 not v5(beta) as it's meant to be buggy, at least from what that thread said.

Just gonna install it now.

Well, just tried it in Dev-C++ v4 and it works fine, crazy betas.

Now to work towards the Tetris clone.

search http://www.sourceforge.net for "tetris".... mdk comes with tetris and I assume that sources are available... (ahh... I love linux)...


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Thanks Petskull, i'm looking at Tetris Queen at the mo,

it'll probably be a while before I'm anywhere near that stage, I'm on chapter 2 of my book though ^_^

been making little number guessing games and stuff like i did years ago in Pascal. moving on to functions when i've done the chapter 1 exercises.

Anyone have exp with Python?

Specifically GamePython... I may give the whole 'programming' thing another go and GamePython seems to be something I could stay interested in.

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