i wanna start coding. what should i know and what should i get Thread

hey im a great mapper, and im starting to get good at modeling. but i dont code. i would like to, but what do i need and what tutorials are out there??? anybody that can help out, thanks ahead of time.

you need like C++ skills i would think, pretty advanced shit, but if your up fr it, um, dont ask me

Um... chis that's not very encouraging.

Nexus, talk to me, I can point you in the right direction. I myself just started and I have an overflowing cup of resources.

Email me: mosquito_l5@yahoo.ca
Just because I don't check the forums everyday like my email.

ok thanks. u got aim?

As for books, "Teach yourself C++ in 21 days" is pretty good (trust me, it takes longer then that though) also "C++ for dummies" is fair. They will both get you into coding and started. As for advanced stuff, theres more advanced books, but I'd recommed taking a course at a nearby community college for more advaced coding skills.

Both are good ideas. Once you've cracked the basics, what you really need to do is have a go at dismantling the Half-Life code and basically frigging around.

take a game, and sit there, and change some values around, till you know what 99% of the commands do... and while you are fiddling, make sure that you either write (on a piece of paper) every code you change, and the result of it, or type it.... if you break into access or some other db prog, you could make two or three columns, one with the command, and another with what it does (and perhaps something else like range) that way, you are essentially writing yourself a guide to all of the commands that are used in the game, because a fair number of games do not go on strict c++ (at least for the part that you are going to be playing with...) but have their own form of it that is designed to work with that particular game.

Hey, I have an old copy of Sams C++ in 21 days here too! (Got my Borland C++ 3.1 with it) I mostly learned with Jamsa's C/C++ Programmer's Bible though. It's a bloody awesome book.

Now, for the predictable advice: Try QuakeC. It's easy and simple and there're plenty of mod-specific tutorials around. Even hammy-bob will give you this advice, he tried it and caught on VERY quick! He learns it faster than I did and I have years of C/C++ experience

What is your target engine?
most engines uses .dll or a script lang.

For .dll you can use anithing. Somethimes C++ and somethimes C (also very cool). For scripting... you need mature level.

Some script langs where very easy, but deep, like Unrealscript and QuakeC (this is compiled, anyway).

Whe suggest you search for tutorials about your fav engine. And learn the script/lang that these engine need.

In a side note C is good way to think.

Tei wrote: Some script langs where very easy, but deep, like Unrealscript and QuakeC (this is compiled, anyway).

Also with QuakeC and UnrealScript, you don't need to buy a complier. for QuakeC, there's one you can download. As for UnrealScript, its included in the game. And both have great tutorials on the net!

Pinned, could be useful to others

haha great mapper.... HAHA good at modelling!!!!!! LOL!!!!!

Shh, phood, this thread isn't about Nexus anymore

I taught myself C++ when I was 16 I think. It's not that hard, it just takes some time. It's similar to learning a foreign language, and once you know C++ you'll find that it's a lot easier to learn other programming languages.

I started with a really old version of "Learn C++ in 21 days", based on a free Borland compiler and DOS. Learning C++ in DOS or Linux (console) is probably a lot easier than to start right off with Windows programming by the way, because then you don't have to worry about all kinds of system calls and funky libraries.

- Edited By [CB]Nico On Tue 17th, Jun 2003 @ 1:30:32am

How can i get my Files per sec to show up on the screen as i play
I want to make sure stuff i make isn't too hardware dependent

hey ppl I can give an advise, which I got from my expirience. Programming languages are not difficult, if u want to learn just find tutorials,examples and practice a lot. I learned Visual Basic, html,java,php and pascal all by myself. And recently I started modelling with gmax, and I am getting to it realy fast. SO NEVER GIVE UP JUST GO FOR IT

Wrox Press C++ Tutorial.chm = a very good tutorial, but its based on Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0

or check this one Intap.net its only the basic, but extremely goot to start with...

- Edited By T-RonX On Sat 23rd, Aug 2003 @ 1:07:43pm

Basically, some engines, like the Siege engine, do not need knowledge of C++ but knowledge of the script language they use. example Skrit...

Basically, what C++ can teach you is the simple, Syntax which is common, to every engine. I would recommend you to Look to the game community on which you are working! example siegeworks, and planetdungeonsiege for the siege engine, and skrit, and learn there the basic fuctions! You can alays find somebody to help you out, or get another mod, and try to see what those freaky programmers did.

Now, if you are working, on an engine, like Valve, etc. Dll is perhaps the most comon way to start with! The only thing you need is 'Steel Nerves' when your Mod leader asks you to built something like this... Oh ,my God horses in DS, took me 4 months to be created!!

I also want to learn coding (for HL 1&2) and would be very interested in anything that would help me learn that.

I can't stress this enough

www.google.com

"Half-life coding"

hey ppl I can give an advise, which I got from my expirience. Programming languages are not difficult, if u want to learn just find tutorials,examples and practice a lot. I learned Visual Basic, html,java,php and pascal all by myself. And recently I started modelling with gmax, and I am getting to it realy fast. SO NEVER GIVE UP JUST GO FOR IT

It is sort of difficult to make anything up to a high standard of quality when you have just taught yourself. It is even harder when you don't even have a place to start at.

a lot of people love saying, google this and google that. google has a lot of stuff and it can be hard, for newbies, to find what is the right stuff. its a bit like searching for a niddle in a haystack. anyways, here is the niddle: Mindview.net, it 100% better then the 21 days crap and it also have information about STL. wow, templates....

just remember, C++ isn't easy and its very hard to learn by tutorial and examples alone. buy a book and read it, don't start programming in C++ until you fully understand the language.

just to note, you should read volume 1 before volume 2. volume 2 is really useful once you already know the language.

also, besides learning the language you will need a compiler and there is this great compiler that comes with an IDE, working environment, debugger and libraries thats 100% free, free as in free as free software and freedom. Bloodshed.net.
- Edited By tarbash On Sat 6th, Dec 2003 @ 12:56:23am
- Edited By tarbash On Sat 6th, Dec 2003 @ 1:01:45am

I'd code Quake1's QuakeC first before even attempting coding. GREAT learning experience. It got Mike Gummelt a job at Raven.

oh btw if you want to start coding you should drink coffee, tons of coffeeO_o