Programming Lessons

Not sure if all developers have this philosophy but to me programming is like being a God of your own universe:

You are presented with the building blocks needed for creation, and only your imagination is the limiting factor - it is up to you how you shape everything how everything “looks” how it “feels” - make two applications designed to do exactly the same thing and neither of them will work the same way. Programmers are creators in their own right, and I guess respectively their programs are their art, it is unique to the ‘artist’.

Like every artist has a style every programmer has one too - this is why reading somebody else’s code is damn difficult guess it’s like handwriting, tis easy to read your own but a doctors for example?

I guess the whole point of this rant is, is that if you want to program you got to develop a certain amount of uniqueness and quirky, edgy thinking to your code - because thinking a way round a problem in your own way will damn sure save your ass one day. I’ve always found (through looking at code of somebody else’s) it is impossible to learn from or even to gain anything from somebody else’s code other than the basic syntax of a language - anything else wont make sense because your brain doesn’t work the same way that guy’s does…

This is why I have decided to teach you syntax as a first lesson, and from then on offer my code but also a list of pseudo code (code spoken in a way everyone will understand) that you can use to find your own way of doing things e.g.

Copy this file to here
create a directory here

there are a few ways of doing those two things but it’s up to you to pick a way your comfortable with and stick with it

Just thought I’d let you know my thoughts on the first lesson - unfortunately learning syntax is always boring and I doubt I can fit freelancer in but I’ll see what I can come up with…

One exists - its called mono, doesn’t support ALL .NET functions yet, think it is 3/4 of the way through completing .NET 2.0 then moving onto 3.5 - but yeah it does exist google Mono, Linux .NET

As for the all the posts, debates are fun even if FF did kick my ass in them lmao

but I appreciate the enthusiasm StarTrader - I already got some lesson notes down let me know what you think (that includes everyone)

Lesson 1
–-----------------
To teach you about variables, scope and string manipulation with a small amount of file management\manipulation I have decided to teach you how to decode an FL File and read the players name from it (as well as decode the name) alongside his money value and then encode it again!

The topics that will be covered are:

-Basic Form Design and the Toolbox
-Coding Conventions (naming controls, lblMain and frmSplash etc.)
-Referencing a .NET DLL

-Subroutines & Functions (how they work and differences)--------------------------------------------|
-Using that DLL in your code to decode a player file (easier than it all sounds believe me!)-| THESE 3 ARE LINKED
-Explanation of scope using the DLL as an example---------------------------------------------------

-Classes--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
-Why use a class?, why not put the subroutines/functions in the form code?---------------------|-------
-Using StreamReader Object from the .NET Framework to read from a file (EXTREMELY useful)|

-How to use string manipulation to get the information you do want whilst deleting that which you don’t
-Loops and different kind of loops

-Displaying that information in a label or any other medium you may choose

I’m not a great explainer of things but have tried really hard to think of easy explanations for everything that will be happening in my up and coming video tutorial, obviously these things take time - but tomorrow I should have some time spare to get most of it done…

@Worfeh:

@HazardFN:

One exists - its called mono, doesn’t support ALL .NET functions yet, think it is 3/4 of the way through completing .NET 2.0 then moving onto 3.5 - but yeah it does exist google Mono, Linux .NET

Oh man, you just saved my day just by replying to FF’s post ;D

Haha anything to prove FF wrong at something just a little friendly competition lmao

but yeah not sure how good it is but if you use it let me know

http://www.4shared.com/file/75225722/d0a6b3b9/Preliminary_Tutorial__WEB_.html
–---------------------------------------

This file is an interactive flash document - I’m new to making interactive flash videos let me know if it is useful…

Prelim. Tutorial:

Shows how I tend to start my project
Sets you up/demonstrates how to create a project ready for the next tutorial in the Preliminary Series (A Simple Calculator)
Clickable interface allows you to choose a section of the IDE and I will happily explain it too you

Known Issues:

Browsers aren’t designed for such huge amounts of flash - and Personally I dont think flash was designed for such huge amount of flash, a memory leak appears to happen sometimes over long periods of viewing… :S

EDIT: Apparently flash 9.0 has a huge problem with a memory leak when using the screen recording software I use - SOOO I’m going to recompile for 8.0 will let you know when thats done…

EDIT 2: Compiling in a diff version of flash solved nothing… its due to how many full motion videos I have in the flash file let me know if the memory problem becomes too much…

Forgot to post this, but er…. VB.NET Express for everyone: http://www.microsoft.com/express/download/

The tutorial can be streamed online now courtesy of SP: http://the-starport.net/HazardTuts/Preliminary Tutorial.htm