Learning to Code? I sure am!

[Sorrontis]

Some of you may already know how to code. Some of you don't.

If your like me, you probably want to learn (I'm got some background in C++ from university) but you don't know where to start. I picked this little beautiful book a few months ago to help me learn C# (which is great for game making).

So, do look at this book, its recent (2015) and is well written.

The C# Player's Guide

Yes, for you curious few, I'm working on a game. Who isn't right? I'm still learning how to use Unity, so don't hold your breath, it's going to take a while.

[GoodMorning]

Interesting.

My may-never-finish project started as an exercise more than a serious thing, and so I used JavaScript. Once I finish that (laughter) I will change to Unity.

I admit that my first exposure to programming came in the form of a few texts which were older than I. One thing I notice is that the commands haven't changed much, merely become easier to use and harder to break, and more is done for you.

[J]

At the university we're now learning C# with Microsoft VS and Monogame. It's a bit easier to start with but doesn't contain a built in physics engine. The book used is called 'Learning C# by programming games', but if you have some programming experience you can probably do without (if you don't know how the program structure works, just ask me or find an example).

[virgilw]

I was really lucky.  I came of age well after punch cards but well before the massive frameworks we have today.  I first started coding on an atari 400 with a membrane keyboard. This was my dev environment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vK84lvwQwo

I made lots of ugly spaghetti code in atari basic. Wrote my first little game after seeing the movie Blue Thunder (I was 12... so...) :  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd3lDhyM21M

So enjoy the modern world...  pick a platform that has lots of capabilities that interest you and create measured milestones for yourself.  Get a good effort -> reward feedback cycle going.  Find your own Blue Thunder and chase it...

[Sorrontis]

Thanks J for the offer! I probably will be talking to you, and V, once I get past the basics and can get the unity window to show a bouncing sphere or something 


To be honest, V's PF dev notes gave me the boost I needed to get back onto learning. I wasn't writing things down.  (SMH)

[GoodMorning]

I second that.

[tornado]

I bought some books on ruby and kind of knocked together some calculators and entertainment programs, text based interactive dice and such, on a laptop between lessons.
Still am. Should probably move on from that. just need to stat with something that is actually small (as opposed to looks small).

[Sorrontis]

I made a square move around a green background! On top of that, it can't go off screen! Hurrah!

[PartyFlava]

http://stackoverflow.com is a great resource if you get stuck and have made a valiant attempt on your own first.

[Sorrontis]

http://stackoverflow.com is a great resource if you get stuck and have made a valiant attempt on your own first.

Yep. That and the unity forums. Right now, I'm still learning stuff that people have done before, so it's not too too bad when looking for answers.

[PartyFlava]

Oh yeah and I almost forgot about the specialized gamedev site there, which also kicks ass: http://gamedev.stackexchange.com/