Moving On From BYOND

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ID:187421
 
Dec 15 2004, 8:58 am
I've been thinking about moving to more professional programming languages rather than BYOND.

Could someone recommend some software which is reasonable, in terms of difficulty, and that someone ok at DM wouldn't struggle a lot with? I was thinking of Visual but I'm not sure.

I'd also like to have all rights to the things i make, considering it is mine, and for it to work like normal applications do with Windows.

Any recommendations?
Dec 15 2004, 9:09 am
Become one of the BYOND staff, and program a BYOND compilation feature that means you can execute games on computers that don't have byond.
Dec 16 2004, 9:14 am
In response to Elation
A) I doubt they're offering places.

B) I'm not good enough to work for BYOND.

C) I'd prefer to work individually for now.
Dec 16 2004, 9:47 am
In response to DeathAwaitsU
I say dive right into C++. I am planning on attempting some C++ for linux, but havent followed though with it yet.
Dec 16 2004, 9:49 am
In response to Elation
That would require making executables...

The nuances of multi-platformability make it nearly impossible and pointless to make a system as such.

And what's the point of creating that system if you have to log in with a key? Hmmm?
Dec 16 2004, 9:53 am
I would go for Python, it's pretty simple and has more pre-defined sequences then the other languages...
Dec 16 2004, 9:55 am
In response to Sensi
If you're going to learn python... Learn something that can actually make it useful. C++ I've been working on a MUD that incorporates python as the built-in scripting language... Of course, I see now that it would just be easier to build my own scripting language, but that's beside the point.
Dec 16 2004, 10:06 am
If you're a windows user, Visual Basic is EXTREMELY easy to learn, and C# has some pretty good graphical capabilities. Otherwise, Learn Java or C++. If you understand the concepts of object-oriented programming, you should be able to pick them up, with a little dedication (although I'd say Java is definately easier for the beginner, since it includes a garbage collector, and since it has some nice build-in classes for graphical stuff).
Dec 16 2004, 10:12 am
In response to Igmolicious
Ok I think I'll take a shot at C++.

Could someone recommend the C++ software from an online UK shop? I search www.amazon.co.uk but found all sorts of things which left me unclear.
Dec 16 2004, 10:16 am
In response to DeathAwaitsU
What OS are you using?
Dec 16 2004, 10:29 am
In response to Igmolicious
Windows XP, but I'd like for it to work on both XP and 2000 PRO.
Dec 16 2004, 10:47 am
In response to DeathAwaitsU
Honestly, I'd go for C#; it's C++, but it's got added functionality for graphics, as well as some other nifty gadgets. Plus, if you're a student, most school/universities offer it for a pretty low price.
Dec 16 2004, 10:58 am
In response to Ter13
If you're going to learn python... Learn something that can actually make it useful. C++ I've been working on a MUD that incorporates python as the built-in scripting language... Of course, I see now that it would just be easier to build my own scripting language, but that's beside the point.

There are several entry level jobs at Monolith that involve writing scripts for objects in Python. So knowing it is definitely useful even without knowing C++.
Dec 16 2004, 11:40 am
Delphi. It's simple, it's easy. I'm 14 and I've managed to create a database-centred message system with it. It's also pretty powerful and there are some add ons like 3D systems and Networking components which mean you can extend it.
For power though, go with C++. C++ is alot more powerful, but harder to learn and pretty ugly as well. If you go with C++, expect many braces. Ungh.
For a decent system to develop either on, go with an old Borland one. I use Delphi 5 at school and C++ 4 at home. Both are good for learning. I expect that both can be downloaded legally from somewhere, Delphi in particular. We only use Delphi 5 at school cuz we're too poor to get a new version :-).
Dec 16 2004, 10:59 pm
If you wanna use your skills later in life then go C++ or Java.

C++ is more popular, but harder
Java is popular and more multiplatform.

Free good C++ IDE+Compiler:
http://www.bloodshed.net/devcpp.html

Good Java IDE:
http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/index.php

You will need to download Java from its home page to be able to make/use java made apps.
Dec 17 2004, 5:12 am
I've just noticed that I bought Dark Basic Professional a long long time ago. At that time I didn't even know what a variable was and I hadn't even seen BYOND let alone program using BYOND. So I found DBP too hard and gave it up.

(I still have the disc intact however I lost the manual and the reference book thing. Does anyone know how to get these free?)

Should I try DBP and then move to C++/Java, what do you guys think?

Dec 17 2004, 5:33 am
I recomend learning visual basic 6, and then moving onto visual basic.net or C#
Dec 17 2004, 10:57 am
In response to Jermman
Visual Basic wont get him far in the programming world. Further than BYOND but still not very far
Dec 17 2004, 11:14 am
DeathAwaitsU wrote:
I've been thinking about moving to more professional programming languages rather than BYOND.

Could someone recommend some software which is reasonable, in terms of difficulty, and that someone ok at DM wouldn't struggle a lot with? I was thinking of Visual but I'm not sure.

Moving to C# after BYOND is the perfect step. C# is very much like BYOND structure-wise, although it has many differences that go beyond the syntax a bit.

var/mob/M = new
M.x = 150
step(src,EAST)


Versus, for example:

Mob M = new Mob();
M.x = 150;
M.step(Dir.EAST);
Dec 17 2004, 11:29 am
In response to Smoko
I completely disagree with you on this one. VB is the only language I use on a day to day basis at my work (I'm a web site developer for the American Red Cross), and I know of PLENTY of other people who use it daily at their work as well. VB isn't just a macro scripting language -- you can also write full-fledged windows applications with it, AND it's what you use when working with ASP webpages. I'd say that most businesses would be more interested in someone who knows VB than someone who knows C++... unless they're a programming firm, or don't use many windows-based workstations/servers.
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