Message-ID:	<004001bc5997$0c7bb960$17f9c6c3@johans-dator>
From:	"Johan Henriksson" <johan DOT he AT telia DOT com>
To:	<djgpp AT delorie DOT com>
Subject:	Re: games programming
Date:	Mon, 5 May 1997 22:45:59 +0200
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Reply-To:	djgpp AT delorie DOT com

from Johan Henriksson, Sweden    HTTP://come.to/jhewok  |
Primary mail: johan DOT he AT telia DOT com                  #UIN 12035895
Second: jhe75 AT hotmail DOT com    Third: johan_he AT yahoo DOT com
Leadprogrammer and FX-specialist at Real software
http://come.to/real_software
*************************************************************************
-----Original Message-----
From: Crewden <root AT 127 DOT 0 DOT 0 DOT 1>
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.djgpp
To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com <djgpp AT delorie DOT com>
Date: Wednesday, May 05, 1999 8:39 PM
Subject: Re: games programming


>Ordinarily I would strongly disagree with using basic to teach anyone
>programming.  I started on basic, and didn't have to many troubles
>switching to a "real" programming language.  But many of the people I
>knew had a problem with it.

I know I had. This was because I hadn't grown up really when I tried to
switch over to Pascal. It did give me some good understanding of the
hardware but I never really grasped that language until recently. But why
was it so hard to learn? Basic is a horrible language when it comes to
greater programs with real structures and routines. You can freely make any
kangoroocode without any problems. I think this is what ruins many new
programmers. However, with the experience you get, you usually more and more
starts writing structures with sorta functions (gosub). Then your ready to
get on to C.

>
>The difference here is I wasn't quite as young as 8 when I started.
>BASIC is quick to learn and provides more immediate results.  So he
>won't become bored as fast.

Immeadiate results? naah... Now, when I've seen Allegro, I surely knows what
'immediate results' means.

>
>If the kid gets serious at all about programming.  Really digs into
>BASIC, switch him over to a more structured language like Pascal.  The
>switch takes some adjusting, but a determined learner wont be phased
>by this too much.  The BASIC, at least the kind I remember (Applesoft
>basic) has little if any structure.  There are no functions
>(subroutines yes;functions no) all variables are global, no
>switch/case statements.  The structure of the BASIC I learned on is
>actually worse (believe it or not) that that of Assembly.

Messing with too many languages that are close to each other is a bad idéa.
Just head for C when your ready. If you want to think more flexibly,
programming in less close languages is a good Idéa. I myself have tried
basic, pascal, c, java, perl, cobol and some older ones that would be a
shame to mention here...

>
>Some of the newer BASIC programming languages like VB are structured

NO WAY! I've used it and it just messes up your way to think about objects.
When you can declare your own objects, then we can talk about structured
language...

>and most often don't even have line numbers.  That is to say, a lot of
>the new BASIC languages are more like Pascal.

I've used QBasic for 4 years now. You call that new!?

>
>
>In short, if it's the kind of BASIC without functions and has line
>numbers, don't him use it for too long before moving on to one of the
>better highlevel languages such as Pascal/C/Java (recommended in that
>order) or and any other language that is not BASIC, Assembly, or god
>help you COBOL.

Yep. Stay out of cobol.

>
>
>On Wed, 5 May 1999 09:14:49 +0200, Bjorn De Meyer
><bgdmeyer AT eduserv2 DOT rug DOT ac DOT be> wrote:
>
>+It seemss to me that for such a young kid, BASIC easiest solution,

I totally agree. It also gives some understanding on how you can work with
less OO languages like ASM.

>+at least to make simple games. There is a DJGPP specific BASIC
>interpreter

What!? Is there a compiler as well!?

>+that uses the ALLEGRO functions as a backend, but I forgot the
>name...
>+Check it out on SET's page.

right

>+
>+Bjorn De Meyer.
>+Homepage: http://studwww.rug.ac.be/~bgdmeyer
>+E-mail: bjorn DOT demeyer AT rug DOT ac DOT be
>+Licentiate Chemistry.
>+Coordinator of the "Tales of Artah: First Sword" CRPG project.
>
>+
>+ "I've shaven. I'm happy. I have no religion. Don't pray for me."
>+                                                Illusion of Gaia 2

Didn't know there was a sequel...

>+
>+
>+
>+
>+
>+
>+
>
>

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