Creating a game about coding

strinda

Hello, I was not sure about where to write, so I decided to write here.

I am thinking about starting a very simple project (yet another one:) and I need some advice. The idea is to create an environment where people can code some spaceship behaviour and then play duel mathes.

Something like this:

Initially I was thinking of creating a library of sorts, which will have all the "ship-like" functions: throttle, thrust and so on. So that later someone trying to program a spaceship combat could load the library, initialize the 'ship' object and use it to program some unique behaviour.

It sounds confusing, I guess, but if you get the idea, you can probably tell me whether this is a good idea for processing, and if it can be carried out at all.

Thanks!

BleuBox

I am not at all an experienced coder, but I think it could work. You'd have to come up with some very innovative ideas for coding it with Processing. I'm thinking you might need to make the program save and load .txt files or something similar.

quark

I have thought about creating a similar program with robots. The idea came from an early coding game called 'Core Wars' where opponents created programs in a fictitious language called Redcode, but I never got round to it. My QScript library was potentially the first step to creating my own Redcode style language for waring robots.

quark

BTW I think it is an excellent idea and achievable but would take a lot of time and effort to do. :)

Ater

Hi. The link you shared is such a fun. You may try to implement the motion first and see if it was hard. You could still use JS for that.

strinda

Thank you for the feedback. At the moment I am looking for the inforamtion on how can one pass object as a parameter to some function.

Also I haven't found any info on how to set up a library. Do you kow of anything like that around?

GoToLoop

In order to accept user codes for your game, you're gonna need some ScriptEngine:
http://forum.Processing.org/two/discussion/comment/25959/#Comment_25959
http://docs.Oracle.com/javase/8/docs/api/javax/script/ScriptEngine.html

In which we call eval("") over user's code:
https://developer.Mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/eval

quark

I am looking for the inforamtion on how can one pass object as a parameter to some function.

Example

void someFuntion (Foo foo){
  // function code
}

Where foo is an object of a class called Foo

Also I haven't found any info on how to set up a library.

Try here

Chrisir

you can start without doing a lib first

you need an text editor inside your sketch and a means to excute it to move spaceship

strinda

Hey-hey! Stop:) I am not that proficient in Processing to do all of what you suggest now (even to understand some of the suggestions;), well, thank you for a head start anyway. Now I have something to think about.

To simpler matters: I think, I first need to create a model that will behave similar to a spaceship. I mean one can.t "just" rotate the ship, one needs to apply some thrust in the right direction and even after that, It is important to cancel the rotation and stuff you applying thrusts in the opposite directions. And on and forth.

My question is: if I start with coding a class in processing and then code all its methods in it will I be able to move it all to a separate library later on? Or is it important to start with the library in the first place?

Chrisir

I dont know

Bird

Here is a game that got me interested in programming and electronics in general: Robot Odyssey. Played it on a TRS80

quark

My question is: if I start with coding a class in processing and then code all its methods in it will I be able to move it all to a separate library later on?

The answer is yes provided you create it as a top level class. I will need to explain that. Java is an object orientated language which means ALL code must be written inside a class. Processing hides this from you but when a sketch is run Processing's preprocessor creates a class that incorporates the sketch code before compiling it. If you create a class in the main sketch tab it becomes an inner class to the one created by Processing. Inner classes should be avoided if you want to use them in a library later.

To create a top level class called Foo in Processing create a new tab called Foo.java note that it is named after the class and is case sensitive. This is essential

The other thing is to use access specifiers (public, protected or private) to the class as well as ALL fields and methods. All though not essetial in Processing it will make it easier when you use Eclipse to make a library later. e.g.

// Foo.java tab
public class Foo {

    private int n;

    public Foo (int n){
        this.n = n;
    }

    public int getN (){
        return n;
    }

}

strinda

Hi, This is a rather strange request, but I hope you will find some time to write a few lines!

Some of the students at school have just finished their ICT project. They decided to implement the idea I discussed above. This is their first year of programing (better to say first three months) (15 years old)

They also set up a site to present their results. It would be great if you could write something for them. English is not their native, just in case.

http://spaceprogramm.weebly.com/

Thanks!