The Old Joel on Software Forum: Part 4 (of 5) - programming in the real world

programming in the real world

Dear programmers

I'm a very beginner (in programming) but
I have tried many languages (in order): Basic, C,
HTML, ASM. I was doing all thoses stuff for fun because
I wanted to be a game programmer now that things have
more signification for me, I think becoming a game
programmer is too hard for me. All I want now is to
make very useful software (or freeware) for game
developpers or graphics artist.

Now my question: I have an habit that is, I can't stand
using sthg without trying to know how it is done (I think
playing games bring me the idea of becoming programmer).
And then programming c and basic brings me to assembler.
That's why I have acquired slowness, and you can't imagine
how many platform I have tried (amiga atari spectrum emulators
just to know how programming was....)

What I think is that if i don't learn it know, i'll never
learn it.( for example, many high level programming languages
don't focus on screen memory and its organization nowadays,
what I have learned (with great surprise) using assembly)

How can I give away that bad habit??

(if you wonder why I'm asking this question: I have an old
pentium 200mhz with dos 6.22 and win98 and the maximum documents
on programming in dos. My father gave me the chance to move onto
a pentium 3 with win2000 and I said I wanted to stay on my old
comp.)

Thanks in advance for any advice

Victor NOAGBODJI
Wednesday, April 28, 2004

Even high-level frameworks can be understood at a low level. All new systems cause frustration when you're just beginning to learn them.

I don't think you like low-level programming so much as you like knowing exactly what you're doing. So here's my advice, based on this assumption. Learn as much about the new framework as possible. This means buy several books on the subject (if that's available to you), find a good online community (forum/newsgroup) covering this new framework, and read/ask questions there, and of course, do some actual work using the new framework.

For a while it's going to be frustrating, as you'll be doing lookups far more often than 'just programming' as you're accustomed to. This is going to be work, not fun.

But eventually you'll pull through, and it will be as natural as ... whatever comes naturally to you. Hmm, that last line could be a little smoother.

So yes, this is from direct experience. Just slog[1] through, and learn something new. As for working with DOS/Win98-era programming, I will quote the song/bartender: "You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here." So move into the future, or at least, less into the past.

Someone else can mention the importance of programming fundamentals no matter what the platform, but writing stuff in assembler?

Oh, and about 'what' new framework to pick up: I don't know. Everyone loves something different; just pick what you think you might enjoy learning and/or using.

[1] slog, as in the standard definition, not the 'topical humor/Rumsfeld' definition

pds
Wednesday, April 28, 2004

after asm do you want to move to write hex number directly into the memory or check the wires in the processor? :)

Wednesday, April 28, 2004

Maybe it is just me but I don't see anything wrong with this in the context of learning. I suspect you will eventually find a "level", i.e. nearer to or further away from the "metal", at which you are most comfortable and concentrate in that area. To select a level before you have looked at it would be worrying.

Friday, April 30, 2004