I'm doing a degree in Aerospace Engineering and as a result we must learn a few languages in our computing modules.
Last year I learnt MATLAB and LaTeX (the latter being a complete nightmare). This year I am learning Python. I imagine we will learn C or C++ in the foreseeable future.
My skills are basic but expanding the moment and I was wondering what cool things, in time we will be able to do. I would say I am generally switched on when it comes to coding, although before university the only coding I had ever tried was HTML and forum BB-Code!
We have already made certain programs for sorting lists, and some with real life applications. What's the big picture outside of the engineering context and would there be any transferable skills to the gaming scene?
I know my friend on Computer Science has used Flash and Java which seem much more appropriate.
I guess you'd be able to apply certain algorithms that you learned in engineering to flash. A chief part of flash game development is probably the creative side, the ability to make intriguing and addicting games, and not just the capability to write programs.
Well I'm sure you'll be learning more physics, which will be useful in coding. As for how useful the coding languages you've learned so far? I think C, C++, C#, are used mostly when it comes to retail console, and computer games. Flash for games on the web. I feel like python and Visual Basic (which I have experience with Visual Basic) seem a bit useless in as far as doing any type of code that could be used across multiple platforms.
However, learning one language of code makes it much easier to learn other languages of code. So what you have done so far has probably been valuable and I'm sure there are many practical applications for MATLAB, and LaTeX.
Well LaTeX would definitely not be useful for games as it is basically MS Word but it isn't a GUI environment so instead of clicking the bold button you have to code it, obviously it goes the same for much more complex tasks.
Apparently most scientists use this to publish their reports, papers, journals and book writers also use it as it has a lot of useful built in algorithms. It's good for inserting diagrams and references and very good for equations. If I remember correctly it's open source and free if you wanted to try it.
MATLAB is a maths based language which is specialised for Matrices (and thus vectors and tensors). It is good for calculating physics and applied maths problems (where matrices seem to solve a lot of things, so it turns out!).
I think with these two it's just the coding experience that I have gained from them to bring forward to my next platform. I think coding is easy as long as you know the language and you know what you want to code (the latter is always my problem).
However I think there is potential with Python. I have the coding experience from before, and although there are some differences in logic and language the transfer has been smooth so far. It is apparently one of the most intuitive languages to learn as they have built on other languages and tried to make one encompassing all the benefits.
As such it is a very utile language which can be applied to anything as it has no specialist function. It has many modules so if you want to do a maths based function you would import math and that allows you to use the maths features.
My friend said he has programmed games in Python before. I have no idea what kind of games these are, if they're text based or what. I will report back when I have seen them because then I have an idea of what I could possibly do with it.
My friend said he has programmed games in Python before. I have no idea what kind of games these are, if they're text based or what. I will report back when I have seen them because then I have an idea of what I could possibly do with it.
See I initially thought Python was somewhat a dead-end because I was told it was a language used in programming games, but that it was more easily understandable than other languages. Knowing that most retail games are coded in some version of C,I assumed Python somewhat of a waste.
But after what you said, It sounds more sophisticated. (I also assumed Python was defunct, but still used most mainly for learning purposes.) But it sounds like there's a lot more to Python than I first thought and of course learning one language will help you transfer to another language (like you stated). Interesting stuff!
I think Python games are graphical, I remember someone showing a game they coded for school in Python.
Well if your sole aim is to be a games programmer I would doubt Python is the best place to start. As you said C seems to be the common starting block.
One thing I can say with certainty is that yes, Python is very good for teaching and learning to code, but also that it is definitely useful outside of gaming in many real life applications.
If you want to try Python there is a free downloadable version called enthought Python if you are a student.
What's the big picture outside of the engineering context and would there be any transferable skills to the gaming scene?
Hmm... if you get the fundamentals down and do come C, C++ and continue applying it and taking some courses you should be able to apply it pretty well.
Computer Science has used Flash
Really computer science learning flash? Must be a college because university's don't touch it.
What are MATLAB and LateX used for anyway?
Math stuff mostly.
I think Python games are graphical, I remember someone showing a game they coded for school in Python.
You can use easygui to make graphical games but I wouldn't recommend it.
One thing I can say with certainty is that yes, Python is very good for teaching and learning to code, but also that it is definitely useful outside of gaming in many real life applications.
Of course it's a full fledged programming language and has many applications but games is not one of it`s strength. It's ease and speed it what people like about it.
If you want to try Python there is a free downloadable version called enthought Python if you are a student.
