Search Results

Search found 40870 results on 1635 pages for 'database design'.

Page 257/1635 | < Previous Page | 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264  | Next Page >

• Moving multiple objects on a map

  - by Dave

  I have multiple objects on my isometric game, for example, NPC's doing path finding automatically to walk around the map. Now there could be any number of them from 0 to infinity (hypthetical as no PC could handle that). My question is: is simply looping each one individually the smartest way to animate them all? Surely as the number of units increases you will notice a lag occuring on units near the end of loop still "waiting" for their next animation movement. The alternative is a swarm algorithm to move all objects together. Is that a smarter idea or do both situations apply depending on the circumstances of the game?

  Read the article

• Is there ever a time when creating a level/world editor with your game is a bad idea?

  - by Borgel

  I have created a few smaller games on my own in the past. My approach has always been to create a completed editor where it has all the functionality needed to save a level file and load it into the game. This has always made most sense to me but I keep hearing from people that a game is never fully done in the editor. I have never worked in a game development team and so I don't have first hand experience, but not adding everything needed to make the game to the editor just seams wrong. Am I missing something? Is there ever a reason not to add a tool to the editor?

  Read the article

• What precaution should I take to hire online freelancer designers? [on hold]

  - by tomDev

  For quite some time my company is super busy with our apps, and a few days ago someone contacted me by email offering his services to help me as a graphic designer. He has a fair price, a flickr portfolio (with great stuff but not popular at all), same on Twitter. I was really considering in hiring him for some specific service, but the question is... what precaution should I take when hiring someone I have no idea who is? I can't even be sure I have his real name and his real country. How do I make a contract? How do I pay? How do I know he will not sue us after the graphics reach the App Store asking for more money? And of course, how do I know he will actually do the service and not steal from some stock service? Am I a bit paranoiac or is this a common deal with graphics designers? PS: if someone asks I can provide his flickr, but I think this is a general question and not specific for this designer.

  Read the article

• Top X tips to code & debug efficiently [closed]

  - by user1510230

  I'm starting a big Java project and I wanted to have some advices that could benefit us all. What are the X (X could be 5 / 10 / ... or even 100 :) most important tips to code and debug efficiently in general (and in particular with java / javascript) ? I'll start with some basic ones : Use functions everytime a portion of code is used more than twice. Try not to code features with more than 15 lines of code in one shot. Rather write 5 lines of code then check if they work correctly then write 5 more... and so on start with the outcome of the function and then code it backwards (bottom-top approach) ... Thanks everybody

  Read the article

• Is there a better way to organize my module tests that avoids an explosion of new source files?

  - by luser droog

  I've got a neat (so I thought) way of having each of my modules produce a unit-test executable if compiled with the -DTESTMODULE flag. This flag guards a main() function that can access all static data and functions in the module, without #including a C file. From the README: -- Modules -- The various modules were written and tested separately before being coupled together to achieve the necessary basic functionality. Each module retains its unit-test, its main() function, guarded by #ifdef TESTMODULE. `make test` will compile and execute all the unit tests, producing copious output, but importantly exitting with an appropriate success or failure code, so the `make test` command will fail if any of the tests fail. Module TOC __________ test obj src header structures CONSTANTS ---- --- --- --- -------------------- m m.o m.c m.h mfile mtab TABSZ s s.o s.c s.h stack STACKSEGSZ v v.o v.c v.h saverec_ f.o f.c f.h file ob ob.o ob.c ob.h object ar ar.o ar.c ar.h array st st.o st.c st.h string di di.o di.c di.h dichead dictionary nm nm.o nm.c nm.h name gc gc.o gc.c gc.h garbage collector itp itp.c itp.h context osunix.o osunix.c osunix.h unix-dependent functions It's compile by a tricky bit of makefile, m:m.c ob.h ob.o err.o $(CORE) itp.o $(OP) cc $(CFLAGS) -DTESTMODULE $(LDLIBS) -o $@ $< err.o ob.o s.o ar.o st.o v.o di.o gc.o nm.o itp.o $(OP) f.o where the module is compiled with its own C file plus every other object file except itself. But it's creating difficulties for the kindly programmer who offered to write the Autotools files for me. So the obvious way to make it "less weird" would be to bust-out all the main functions into separate source files. But, but ... Do I gotta?

  Read the article

• How are the conceptual pairs Abstract/Concrete, Generic/Specific, and Complex/Simple related to one another in software architecture?

  - by tjb1982

  (= 2 (+ 1 1)) take the above. The requirement of the '=' predicate is that its arguments be comparable. Any two structures are comparable in this case, and so the contract/requirement is pretty generic. The '+' predicate requires that its arguments be numbers. That's more specific. (socket domain type protocol) the arguments here are much more specific (even though the arguments are still just numbers and the function itself returns a file descriptor, which is itself an int), but the arguments are more abstract, and the implementation is built up from other functions whose abstractions are less abstract, which are themselves built from less and less abstract abstractions. To the point where the requirements are something like move from one location to another, observe whether the switch at that location is on or off, turn the switch on or off, or leave it the same, etc. But are functions also less and less complex the less abstract they are? And is there a relationship between the number and range of arguments of a function and the complexity of its implementation, as you go from more abstract to less abstract, and vice versa? (= 2 (+ 1 1) 2r10) the '=' predicate is more generic than the '+' predicate, and thus could be more complex in its implementation. The '+' predicate's contract is less generic, and so could be less complex in its implementation. Is this even a little correct? What about the 'socket' function? Each of those arguments is a number of some kind. What they represent, though, is something more elaborate. It also returns a number (just like the others do), which is also a representation of something conceptually much more elaborate than a number. To boil it down, I'm asking if there is a relationship between the following dimensions, and why: Abstract/Concrete Complex/Simple Generic/Specific And more specifically, do different configurations of these dimensions have a specific, measurable impact on the number and range of the arguments (i.e., the contract) of a function?

  Read the article

• Accepting a numerical range in a function call

  - by dekpos

  I have encountered two ways of doing it: void foo(int from, int to); /* 'from' inclusive, 'to' exclusive */ void foo(int startIndex, int rangelength); Has one style historically been preferred over the other? If so, was it just a matter of convention or was it due to some deeper underlying reason? I'm currently programming in Java and noticed that the Arrays class uses the former style. The exclusivity of the to argument felt somewhat unintuitive to me, which led me to ask this question.

  Read the article

• Will you still play a good Red Alert 3 mission map? [closed]

  - by W.N.

  I've been creating a RA3 mission map (play in Skirmish), most likely a remake of RA2 Yuri "To the Moon" mission, with more interesting elements. However, because of my work, the process was corrupted for more than a year. And now, I see that very few people still play RA3. So, should I continue making this map? Because there're still a lot of work to complete this map. I can assure you, the mission will be interesting. However, if few people play it, there's no need to waste time to it. Please give me some advice. Thank you.

  Read the article

• engine for responsive gameplay

  - by zaftcoAgeiha

  Many games have been praised for its responsive gameplay, where each user action input correspond to a quick and precise character movement (eg: super meat boy, shank...) What makes those games responsive? and what prevents other games from achieving the same? How much of it is due to the game framework used to queue mouse/keyboard events and render/update the game and how much is attributed to better coding?

  Read the article

• How to implement string matching based on a pattern

  - by Vincent Rischmann

  I was asked to build a tool that can identify if a string match a pattern. Example: {1:20} stuff t(x) {a,b,c} would match: 1 stuff tx a 20 stuff t c It is a sort of regex but with a different syntax Parentheses indicate an optional value {1:20} is a interval; I will have to check if the token is a number and if it is between 1 and 20 {a,b,c} is just an enumeration; it can be either a or b or c Right now I implemented this with a regex, and the interval stuff was a pain to do. On my own time I tried implementing some kind of matcher by hand, but it turns out it's not that easy to do. By experimenting I ended up with a function that generates a state table from the pattern and a state machine. It worked well until I tried to implement the optional value, and I got stuck and how to generate the state table. After that I searched how I could do this, and that led me to stuff like LL parser, LALR parser, recursive-descent parser, context-free grammars, etc. I never studied any of this so it's hard to know what is relevant here, but I think this is what I need: A grammar A parser which generates states from the grammar and a pattern A state machine to see if a string match the states So my first question is: Is this right ? And second question, what do you recommend I read/study to be able to implement this ?

  Read the article

• Do functional generics exist or what is the correct name for them if they do?

  - by voroninp

  Consider the following generic class public class EntityChangeInfo<EntityType,TEntityKey> { ChangeTypeEnum ChangeType {get;} TEntityKeyType EntityKey {get;} } Here EntityType unambiguously defines TEntityKeyType. So it would be nice to have some kind of types' map public class EntityChangeInfo<EntityType,TEntityKey> with map < [ EntityType : Person -> TEntityKeyType : int] [ EntityType : Car -> TEntityKeyType : CarIdType ]> { ChangeTypeEnum ChangeType {get;} TEntityKeyType EntityKey {get;} } Another one example is: public class Foo<TIn> with map < [TIn : Person -> TOut1 : string, TOut2 : int, ..., TOutN : double ] [TIn : Car -> TOut1 : int, TOut2 :int, ..., TOutN : Price ] > { TOut1 Prop1 {get;set;} TOut2 Prop2 {get;set;} ... TOutN PropN {get;set;} } The reasonable question how this can be interpreted by the compiler? Well, for me it is just the sortcut for two structurally similar classes: public sealed class Foo<Person> { string Prop1 {get;set;} int Prop2 {get;set;} ... double PropN {get;set;} } public sealed class Foo<Car> { int Prop1 {get;set;} int Prop2 {get;set;} ... Price PropN {get;set;} } But besides this we could imaging some update of the Foo<: public class Foo<TIn> with map < [TIn : Person -> TOut1 : string, TOut2 : int, ..., TOutN : double ] [TIn : Car -> TOut1 : int, TOut2 :int, ..., TOutN : Price ] > { TOut1 Prop1 {get;set;} TOut2 Prop2 {get;set;} ... TOutN PropN {get;set;} public override string ToString() { return string.Format("prop1={0}, prop2={1},...propN={N-1}, Prop1, Prop2,...,PropN); } } This all can seem quite superficial but the idea came when I was designing the messages for our system. The very first class. Many messages with the same structrue should be discriminated by the EntityType. So the question is whether such construct exist in any programming language?

  Read the article

• Whats the right program for me?

  - by andyphillips20

  I would like to learn C++ so I can get a job in the game industry, but there are so many options it a little confusing. I know most of you will say I should read up on C++ before attempting to program it but I learn best by doing things rather then reading. That being said I don't understand some of the thing suggested on other questions, because I've read a few trying to find whats right for me, so putting things in the simplest terms would be helpful. I've been making a couple of games 2d using gamemaker and if theres a C++ equivalent that would be perfect, but if not possible I would like an IDE that allows me to easily continue making 2d games, and is fairly simple to learn. Having a 2d sprite editor would be a nice plus but I can understand if its not every thing I want in one program

  Read the article

• Should single purpose utility app use a class

  - by jmoreno

  When writing a small utility app, that does just one thing, should that one thing be encapsulated in a seperate class, or just let it be part of whatever class/module is used to start the application? I.e. Main would consist of 2 or three lines calling the constructor and then the DoIt methods, nothing else. Or should Main be the DoIt method, with whatever functions it needs added to the main class? Asking because I want to get some alternative perspective, but couldn't find a similar question. If my google-fu is bad and there's a dup, please close.

  Read the article

• Complex, yet simple crafting system model

  - by KatShot

  I'm working on some arcade shooter/slasher, and the main logline is "Kick'em with everything you want". There's not so many enemies in GDD, main focus is on tons of weapons and gadgets to cause mayhem. To get weapon, you need to craft it, and now crafting system looks simple, like: 1) You got three slots for weapon parts (like A, B, C) 2) You collect misc weapon parts, and when you got atleast one for every slot, you can craft a weapon (for example, if you got A1, B1, B2, B3 and C1, you can craft such models - A1B1C1, A1B2C1, A1B3C1) As for me, this crafting system is too simple, because weapon parts will just fall from the top of screen, often enough. That's why I'm thinking about adding some more crafting system levels, like resources (collect 10 scrap pieces to make part A1 or C3), etc. My question is: How can i add some more complex, still simple, transparent levels in crafting system? upd. For example, in Minecraft or Terraria, first 5-10 crafting recipies quite transparent and simple IMHO. But then it turns into huge mess to understand, how to craft this or that (for example, fishing rod)

  Read the article

• Is there a pattern to restrict which classes can update another class?

  - by Mike

  Say I have a class ImportantInfo with a public writable property Data. Many classes will read this property but only a few will ever set it. Basically, if you want to update Data you should really know what you're doing. Is there a pattern I could use to make this explicit other than by documenting it? For example, some way to enforce that only classes that implement IUpdateImportantData can do it (this is just an example)? I'm not talking about security here, but more of a "hey, are you sure you want to do that?" kind of thing.

  Read the article

• What to do if I hate C++ header files?

  - by BlaXpirit

  I was always confused about header files. They are so strange: you include .h file which doesn't include .cpp but .cpp are somehow compiled too. NOTE: I UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING ABOUT THE HEADERS, PLEASE DON'T TELL ME I'M STUPID OR SHOULD USE OTHER LANGUAGE Recently I joined a team project, and of course, both .h and .cpp are used. I understand that this is very important, but I can't live with copy-pasting every function declaration in each of multiple classes we have. How do I handle the 2-file convention efficiently? Are there any tools to help with that, or automatically change one file that looks like example below to .h and .cpp? (specifically for MS VC++ 2010) class A { ... Type f(Type a,Type b) { //implementation here, not in another file! } ... }; Type f(Type a) { //implementation here } ...

  Read the article

• Team seeks collaboration for 2D action adventure RPG

  - by AlchemicTempest

  not entirely sure if it's appropriate to post this here, but I'll try: We are looking for all kinds of game dev interested people for our 2D sci-fi action adventure rpg "Quantum Nucleus" This is voluntary collaboration. We are seeking programmers(Java), artists, designers, audio people and writers So basically all kinds of people. Please watch our video, for further information: Video Link Thanks ! :D http://www.Alchemic-Tempest.com

  Read the article

• share code between check and process methods

  - by undu

  My job is to refactor an old library for GIS vector data processing. The main class encapsulates a collection of building outlines, and offers different methods for checking data consistency. Those checking functions have an optional parameter that allows to perform some process. For instance: std::vector<Point> checkIntersections(int process_mode = 0); This method tests if some building outlines are intersecting, and return the intersection points. But if you pass a non null argument, the method will modify the outlines to remove the intersection. I think it's pretty bad (at call site, a reader not familiar with the code base will assume that a method called checkSomething only performs a check and doesn't modifiy data) and I want to change this. I also want to avoid code duplication as check and process methods are mostly similar. So I was thinking to something like this: // a private worker std::vector<Point> workerIntersections(int process_mode = 0) { // it's the equivalent of the current checkIntersections, it may perform // a process depending on process_mode } // public interfaces for check and process std::vector<Point> checkIntersections() /* const */ { workerIntersections(0); } std::vector<Point> processIntersections(int process_mode /*I have different process modes*/) { workerIntersections(process_mode); } But that forces me to break const correctness as workerIntersections is a non-const method. How can I separate check and process, avoiding code duplication and keeping const-correctness?

  Read the article

• Do open world games need less backstory?

  - by Raceimaztion

  I've played a few open-world games and really enjoyed them, though the ones I've really enjoyed have generally received complaints about how little story there is to them. The Saboteur is one example of this. Fully open-world, good enough story (for me, anyway), engaging gameplay, and still has received complaints in reviews about not having enough story. Do open-world games actually need a full, all-encompassing story? Or can fun and engaging gameplay fill in the gap and let the designer get away with a slightly less complete story?

  Read the article

• How does process of updating code with Continous Integration work?

  - by BleakCabalist

  I want to draw a model of process of updating the source code with the use of Continous Integration. The main issue is I don't really understand how it works when there are several programmers working on various aspects of the code at the same time. I can't visualize it in my mind. Here's what I know but I might be wrong: New code is sent to repository. Continous Integration server asks Version Control System if there is a new code in repository. If there is than CIS executes tests on the code. If tests show there are problems than CIS orders VCS to revert back to working wersion of the code and communicates it to programmer. If tests are passed positively it compiles the repository code and makes new build of a game? New build is made not after ever single change, but at the end of the day I believe? Are my assumptions above correct? If yes, does it also work when there are several programmers updating repository at once? Is this enough to draw a model of the process in your opinions or did I miss something? Also, what software would I need for above process? Can you guys give examples for CIS software and VCS software and whatever else I need? Does CIS software perform code tests or do I need another tool for that and integrate it with CIS? Is there a repository software?

  Read the article

• Settings object with singleton pattern

  - by axis

  I need to build an object that will have only one instance because this Object is dedicated to the storage of vital settings for my application and I would like to avoid a misuse of this type or a conflict at run-time. The most popular solution for this, according to the internet, is the Singleton pattern. But I would like to know about other ideas or solutions for this; also I would like to know if other solutions can be much more easy to grasp for an user of this hypothetical library. Thanks.

  Read the article

• "Collection Wrapper" pattern - is this common?

  - by Prog

  A different question of mine had to do with encapsulating member data structures inside classes. In order to understand this question better please read that question and look at the approach discussed. One of the guys who answered that question said that the approach is good, but if I understood him correctly - he said that there should be a class existing just for the purpose of wrapping the collection, instead of an ordinary class offering a number of public methods just to access the member collection. For example, instead of this: class SomeClass{ // downright exposing the concrete collection. Things[] someCollection; // other stuff omitted Thing[] getCollection(){return someCollection;} } Or this: class SomeClass{ // encapsulating the collection, but inflating the class' public interface. Thing[] someCollection; // class functionality omitted. public Thing getThing(int index){ return someCollection[index]; } public int getSize(){ return someCollection.length; } public void setThing(int index, Thing thing){ someCollection[index] = thing; } public void removeThing(int index){ someCollection[index] = null; } } We'll have this: // encapsulating the collection - in a different class, dedicated to this. class SomeClass{ CollectionWrapper someCollection; CollectionWrapper getCollection(){return someCollection;} } class CollectionWrapper{ Thing[] someCollection; public Thing getThing(int index){ return someCollection[index]; } public int getSize(){ return someCollection.length; } public void setThing(int index, Thing thing){ someCollection[index] = thing; } public void removeThing(int index){ someCollection[index] = null; } } This way, the inner data structure in SomeClass can change without affecting client code, and without forcing SomeClass to offer a lot of public methods just to access the inner collection. CollectionWrapper does this instead. E.g. if the collection changes from an array to a List, the internal implementation of CollectionWrapper changes, but client code stays the same. Also, the CollectionWrapper can hide certain things from the client code - from example, it can disallow mutation to the collection by not having the methods setThing and removeThing. This approach to decoupling client code from the concrete data structure seems IMHO pretty good. Is this approach common? What are it's downfalls? Is this used in practice?

  Read the article

• What is realism?

  - by eversor

  Beyond the obvious something that seams real, realism in games is a hard feature to hit. In some cases, things that are completely impossible in real life are seen as realistic by gamers. For instance, in some FPS you can survive being hit by a fair amount of bullets when in real life one is enough, Newton-defying car drifts, etc. So, in some cases, reductions of life-like actions or consequences implies a bigger sense of realism. The root of this pseudo-philosophical question lies in: I am going to create a engine for battles in an online (browser-based) strategic game. Browser-based means that the battle would not be seen. And i do not know how to approach this realism issue.

  Read the article

• How to plan a PHP based project with DB involved in the below scenario? [closed]

  - by San

  I'm starting a project on web monitoring where other websites can be monitored. Recently, I have found codeIgniter, yii, kohana frameworks online, but I'm confused as to whether to choose any of those or start directly. Moreover, this is my first big project that I'm planning for. So can anyone give me suggestions on how to start, how to plan, what books to refer to, to start this kind of web application and share some links to understand for myself on how to work on this project?

  Read the article

• When you’re on a high, start something big

  - by BuckWoody

  Most days are pretty average – we have some highs, some lows, and just regular old work to do. But some days the sun is shining, your co-workers are especially nice, and everything just falls into place. You really *enjoy* what you do. Don’t let that moment pass. All of us have “big” projects that we need to tackle. Things that are going to take a long time, and a lot of money. Those kinds of data projects take a LOT of planning, and many times we put that off just to get to the day’s work. I’ve found that the “high” moments are the perfect time to take on these big projects. I’m more focused, and more importantly, more positive. And as the quote goes, “whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re probably right.” You’ll find a way to make it happen if you’re in a positive mood. Now – having those “great days” is actually something you can influence, but I’ll save that topic for a future post. I have a project to work on. :) Share this post: email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | reddit! | kick it! | live it!

  Read the article

< Previous Page | 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264  | Next Page >