Dealing With Code (a lot of code!)

Author

Message

Vinnie alt

20

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 15th May 2005

Location:

Posted: 26th May 2005 23:51

Link

Hey..

Well I need some help with keeping track of my code. Now before you say it, I already use remarks and the GOSUB command and everything is neat and tidy, but I'm getting to the stage where I have got too much code, and finding what I want is impossable. I am currently using the Dark Edit interface, because it is so much more user friedly when writing a lot of code, but do any of you have any other hints or tips on how to keep track of code?

So can anyone help me out or got any ideas?

Thanks

-There are 10 types of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

-Wheres the "ANY" key?

Back to top

Profile PM

Underworld 1020

21

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 2nd Mar 2004

Location: NY, USA

Posted: 27th May 2005 05:48 Edited at: 27th May 2005 05:52

Link

Well, spacing can play a big part in organization, everyone has different methods. Here's some examples.

This is the way most pro's choose to code:

+ Code Snippet

Do
	If A=1
		Print "A is equal to 1"
		A=0
	Else
		Print "A is equal to 0"
		A=1
	EndIf
Loop

It basically has to do with nesting for like loops and If statments, and such, they just use the tab key. However, I really don't like coding like that, but you might.

Here's another way:

+ Code Snippet

Health=100	          : Armor=100
Gun$="Pistol"	: Bullets=50
Level=1		: Score=10

Do

Text 0,0,Gun$		: Text 0,20,Str$(Bullets"
Text 0,440,Str$(Health)	: Text 0,460,Str$(Armor)

Sync
Loop

This is the way I usually code stuff, I use the tab key and colons to keep things organized, plus I usually use a GoSub a lot to keep my main loop as small as posible.

So, basically spacing helps a lot, choose which ever way works best for you. Thats really all there is spacing, gosub, and comments. Sometimes it is hard to find a piece of code out of hundreds of lines of code, but after a while you just get used to it

.

Check Out My Site Here: http://www.freewebs.com/underworld1020/

Back to top

Profile PM

SAnTA

20

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 11th Jul 2004

Location:

Posted: 27th May 2005 06:28

Link

Use functions, dark basic lists all your functions too assuming your using the project manager view. This is the same for most of the other IDE's too. This lets you flick between them easy. You can also close functions up out of the way when you are not using them.

Back to top

Profile PM Website

waffle

22

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 9th Sep 2002

Location: Western USA

Posted: 27th May 2005 11:46

Link

Try moving alot of your code to include modules ...
Use each module for specific purposes ....

Mapping
AI
User Input
Save/Load Functions
Internet
Memblock Wrapping Functions
String Functions
Math Functions
Other DLL wrapping functions
GUI manager

and so on.

Back to top

Profile PM Email Website

TEH_CODERER

21

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 12th Nov 2003

Location: Right behind you!

Posted: 27th May 2005 18:20

Link

If I understood what Waffle said then I agree with him.
You mean putting a load of functions into a seperate file and then using the #include command don't you?

[url][email protected][/url]
http://www.elbsoftware.tk

Back to top

Profile PM Email

Vinnie alt

20

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 15th May 2005

Location:

Posted: 27th May 2005 18:41

Link

Thanks everyone!

I will take all your advice on board, and i think i will start using functions a bit more!

-There are 10 types of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

-Wheres the "ANY" key?

Back to top

Profile PM

waffle

22

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 9th Sep 2002

Location: Western USA

Posted: 28th May 2005 09:19

Link

Yes.
#include "string.dba"

or whatever.
I also like it for adding "new code".

There are some "gatcha's" though ...

1 - If using Dark Edit's preprocessor commands,
you will need to "replace source". This can cause problems.
So, first save your file, Then, save your file with an extra tag
example:
"stringDE.dba" - this would be Dark Edit Source code
"stringdba.dba" - the would be the "replaced Source"
The replaced source would then be ready to use as an include file.

2 - Since the code gets changed to make an include,
you will need to provide alot of documentation in your includes
as to how to use everything.

3 - Of course, you can simplify things just by not using the
preprossesor directives. After all,
Global AVar
just gets changed to
Dim AVar(1)

and
Type SomeType
Var1
Var2
EndType
Just goes to
Dim SomeType_Var1(1,50)
and so on

The Defines are nice, but don't always work either.

The way I manage "new code" is to place bookmarks (actually a line marker just like using a goto or gosub) at key points, and try to key new code in a function of its own. This helps with debugging.
We all know the bebugger gives errors from time to time, so,
work in a small area. Before moving to another area in code, try compiling. If it crashes, check your last changes. There is nothing more frustrating that making many small changes throughout your program, go to compile and have it crash to the desktop without no clue as to where to begin looking

Keep changes localized.

Back to top

Profile PM Email Website

comm_jak

20

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 31st May 2004

Location: FOB: Fields Of Battle

Posted: 29th May 2005 05:56 Edited at: 29th May 2005 05:57

Link

I was trying to use the #include command but I don't know how. I was also trying to use the shell executable command because I had TONS of code so I made 2 different exe's and the first one was the main menu for my game, and when you clicked the "New Game" button it ran the other exe (which was my game). I didn't work for me so I then tried using the #include command but I didn't even know how to use that command so if anyone knows how to do what I was trying to do then maybe it will help you Vinnie alt in your game.

I will command the troops to victory

Back to top

Profile PM Email

NanoBrain

20

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 20th Jan 2005

Location: Portland, OR

Posted: 29th May 2005 14:46

Link

comm_jak,

The files you include must contain functions, just like any regular user-created function in DB. I usually make a 'driver' file, which links all of my include files together, and makes the game work overall.

So, look at the code snippets below. Copy and paste them each as a seperate .dba file, all into one folder. The first code snippet will be the 'driver', the one you need to execute.

REM << This is the driver file;save it with any name
set display mode 800,600,32
sync on
sync rate 60

REM << include the seperate .dba file
#include "form.dba"

REM <<<<<<<<<<< main loop >>>>>>>>>>>>>
repeat

REM << instructions
print "Press 1 - 9 on the number pad to switch 'menus'"

REM << controls
if scancode() = 79 then frmfocus = 1
if scancode() = 80 then frmfocus = 2
if scancode() = 81 then frmfocus = 3
if scancode() = 75 then frmfocus = 4
if scancode() = 76 then frmfocus = 5
if scancode() = 77 then frmfocus = 6
if scancode() = 71 then frmfocus = 7
if scancode() = 72 then frmfocus = 8
if scancode() = 73 then frmfocus = 9

REM << run function which is equal to the value within frmfocus
if frmfocus = 1 then word$ = form1()
if frmfocus = 2 then word$ = form2()
if frmfocus = 3 then word$ = form3()
if frmfocus = 4 then word$ = form4()
if frmfocus = 5 then word$ = form5()
if frmfocus = 6 then word$ = form6()
if frmfocus = 7 then word$ = form7()
if frmfocus = 8 then word$ = form8()
if frmfocus = 9 then word$ = form9()

REM << print returned value to screen
print word$

sync
cls
until mouseclick() = 1
end

+ Code Snippet

REM << This is the driver file;save it with any name
set display mode 800,600,32
sync on
sync rate 60

REM << include the seperate .dba file
#include "form.dba"

REM <<<<<<<<<<< main loop >>>>>>>>>>>>>
repeat

REM << instructions
print "Press 1 - 9 on the number pad to switch 'menus'"

REM << controls
if scancode() = 79 then frmfocus = 1
if scancode() = 80 then frmfocus = 2
if scancode() = 81 then frmfocus = 3
if scancode() = 75 then frmfocus = 4
if scancode() = 76 then frmfocus = 5
if scancode() = 77 then frmfocus = 6
if scancode() = 71 then frmfocus = 7
if scancode() = 72 then frmfocus = 8
if scancode() = 73 then frmfocus = 9

REM << run function which is equal to the value within frmfocus
if frmfocus = 1 then word$ = form1()
if frmfocus = 2 then word$ = form2()
if frmfocus = 3 then word$ = form3()
if frmfocus = 4 then word$ = form4()
if frmfocus = 5 then word$ = form5()
if frmfocus = 6 then word$ = form6()
if frmfocus = 7 then word$ = form7()
if frmfocus = 8 then word$ = form8()
if frmfocus = 9 then word$ = form9()

REM << print returned value to screen
print word$

sync
cls
until mouseclick() = 1
end

+ Code Snippet

function form1()
word$ = "You are in form # 1"
endfunction word$

function form2()
word$ = "You are in form # 2"
endfunction word$

function form3()
word$ = "You are in form # 3"
endfunction word$

function form4()
word$ = "You are in form # 4"
endfunction word$

function form5()
word$ = "You are in form # 5"
endfunction word$

function form6()
word$ = "You are in form # 6"
endfunction word$

function form7()
word$ = "You are in form # 7"
endfunction word$

function form8()
word$ = "You are in form # 8"
endfunction word$

function form9()
word$ = "You are in form # 9"
endfunction word$

Also, notice in the 'driver' file the variable 'frmfocus'. This can be used to run different menus at different times, instead of using seperate EXEs. That, if you seperate groups of code into seperate if statements, asking if a variable equals a certain value, then run this group of code. Then, you have a way to create seperate menus that appear on the screen.

+NanoBrain+

Back to top

Profile PM Email

Vinnie alt

20

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 15th May 2005

Location:

Posted: 30th May 2005 02:48

Link

Thanks NanoBrain, thats just what i needed and you explained it very well, so i'm go to get started on that straight away!

Thanks to everyone else who replied, its been a great help. Now once i get my code sorted i can go back to programming my game.

-There are 10 types of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

-Wheres the "ANY" key?

Back to top

Profile PM

Sorry your browser is not supported!

DarkBASIC Discussion / Dealing With Code (a lot of code!)