Edited by PixelatedChaos, 31 August 2012 - 03:28 AM.
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Need help getting started.
Started by PixelatedChaos, Aug 31 2012 03:26 AM
9 replies to this topic
#1 Members - Reputation: 112
Posted 31 August 2012 - 03:26 AM
Hello everyone, I am currently learning Java and I think I can place myself into the intermediate knowledge group at the moment. I REALLY want to learn C++ and Android game programming and I was wondering what great guides/ free software/ books (payed or free) I can download/purchase to learn them effectively. I understand that I can't go into the C language and Android and expect to be an expert in a month. I am motivated to learn and I also wish to learn how to program general game engines and games (more books/ free stuff would be great). Maybe some open-source game engines I can fool around with to try and understand how they work. I already have a good idea of how a typical engine will work and how they should be used to make a game. If you think it is best for me to play around with an engine like UDK, I will give it a go. Thanks!
#2 Members - Reputation: 725
Posted 31 August 2012 - 05:30 AM
Are you aware, that the Android SDK is for Java? If you want to learn Android and C++ programming, that will be two different areas. With intermediate Java knowledge, you should be able to program any kind of Android app you want.
Android allows use of C and C++ via its native development kit, but that's considered an advanced topic in Android programming and it is probably not required for anything you want to do anyway. This feature is there for two reasons mainly: First, it allows easier porting of existing C/C++ code to android and second, it allows for low level optimization of code, which should only happen to replace existing Android/Java-code that is just too slow. In my opinion it is a bad idea to use this optimization option if not absolutely necessary.
My advice: Learn android programming using Java and learn C++ programming, if you want to. But keep it separated, until you know for sure that you have to use C++ in your Android application.
Android allows use of C and C++ via its native development kit, but that's considered an advanced topic in Android programming and it is probably not required for anything you want to do anyway. This feature is there for two reasons mainly: First, it allows easier porting of existing C/C++ code to android and second, it allows for low level optimization of code, which should only happen to replace existing Android/Java-code that is just too slow. In my opinion it is a bad idea to use this optimization option if not absolutely necessary.
My advice: Learn android programming using Java and learn C++ programming, if you want to. But keep it separated, until you know for sure that you have to use C++ in your Android application.
#3 Members - Reputation: 3708
Posted 31 August 2012 - 06:02 AM
Are you aware, that the Android SDK is for Java? If you want to learn Android and C++ programming, that will be two different areas. With intermediate Java knowledge, you should be able to program any kind of Android app you want.
Android allows use of C and C++ via its native development kit, but that's considered an advanced topic in Android programming and it is probably not required for anything you want to do anyway. This feature is there for two reasons mainly: First, it allows easier porting of existing C/C++ code to android and second, it allows for low level optimization of code, which should only happen to replace existing Android/Java-code that is just too slow. In my opinion it is a bad idea to use this optimization option if not absolutely necessary.
My advice: Learn android programming using Java and learn C++ programming, if you want to. But keep it separated, until you know for sure that you have to use C++ in your Android application.
Also, alot of Android devices have CPUs that can run java bytecode nativly so it is fairly rare that you need C++ for performance reasons, (You still get a bit more low level control with C++ which can help if you really, really, really know what you're doing, but in general for Android using C++ is a bad idea)
I don't suffer from insanity, I'm enjoying every minute of it.
The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas!
The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas!
#4 Members - Reputation: 112
Posted 31 August 2012 - 06:22 AM
Thanks, I was planning on using Java for the Android programming. Do you guys know where I can learn how to use the Android SDK and how to create games for Android? I would still like to learn C++ and normal game programming for Windows too.
Edited by PixelatedChaos, 31 August 2012 - 06:23 AM.
#5 Members - Reputation: 3708
Posted 31 August 2012 - 06:26 AM
Thanks, I was planning on using Java for the Android programming. Do you guys know where I can learn how to use the Android SDK and how to create games for Android? I would still like to learn C++ and normal game programming for Windows too.
http://developer.and...tapp/index.html
I'd recommend making a few simple Java games for Desktops first though. (Android complicates things a bit by having a really shitty emulator which makes debugging a bit of a pain)
Edited by SimonForsman, 31 August 2012 - 06:27 AM.
I don't suffer from insanity, I'm enjoying every minute of it.
The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas!
The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas!
#7 Members - Reputation: 123
Posted 31 August 2012 - 07:27 AM
Well i am recently promoted to the third semester Alhumdurilla!!! Acc to the advanced peroid we were taught java in ecllipse and i think its the best engine right now and easier too becasue of its assistance menu's so i recomend you to use this compiler for java it can be very helpful for you for android too!!! 
#8 Members - Reputation: 112
Posted 31 August 2012 - 08:12 AM
Thanks, the Android SDK site recommended Eclipse too, must be pretty good!Well i am recently promoted to the third semester Alhumdurilla!!! Acc to the advanced peroid we were taught java in ecllipse and i think its the best engine right now and easier too becasue of its assistance menu's so i recomend you to use this compiler for java it can be very helpful for you for android too!!!
#9 Crossbones+ - Reputation: 1141
Posted 31 August 2012 - 11:28 AM
Eclipse can be fairly unstable at times (The older Indigo release runs fine on my new machine, but if I use the Juno release, it crashes constantly - even if I don't have any projects open), but it's the best development IDE for Android at the current time. The Nbndroid/Kenai project for NetBeans is coming along well, but lacks some of the functionality of the Eclipse plugins for Android.
For Android Game development, you might want to look into libgdx. It's a cross-platform library that makes developing games for both Desktop and Android simple. Another contender is AndEngine, but I don't know much about it.
For Android Game development, you might want to look into libgdx. It's a cross-platform library that makes developing games for both Desktop and Android simple. Another contender is AndEngine, but I don't know much about it.
#10 Members - Reputation: 3283
Posted 31 August 2012 - 12:01 PM
Thanks, the Android SDK site recommended Eclipse too, must be pretty good!
Well i am recently promoted to the third semester Alhumdurilla!!! Acc to the advanced peroid we were taught java in ecllipse and i think its the best engine right now and easier too becasue of its assistance menu's so i recomend you to use this compiler for java it can be very helpful for you for android too!!!
Eclipse is a bundle of hate wrapped in an acid enema.
Well, that's just my opinion. ;)
I honestly have nothing but frustrations when I deal with Eclipse, and in trying to trouble shoot new developers to work with Eclipse... no effing thanks. Save your sanity and go with Netbeans. I also, as suggested earlier, wouldn't even think about starting with the Android platform.
