Very weird. But quite easy.

I'm writing a text adventure to try to get a bit more comfortable with the language. I'm going to post all my files so far in case anyone expert in the language feels like offering some pointers.

cmd.cs


vocab.cs


parser.cs
.IsWhiteSpace(Text[Pos])) ++Pos;

if(Pos==Text.Length) return Types.wtNull;

if(Char.IsPunctuation(Text[Pos]))
{
while(PosChar.IsPunctuation(Text[Pos]) || Char.IsWhiteSpace(Text[Pos]))) ++Pos;
W=",";

return Types.wtPunc;
}

while(PosChar.IsWhiteSpace(Text[Pos]) && !Char.IsPunctuation(Text[Pos])) W+=Text[Pos++];

W=W.ToLower();

if(W=="and" || W=="then" || W=="but") return Types.wtPunc;

return Types.wtWord;
}

private string Text;
private int Pos;

public Parser(string S,Queue Qu)
{
Text=S; Pos=0;
while(Next(Qu));
}

private void Consider(string W,Cmd C)
{
Word R=Vocab.LookUp(W); if(R.Type==Word.Types.Null) return;

switch(R.Type)
{
case Word.Types.Verb: if(C.Verb=="") C.Verb=Vocab.Text(R.ID); break;
case Word.Types.Prep: if(C.Prep=="") C.Prep=Vocab.Text(R.ID); break;
case Word.Types.Noun: if(C.Noun=="") C.Noun=Vocab.Text(R.ID);
else if(C.Noun2=="") C.Noun2=Vocab.Text(R.ID);
break;
}
}

private bool Next(Queue Qu)
{
Cmd C=new Cmd();

string W="";
Types T=Next(ref W); while(T==Types.wtPunc) T=Next(ref W);

if(T==Types.wtNull) return false;

while(T==Types.wtWord)
{
Consider(W,C); T=Next(ref W);
}

Qu.Enqueue(C);

return true;
}
}



main.cs


Obviously all it does at the moment is parse user input and convert it into a Cmd structure containing predefined words in the format verb-noun1-preposition-noun2. Synonyms are supported by giving two WordRecord entries in the Vocab class the same numeric ID.

The reason for having Parser as an instance-based rather than static class was in case two parsers needed to run, one inside the other. Doubtful but this is more an exercise than a serious project.

So come on. Don't hold back. If I'm doing anything really dumbass, please don't pull punches. I really need to learn C# as quickly as possible.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

On a side note, I broke the news to my boss that I can't afford to continue to work for the salary my current job offers any more and am now actively seeking other employment.

I was talking to a guy from another company in my building the other day and programming came up. He (like many people) was of the opinion that I was mad to not be seeking a career in programming and all my usual excuses:

a) I don't have a formal qualification
b) I'm over thirty and no-one would touch me as a trainee
c) My particular programming skills are not well suited for a normal programming job

were answered by:

a) Shut up
b) Shut up you decrepid old bastard
c) Learn some new bloody skills then

Hence, as the more astute among you will have gathered, my sudden U-turn with regard to C#. Everyone seems to be telling me to learn .NET and earn GBP20K a year in minutes. I assume learning C# counts as learning .NET.

It made me realise though. Guy I was speaking to said "If you learned .NET, I'd offer you a programming job." Now, who knows what would really happen, but if I'd picked up C# six months ago, we MIGHT have had a much more interesting conversation.

Still, whatever. I enjoy learning new stuff anyway so I'm just going to press on for the time being and see what happens. Even if I end up in another sales job I should still be able to stick about 30% on top of what my current job pays. That's the trouble with working for a small company. Lots of freedom and variety but not much money.

Shame really because I like my job but the missus gets broodier every day and it is only so long before the inevitable happens. I really need to be earning a less laughable salary before we go there.

using System;
using System.Collections;
using System.Collections.Generic;

public class Word
{
    public enum Types { Null,Verb,Noun,Prep };
    public int ID;
    public Types Type;

    public Word(int I,Types T){ ID=I; Type=T; }
}

public class WordRecord
{
    public Word Info;
    public string Text;

    public WordRecord(int ID,Word.Types Type,string Tx){ Info=new Word(ID,Type); Text=Tx; }
}

public class Vocab
{
    //private static ArrayList Records;
    // Works just like templates.
    static List<WordRecord> Records = new List<WordRecord>();

    public static void Create()
    {
        //Records=new ArrayList();

        Records.Add(new WordRecord(1,Word.Types.Verb,"quit"));
        Records.Add(new WordRecord(2,Word.Types.Verb,"get"));
        Records.Add(new WordRecord(2,Word.Types.Verb,"take"));

        Records.Add(new WordRecord(3,Word.Types.Noun,"book"));
        Records.Add(new WordRecord(4,Word.Types.Noun,"apple"));

        Records.Add(new WordRecord(5,Word.Types.Prep,"in"));
        Records.Add(new WordRecord(5,Word.Types.Prep,"into"));
        Records.Add(new WordRecord(6,Word.Types.Prep,"under"));
    }

    public static Word LookUp(string S)
    {
        /*for(int I=0;I<Records.Count;++I)
        {
        WordRecord W=(WordRecord)Records[I];
        if(W.Text==S) return W.Info;
        }*/

        // foreach(Type LoopVariable in ListVariable)
        foreach(WordRecord W in Records)
        {
            if(W.Text == S)
                return W.Info;
        }

        return new Word(0,Word.Types.Null);
    }

    public static string Text(int ID)
    {
        /*for(int I=0;I<Records.Count;++I)
        {
        WordRecord W=(WordRecord)Records[I];
        if(W.Info.ID==ID) return W.Text;
        }*/

        foreach(WordRecord W in Records)
        {
            if(W.Info.ID == ID)
                return W.Text;
        }

        return "(unknown)";
    }
}