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Geek Culture / Finding time to program...

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JD Programming
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Posted: 25th Nov 2003 21:53
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Was just wondering how and where people find time to program and also what to program (games, applications, etc).

I like creating applications and also the odd games - I try to do this while in college or in the house when I've got time off my college work

Programming is one of the first steps to become an individual...
http://www.jdpgamestudios.co.uk
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IanM
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Posted: 26th Nov 2003 01:14
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They stay away from forums ...
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JD Programming
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Posted: 26th Nov 2003 01:40
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That might help

LOL!!! But it'll not happen

Programming is one of the first steps to become an individual...
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MikeS
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Posted: 26th Nov 2003 01:42
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In my sleep or in the car I don't code, but rather think of how I'll approach coding for that day. Effectively saving time so I can come to the forums.



A book? I hate book. Book is stupid.
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JD Programming
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Posted: 26th Nov 2003 01:48
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Like your style 'yellow', like your style

Programming is one of the first steps to become an individual...
http://www.jdpgamestudios.co.uk
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JSN
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Posted: 26th Nov 2003 02:08
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My day usually consists of...

06:15 - Get up
07:15 - Leave house with wife
07:30 - Get to work
08:00 - DBPro-ing till 09:00
09:00 - Dot-Netting till 13:00
13:00 - Lunch (Sarni, crisps and cream bun from Asda!!)
13:45 - Dot-Netting till 17:00
17:30 - Wait for bus in rainy welsh weather
18:00 - Get home
19:00 - Wake up after falling asleep with coffee cup on lap whilst sat on settee!
19:30 - Cook dinner
20:00 - Spend time with wife
22:00 - Say "nite nite" to wife
22:10 - DBPro-ing
00:30 - Bed

Boring life really.

~ J ~
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JD Programming
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Posted: 26th Nov 2003 12:16
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Lol

Programming is one of the first steps to become an individual...
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las6
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Posted: 26th Nov 2003 13:14
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I'd take that any day.

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JSN
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Posted: 26th Nov 2003 13:20
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Well ok, I love it, but didn't want to appear a nerd!! LOL

~ J ~
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Pincho Paxton
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Posted: 26th Nov 2003 14:24
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Yeah I can think through a program too. It does help a lot! But I choose to do a small project whilst I am thinking through my other big project.

Pincho.
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las6
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Posted: 26th Nov 2003 14:56
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JSN,
what?
nerd?

you have a wife!
and a life!
so you can't be a nerd!



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JD Programming
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Posted: 26th Nov 2003 15:16
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That is so true

Programming is one of the first steps to become an individual...
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JSN
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Posted: 26th Nov 2003 15:29
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Whoa, ang on there, you're gonna give me a complex.

I guess juggling between bits and t*ts does warrant that I can take a break from the nerd-life!!

~ J ~
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klariza
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Posted: 26th Nov 2003 15:31
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i prefer programming games as i can think up of games easily in my head and start designing them on paper b4 programming them into the pooter.
my usual day consists of.........well i fit things around the 2 kids and bf and friends.
i usually find a couple of scooby doo vids will keep the kids happy on a sun afternoon, unless it the scooby doo marathon on boomerang

I am obsessed by Toasters - especially talking ones...bizaare really isn't it?
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JSN
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Posted: 26th Nov 2003 15:34
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Really!

I think that games programming is harder. At least on the business side of things you have a set series of rules to follow, but in the games market, the whole ingredients have gotta be right to make it a sweet bite

~ J ~
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Van B
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Posted: 26th Nov 2003 15:37
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I find I'd rather code than spend time on the forums these days, so I'm getting more done than ever - probably due to RGT slowing right down, plus I must say I disagree with the idea of including other platforms, so I rarely post there. I can go days without checking the forum at home, I tend to do all my posting while at work.

My GF works most nights, so it's pretty easy to find time to work, my son is fairly self sufficient, does'nt need me to make him snacks or anything so he tends to let me get on with it for a couple of hours while he's still up.

I think the trick is to minimise the distractions - if there's nothing on TV, switch it off and put some music on instead, preferribly on a MP3 cd so you don't have to change CD's every 45 freaking minutes!. I often find that I have the time, but there's so many niggly little other things to do at the same time. So I tend to get everything else done first, all the little chores, get them out of the way, so you can literally code till bedtime if you like. Sometimes it's a good idea to take a break and work something out on paper, I often find that after solving it on paper, I'm much more keen to get it coded so I can get onto the next thing.

It's occuring to me that I have a lot to do in 1 month for this compo, but I have some time off work soon, and my GF does'nt get too piszed off if I stay up late working now and again (thank god).


Van-B


I laugh in the face of fate!
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klariza
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Posted: 26th Nov 2003 15:40 Edited at: 26th Nov 2003 15:41
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I am not a serious programmer, where i want my games to be sold the public - i like creating games in my spare time and then releasing them onto my site for ppl to download for free.
True i have alot of things to learn still, but i am working my way thro everything that makes a good game.

I am obsessed by Toasters - especially talking ones...bizaare really isn't it?
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JSN
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Posted: 26th Nov 2003 15:55
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Mus admit, once I get on a roll, there's no distractions. I tend to put on some music, headphones on, and that's it, I'm done for the night.

Generally I'll code various routines, make sure they work 100% how I want them, then tend to incoporate them all together.

It's like at the moment, I've just managed to get my scrolling sorted, as well as the acceleration / deceleration. A few nights ago, I created a parallax scroller, and some collision detection.

When I get home tonight, I'll merge all these together to form one routine and then onto next step.

~ J ~
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Pincho Paxton
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Posted: 26th Nov 2003 16:10
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I find that there are some things in coding, and graphics which slow me right down. Like yesterday I spent about 4 hours painting 0,0,0 with 1,1,1 to get rid of holes in 120+ sprites. Today I am having to position those sprites pixel/accurately on the screen which is another chore. I find that my games usually end up being ditched during one of these slow periods. Anyway, this time around, I have nearly finished all the boring stuff.

Pincho.
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JSN
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Posted: 26th Nov 2003 16:14
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Must admit, I hate doing graphics, even test ones. My latest projects I've simply thought $%*&%'s to it, and done them all as squares, diagonals, think lines, thick lines, circles and very basic shapes. I'll probably go on the hunt for a decent graphics artist when I'm ready.

~ J ~
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Martyn Pittuck
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Posted: 26th Nov 2003 20:47
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Well me bored so here is my day.

7:00 Wake Up
7:30 Dressed, PC On, Breaky being made
8:00 Researching PIC Programmers (The kind you make)
9:00 English Coursework
10:15 Leave for College (Its raining hard)
10:45 English Lang Yippeee
12:15 Time to hit the libary, print some PIC manuals, check emails etc.
1:15 Maths (Equpied with cup of black tea and Mars Bar)
2:30 Teacher ill, go home hour early (yay)
2:15 Get home, Research PIC Programmers
3:15 Play wolvenstien
3:55 Wolvenstien crashes, time to hit some forums, aaand research pic programmers
6:00 Dinner
6:40 posting this!!

As you may notice i am into PICs, i am making a robot! Well a buggy bot, i have made the ultrasonic module. Next i need to make the chasis plate and attach motors (Which come tomoz). Then i need to program the motor control software. Next comes the hard bit, writing the software for the RS232 Computer interface. This way i can debug the AI without needing to chase the bot around on the floor . Then there is more, like the AI

Hehe, i like these projects a bit more than games programming at the moment. The big reason is that it is much faster, and requires less computer work (IE i can do stuff during the times i have nothing on at college, but have to stay on campus).

I will post pictures sunday, i hope.

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JSN
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Posted: 26th Nov 2003 20:53
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Go for it martyn!!!

Get them piccies online...!

~ J ~
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CattleRustler
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Posted: 26th Nov 2003 21:25
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Quote: "...juggling between bits and t*ts..."


what a great line!
ROFL!!

-RUST-
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Dazzag
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Posted: 26th Nov 2003 21:39 Edited at: 26th Nov 2003 21:40
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Know the problem. Esp. with work and everything.

But for college then there is a simple answer. Essentially break down your time : Women/Beer/Asleep/Studying (inc. going to lectures, or at least making the attempt etc).

Then you decide on importance, and minimise the least important. Pref. to it's extinction.

I too had the same problem as you in college, so don't bother with the above analysis, as I've done it before you. So use my wise words, as I speak from experience. Basically, cut out the studying. That should free up at least five whole hours a week! (or a month if you do arty poncy stuff). If you also reduce your amount of sleep to something under 12 hours a day then this can help too (but only if you don't get dizzy around 3pm when you get up).

Don't thank me! Many other people have come to the same conclusion, including some crazy types that reduce beerage to only about four hours a day (!!!!), and reduce the sleep part to only a paltry 10 hours a day....

Cheers

Ps. Don't forget, what you can't cram in on the last panic filled day before (or hour before) the exams (we made an exeception to actually study - a bit - on these days - maybe) isn't actually worth a toss really.

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
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JD Programming
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Posted: 26th Nov 2003 23:13
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Well since a couple of people have posted a "mini diary" of their day for programming, I thought I'd do one of my own

Wednesday - 26/11/03:

9:30 - Woke up to switch on computer and arrange a time to meet my girlfriend just before college.

10:00 - Played on Max Payne until I got killed!

10:30 - Decided to get washed and dressed so I wouldn't be late meeting my girlfriend.

11:00 - Got on the 11:02 bus to the train station.

11:30 - Met up with my girlfriend.

12:30 - Left to go to college for my Computing lesson.

13:00 - Computing lesson started, got "some" programming done but not much because I was asked to write an acticle with some useful Visual Basic sites.

14:30 - Met up with my friends and girlfriend...again

15:00 - Went to Starbucks.

16:00 - Went to Pizza Hut to dine my girl

17:00 - Went to cinema to see 'Love Actually', well recommended

20:00 - Came home, and straight on the net...

I know there is not that much programming going on there but that day was just a one off

Programming is one of the first steps to become an individual...
http://www.jdpgamestudios.co.uk
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TKF15H
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Posted: 27th Nov 2003 01:07
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Quote: "i am making a robot! "

hmmm... I'm making one too. Though, I'm not using a PIC. For now, I'm planning on just connecting strait to the parallel port through some transistors... What's your bot like/gonna be like?

Diary for today:
woke up at 6:30, kicked brother
6:31 took a look at a raycaster I'm making in Basic for wizards
6:35 study for test
9:20 Breakfast
9:50 study for test
11:00 got ready to go to collage, ate lunch
12:30 ran out of the house, late for collage
1-3:00 Information Systems test. I think I got a 10...
4:00 Home! Read new computer magazines, messed with linux, unmessed it
8:00 Forum browsing


I'm gonna have to wait till my vacations to work on my alienware entry I have a HUGE disadvantage.

Morfy's Law - Enythink thet ken go rong willll.
Cole's Law - Thinly sliced cabbage.
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Martyn Pittuck
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Posted: 27th Nov 2003 18:41
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oOo

VB Porgrammer.

Any idea of how to get a licence for the mscomm control???

Please, pwetty please. I wonna talk to my electronics projects!

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JD Programming
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Posted: 28th Nov 2003 02:13
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Isn't it free :S

Programming is one of the first steps to become an individual...
http://www.jdpgamestudios.co.uk
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HZence
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Posted: 28th Nov 2003 03:20
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Quote: "20:00 - Spend time with wife"


Dirty boy.

Team EOD :: Programmer/Storyboard Assistant
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JD Programming
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Posted: 30th Nov 2003 17:07
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Only if you're dirty minded

Anyone program in the office, college, or even school?

Programming is one of the first steps to become an individual...
http://www.jdpgamestudios.co.uk
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Megaton Cat
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Posted: 30th Nov 2003 18:07
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please....someone kill either me or this forum....this is getting out of hand...I hadent coded in....um..a very long time.

Visit our new site! : http://www.megatoncreations.tk
If life throws you a grenade...pull the pin and throw it back!
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HZence
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Posted: 30th Nov 2003 21:34
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I was kidding of course.

I program at home. I program at school. If I worked in an office, I'd probably program there too.

Team EOD :: Programmer/Storyboard Assistant
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JD Programming
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Posted: 1st Dec 2003 11:48
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Of course

Programming is one of the first steps to become an individual...
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M00NSHiNE
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Posted: 1st Dec 2003 12:43
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I find it very difficult to program, which is a problem coz ive got so many great ideas swimming round my head. I think I may have found an answer - Van B recommended music - I remember thats how I used to overcome my homework boredom when I was in school, before I started college. Maybe thats the reason all my college work has suddenly ground to a slow - my mp3 player's headphones stopped working about July. If I get some music going that should solve the problem. One thing I did a couple of times was get up at about 3 in the morning and start coding, but that isnt such a good idea because i share my room with my 4 yr old brother and Ive gotta be careful not to wake him. Ahh well.

ZEDWARE website coming soon... //END TRANSMISSION//
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