First the C++ part: In Microsoft & Borland C++ compilers, can you add objects to a form to design the user interface? Or do you have to type code that the compiler will recognize to make each and every component that would be used in the program? Now the Java part: Can you create 3D games that can be ran on the internet or without being on the internet? I am asking this because I've been lately switching between C++ & Java, and for some reason I keep these thoughts about the two above questions, and I decided to go ahead and get it off my chess by asking the question here. Thanks for answering. Edited by - rodneyldixon on June 2, 2001 9:16:27 PM

a) if you have Visual C++ then you could use MFC and add things to a form like Visual Basic. Else don''t think so.

b) yes

1) Yes and no. You can lay out the design of the controls and their positions but you need to know what you''re doing to plug in the functionality. It''s not nearly as friendly as VB.

2) Yes, but they''re slower than you would believe. There are some at javaboutique.com. Heck, 2d applets in java are slower than you would believe if you try to do something intensive like, say, pathfinding.

Here''s about the extent of what it''s wise to do in Java:






I have a 2d tile engine too, but plugging in pathfinding toasted the frame rate so I ditched it and went back to C++ work.

-fel

C++:
So everyone is saying that you can place them on a form like you do in VB, but you just have to know what you''re doing to plug in the right functionality.

But is that very complicated?

Java:
So everyone is saying that you can create 3D games in Java, and they could be ran on the internet or without being on the internet. But the only downfall would be, they would be slow as heck.

So what language would you recommend a newbie (like me) for wanting to make virtual machines like Shockmachine (www.shockwave.com/shockmachine), 3D games, & emulators and maybe some roms?

All I need is the answer, and I will go searching for myself.

And can Delphi make virtual machines like Shockmachine?

Nice abs, Fel.

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Original post by rodneyldixon

C++:
So everyone is saying that you can place them on a form like you do in VB, but you just have to know what you''re doing to plug in the right functionality.

But is that very complicated?

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It took me about 4 hours to learn the basics, i.e. moving from a DOS-based C-only environment to getting up a dialog with working buttons and such in MFC. However, it can take a very long time to master it and progress past the basic level of understanding.

AAAHHH. Rodney''s back.

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C++:
So everyone is saying that you can place them on a form like you do in VB, but you just have to know what you''re doing to plug in the right functionality.

But is that very complicated?

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Compared to what you can do at this point in your learning from what I''ve seen in your previous posts... yes. It is. You have no idea.

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Java:
So everyone is saying that you can create 3D games in Java, and they could be ran on the internet or without being on the internet. But the only downfall would be, they would be slow as heck.

So what language would you recommend a newbie (like me) for wanting to make virtual machines like Shockmachine (www.shockwave.com/shockmachine), 3D games, & emulators and maybe some roms?

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I wouldn''t recommend that a newbie like you try to make virtual machines. I would recommend that a newbie like you try to make a text RPG. Probably in C.

In all honesty Rodney, I don''t think you understand what virtual machines, emulators, and roms really are, on the functional level. I think you should probably go find a good search engine, and look up what a virtual machine consists of. You really do need to figure out search engines.

-fel

Personally, I don''t like MFC, so I''ve done all my stuff so far in the Win32 API. And things aren''t easy at all. Everything here is based upon MSVC6...

You first make a new resource script, and add the dialog boxes you need. Then you get the fun part -- laying them out. Once complete, the hard bit begins -- coding. The MSDN isn''t very clear about all this (it keeps directing you to MFC stuff), but you can sort your way through it. After about a day (I knew almost nothing about Win32 except what I use for making main windows & things), I''d got a external console (like the Q3 loading console), with file output, a button and text entry box for adding my own text to the log window & file, and a button to stop the engine. And I still haven''t got tab stops or "enter = press this button" yet, but they''re minor things which I can''t be bothered with right now (OpenGL & DirectX are _way_ more fun ).

In short, it can be done, but it''s no where as easy as VB. Borland IMHO is a good comprimise. You get the power of C++, with a very nice library (VCL, which is far nicer than MFC).

Java really lacks the power to do loads -- you miss out on lots of optimizations, thanks to bytecode and virtual machines.

Hope this helps!

Simon Wilson,
XEOS Digital Development

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if you have Visual C++ then you could use MFC and add things to a form like Visual Basic. Else don''t think so.

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Borland C++ Builder is much better (IMHO) than Visual C++''s MFC for making windows applications using forms. A lot of things are automated that aren''t otherwise (such as data exchange, which you don''t have to write any code for) and everything is much better layed out. Builder is very much like Visual Basic in terms of the speed you can get things done. MFC is a horrible mess.

www.elf-stone.com

MFC isn''t all that bad, I do it for a living... and you''ll find that the majority of companies (at least the ones I''ve interviewed at and worked for) use it. It''s not entirely intuitive, however, until you get used to it, which sends some people fleeing in abject horror upon introduction.

-fel