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Programming is hard...

Posted by toiletunes, 26 December 2011 · 259 views

Stages of programming:

1- Come up with an idea for a game.
2- come up with details and features for the game.
3- Try to program, realize some features just won't work on the 2600.
4- devise workarounds, or delete features.
5- run out of ROM, cut back more features.
6- learn bankswitching, put features back in.
7- run out of RAM, scratch head a lot.
8- search forums for help ideas.
9- set game code aside for awhile.
10- come back and look at code.
11- start code from scratch because you can't figure out what you were trying to do because you didn't add comments.
12- scratch head again
13- curse at the compiler
14- reread code and find the one non-indented thingie or miscapitalized whatnot
15- play pacman
16- lock yourself in a room with a ton of notes and don't come out until it works.

I am finding programming to be like trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle in your head without physically moving the pieces around- by the time I get some bits to fit together, I forgot about the first bits- it's just too much to remember at one time. Working a few minutes here and there doesn't help much. If I manage to get to a playable stage, there will be some sort of announcement in the forums somewhere.




I wonder if this page might help a little:

http://www.randomter...motivation.html
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Thank you.
Adding a bookmark :)
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Welcome to the Atari 2600 programmer's club! I can assure you, we all went through your 16 points listed (except 15 maybe). :)
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May 2012

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