Action-script 2.0, C or Java? I need your Opinion.

[Danny Phantom]

*Please Pardon the Bad Grammar, English is not my native language and I'm still learning it.*

Hello Everyone.

So this is my first thread ever on FP.

I wanted to ask a few questions and take a few opinions.

So recently(like 2 years) I've started liking Programming languages. Not only Programming Languages but Web Languages too. Like HTML. I first started learning HTML but didn't got much far with it, I have the basic idea of how it works and I can edit it too.

4 months ago I started learning "C" and Java.

They are very good Languages but then I started playing Flash games and I got mainly interested in how those games are made. After searching of how they are made I stumbled on ActionScript 2.0

And I immediately wanted to learn it. Not because I want to make a game or something but because I like to do it. I have the concepts of using conditions and loops from Java and C.
So I started with it, I searched online for tutorials for AS 2.0. but then I knew that you can put code in two ways.

One way was that you put the code without class, you put it in the "Actions" tab of the frames.

and the second was make classes and then write that code separately.

So I am really confused with it. Is there any difference in both? Anything?
I like to use the class system. but I barely find any tutorials that use that. Why is that? Do people have more features without using class system?

I have Adobe Flash CS5.5 -

And other than that I wanted to ask. Should I learning ActionScript 2.0, Java or C? Just asking your opinion.

And also tell me the differences between those two types of AS 2.0 coding that I mentioned above.
and if you have any tutorial for AS 2.0 then please leave the link.

Thank You for helping.

[Map in a box]

No to AS2. If you want to learn actionscript, stick to AS3. Otherwise, go for C/Java. C is more low level, but as a result, it can be more difficult to use. Java is higher level, and can do just about everything C can(with things it cant do supported with dlls). I'm biased to java, someone should give a reason to go to C so it can be more balanced out.

[Anonim]

[QUOTE=Map in a box;32144534]No to AS2. If you want to learn actionscript, stick to AS3. Otherwise, go for C/Java. C is more low level, but as a result, it can be more difficult to use. Java is higher level, and can do just about everything C can(with things it cant do supported with dlls). I'm biased to java, someone should give a reason to go to C so it can be more balanced out.[/QUOTE]

Okay. C gives you far more lower-level control, especially when handling memory usage. If you're proficient with optimization in C, you'll also be able to write faster code. Another advantage with learning C is a greater understanding of the underlying mechanisms of computers, much of which is abstracted away from the programmer in Java. If you want to dabble in instrumentation and embedded programming, C is often very handy to know.

Writing maintainable, readable, robust and portable C code is very difficult for larger projects though. Java is "easier" in this regard.

As for ActionScript: I have no idea, as Flash never particularly interested me.

[Darwin226]

Okay. I'll do the AS part then.
ActionScript 2 may support some class system but people don't really use it as the language was made with the intention of slapping on some extra functionality to a flash program. When they made ActionScript 3, they did a complete overhaul and the AS3 is completely object-oriented, meaning that you HAVE to use classes to do it properly.

Some people say it's easier to first learn AS2, then the new one but I think that'll just add confusion to everything, you'll miss they way things were done before and it might discourage you from learning.

Once you do learn object oriented programming, you'll start to see it's advantages.

Out of C, Java and AS, there isn't really a clear choice. C is for low level, performance critical applications. Java is a lot more higher level, making the process of programming easier but giving you less control. ActionScript is what you use if you decide on making Flash applications.

[Map in a box]

Being more biased than I thought toward java, I'll say you can do most of the stuff you can in C with java(except asm runnin' and a lot of raw GC access), using dlls

[Danny Phantom]

OK So I think I'll go with ActionScripting for now. I'll keep doing Java or C a little too ('cos I like those languages)

So should I go with AS 2.0? or A.S 3.0?

I've been learning A.S 2.0 and I I like it.

I saw the A.S 3.0 and I just didn't got anything and I just took all the A.S 2.0 Tutorials over A.S 3.0.

But I can still go with A.S 3.0 if it is better option. over A.S 2.0 - Since I'm still a Beginner I can choose which one to choose among them :).

and about Java and C. Can a beginner make any GUI interface in any of them?

My bro said that it is very hard to do GUI in C - I don't know about Java.

[editline]6th September 2011[/editline]

[QUOTE=Darwin226;32144672]Okay. I'll do the AS part then.
[/QUOTE]

Thanks for telling me that. I was surely confused in it.

[Anonim]

[QUOTE=Danny Phantom;32144840]and about Java and C. Can a beginner make any GUI interface in any of them?

My bro said that it is very hard to do GUI in C - I don't know about Java.[/QUOTE]

Even simple GUI programming in C is going to be extremely confusing for a beginner. From my experience, it's a lot more understandable in Java, but even with Java you should familiarize yourself with the language with terminal-based programming before moving on to GUI. You should especially make sure you get at least a little experience with concurrent programming before doing GUI.

[Danny Phantom]

[QUOTE=Anonim;32145038]Even simple GUI programming in C is going to be extremely confusing for a beginner. From my experience, it's a lot more understandable in Java, but even with Java you should familiarize yourself with the language with terminal-based programming before moving on to GUI. You should especially make sure you get at least a little experience with concurrent programming before doing GUI.[/QUOTE]

As I expected. I think I am not even a beginner in JAva or C yet. LOL :|

[Map in a box]

[QUOTE=Anonim;32145038]Even simple GUI programming in C is going to be extremely confusing for a beginner. From my experience, it's a lot more understandable in Java, but even with Java you should familiarize yourself with the language with terminal-based programming before moving on to GUI. You should especially make sure you get at least a little experience with concurrent programming before doing GUI.[/QUOTE]
For C, getting all that to work (shouldn't?) use much work, if you use something like GTK?(correct me if I'm wrong)
with java, you can use a GUI builder that should come with IDEs or do long stuff like this:

JFrame frame=new JFrame("cornish");
JButton button=new JButton("rex");
frame.add(button);

[Anonim]

[QUOTE=Map in a box;32149733]For C, getting all that to work (shouldn't?) use much work, if you use something like GTK?(correct me if I'm wrong)
with java, you can use a GUI builder that should come with IDEs or do long stuff like this:

JFrame frame=new JFrame("cornish");
JButton button=new JButton("rex");
frame.add(button);

[/QUOTE]

GUI programming isn't necessarily a lot of work per se, I'm saying it'll quickly turn quite confusing for a beginner though.

[Map in a box]

[QUOTE=Anonim;32151005]GUI programming isn't necessarily a lot of work per se, I'm saying it'll quickly turn quite confusing for a beginner though.[/QUOTE]
GUI programming is a mindfuck.

[Rimply]

[QUOTE=Danny Phantom;32144840]So should I go with AS 2.0? or A.S 3.0? [/QUOTE]

[URL="http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1869416/advantages-of-actionscript3-over-actionscript2"]http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1869416/advantages-of-actionscript3-over-actionscript2[/URL]

[Danny Phantom]

[QUOTE=xDarkFieldx;32173300][URL="http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1869416/advantages-of-actionscript3-over-actionscript2"]http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1869416/advantages-of-actionscript3-over-actionscript2[/URL][/QUOTE]

Thanks for the info. It really helped.

[user99672]

Why is C++ excluded in this discussion?

You can always import graphical libraries in C derived languages, read:
#include <opengl.h>

or something like that. I'd be very careful with C[++] though, due to its low level power, you could easily make a bad mistake that could bring your entire system down...........

With Java you can use jlwgl or whatever the hell notch uses to make minecraft.

Apologies if this post wasn't too useful.

[robmaister12]

As long as you think about what you're writing before you execute the code, it's not that easy to bring your entire system down by writing a little bit of C++. Yeah, if you start writing random data to random addresses in memory it's possible you'll write to some part of RAM that Windows depends on and you'll get a bluescreen or something. As long as you aren't actively trying to crash your system, you'll be fine.

And Java has two sets of OpenGL bindings - JOGL and LWJGL.

Also if you plan on going down the game programming road, might I recommend C# and OpenTK?

[Danny Phantom]

[QUOTE=user99672;32174554]Why is C++ excluded in this discussion?

You can always import graphical libraries in C derived languages, read:
#include <opengl.h>

or something like that. I'd be very careful with C[++] though, due to its low level power, you could easily make a bad mistake that could bring your entire system down...........

With Java you can use jlwgl or whatever the hell notch uses to make minecraft.

Apologies if this post wasn't too useful.[/QUOTE]

OK add C++ too.

I'll keep doing this discussion but I think I'll go with AS3.0 for now.

What I've learned?
Well when we do C,C++ or Java. You can't really do much as a beginner except learning about the syntax and the code.

So that is why I chose AS3.0 because at least I can draw box and make it move 10 pixel - LOL.

I have not much intention of making Games or Animations but I'll make a game just to test the new things I learn throughout the learning.

I think it'll be a little harder than AS2.0 since I have done 4 or 5 games in AS2.0 - So I won't forget the syntax of it very soon.

I've seen a game built in Java and it was quite good and greatly built. I think it must have taken a long coding process to achieve simple games like that.

Thanks for replying :D

[Darwin226]

When it comes to how fast you see results it's
AS -> Java -> C++ -> C

C++ and C are pretty close but I think that STL makes things easier to do.

[ZeekyHBomb]

[QUOTE=robmaister12;32174626]Yeah, if you start writing random data to random addresses in memory it's possible you'll write to some part of RAM that Windows depends on and you'll get a bluescreen or something.[/QUOTE]

Right. Windows totally won't protect against that :downs:

[robmaister12]

Yeah, I know... that part of RAM is write-protected and whatnot. I just wanted to have some sort of example. Like I said, you REALLY need to try hard if you want to crash windows from a C++ program.

[Map in a box]

[QUOTE=robmaister12;32182137]Yeah, I know... that part of RAM is write-protected and whatnot. I just wanted to have some sort of example. Like I said, you REALLY need to try hard if you want to crash windows from a C++ program.[/QUOTE]
step 1:
while(true){
step 2.
create new threads in the loop
step 3.
those threads should fork off onto this function
step 4. debug

[robmaister12]

fork while fork

[Map in a box]

[QUOTE=robmaister12;32193127]fork while fork[/QUOTE]
:(){:()|:()}
iirc

[thf]

[QUOTE=Map in a box;32195858]:(){:()|:()}
iirc[/QUOTE]

It's

:(){ :|:& };:

[Danny Phantom]

So Can You Guys Link Me to Some AS3 tutorials? Which can just show me the basic syntax.

[naelstrof]

[url]http://www.actionscript.org/resources/categories/Tutorials/[/url]

[Rimply]

When I was learning AS 3.0 (and really, with any language), I preferred a single comprehensive introductory book, rather than piecing together online tutorials, so that I could get a stronger foundation.

This is the book I used to learn the basics of game design with AS 3.0, and it really gave me a good introduction:
[URL="http://www.amazon.com/Foundation-Game-Design-Flash-Foundations/dp/1430218215/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1315682967&sr=8-1"]http://www.amazon.com/Foundation-Game-Design-Flash-Foundations/dp/1430218215/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1315682967&sr=8-1[/URL]

It starts with the bare basics on using Flash and Actionscript, and gradually introduces new information in the form of practical case studies, such as designing a dungeon-adventure game to teach about collision detection and basic enemies, and platformer game to teach about physics and arrays.