Develop. How?

[daaceking]

Hello,

If I wanted to be a big time developer like you guys where would be a good place to start? Bear in mind I have other commitments but am always willing to learn. I have tried hex editing even to such extent that I have cracked a very basic software. This was years ago and I'm not condoning piracy. It was educational more than anything and have never used it. (just brag about it) :-P. So, where would I start? :-)

Thanks,

[Starscream]

Here --> http://code.google.com/p/dolphin-emu/

[daaceking]

You're gonna have to really dumb it down. I have no knowledge. As a matter of fact, you're giving me way to much credit. :-P. by no means do I want to limit it to dolphin. Heck, even making a mod for unreal tournament 3 would be cool. Or even giving the newish turok game hi res textures. :-)

[Starscream]

If you want to try to make some changes to the source of Dolphin, you can read how to contribute at the bottom of the page I linked you to. If you're talking about developing for other games/programs, you should probably discuss that at the particular site that you're interested in developing for.

[daaceking]

I wouldn't know where to start. Basically, I would like the skill set to be able to contribute to dolphin. However, that is not the only thing. I also want to be able to use unreal engine 3 or learn c plus plus and other stuff. Java, dos (is it dead?) I need to know where to start. My intention is not to improve dolphin, but to improve my skills to improve dolphin and others. If that makes sense.

[NaturalViolence]

A few things I/we need from you:
What do you already know how to do? What skillsets do you possess?
What do you want to be able to do?

Edit: He signed off as soon as a saw this, figures.

[daaceking]

Skills I posses.

Well, I'm very competent with a computer. I find solutions any way I can and have.

In terms of programming or code, none. I mentioned something in my first post but that was looking for a particular line of code and modifying a value.

I don't even know if I'm using the "code" correctly.

In terms of what I want to accomplish.

I don't know "how far the rabbit hole goes". I mean what branches are there? Literally I know nothing.

I know there is probably a million different languages and each takes you down a different route and I'm probably being the vaguest possible. I don't even know what language takes you where.

It's like do I want to take the blue pill and play dolphin. Or do I want to take the red pill and see how dolphin is made. That kind of thing. :-)

edit.I'll just pick up a book from the local library and see where that takes me. Thanks

[Axxer]

If your brand new to programming, a good BASIC or Java book can do you well. BASIC is extremely easy, and Java isn't really much more challenging.

[Shonumi]

BASIC is extremely easy, and Java isn't really much more challenging.

You know, I found C++ very easy to get into (mastering it, like anything takes years however) once I got into a variant of BASIC. Personally, I'd recommend Python since it's very good for beginners, and its functionality is great with all of the libraries it offers (they do just about everything). In a few hundred lines, I've seen basic web browsers, games, and text editors come alive. Aside from that, I'd also recommend JavaScript. It's relatively easy to grasp as well, and the results are a bit more visually immediate since you'll probably be working with HTML in a web browser.

Sounds like the OP wants to be a hacker, and I mean that in the old MIT sense of the word, someone who "tinkers" with something to learn more about it. I consider myself a hacker whenever I mess around with the source code of emulators to get the desired effects I want (e.g. adding scaling filters to Desmume on Linux, nearest-neighbor sucks). Where is your interest the greatest? Emulators? Games? Data processing? Encryption? Networking? Graphics? Sound? You get the idea. Once you narrow it down and after getting grounded in some general computer science, you should have a better idea of what you should study next.

[neobrain]

... or you just go with plain C from the beginning, it doesn't really hurt to start with that. Just takes you a bit longer to create useful stuff.

Of course it depends on your preference. Some people also happen to prefer C#. Choosing some kind of programming language to start with would be a good beginning, anyway

EDIT: Damnit Shonumi, writing more stuff in less time than me