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Question for all the great coders; Viral, HolySavior, Reid, Slayer, Brandon ect.
Topic Started: Feb 7 2010, 08:54 PM (4,071 Views)
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Question for all the great coders

Viral
HolySavior
Reid
Slayer
Choco
Brandon
(and some others I do not recall)

How did all you guys start coding and how did you learn it? Who helped you or taught you? or did you get information from some where else?

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Edited by Scan, Feb 7 2010, 08:56 PM.
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Fission
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Uguu
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I started coding using the scripting language in a game called Burning Sand 2. It went from there into JavaScript (for web use, of course}, then C++, Blitz Basic, and Lua (which I bind in C++). I started out just as a hobby (or, rather, a supplement to my addiction to the aforementioned game), then I found how fun it could be to see the results, especially on the web. I am self-taught through and through. I don't like being told how to do things that much, I'd rather just sit down and learn through experimentation and reference.
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Reid-ZNS
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C'est un piège!
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I started coding attempting to increase the feature set for my IF board at the time... heh. I wanted to make a default post color code for my board, so that users' posts would automatically be a certain color. Needless to say, the first few attempts at that code failed... they were absolutely and utterly terrible. Of course, that's to be expected when learning JS and jumping right in. I succeeded in the end, making somewhere around four different versions of the code for IF and then 2 or 3 versions for ZB. The latest version of the one for ZB can be found here... but I eventually expanded my horizons and wanted to make one that had more flexibility (i.e. not only change the color, but the actual style: bold, italic, alignment, font, size, etc.) The first version of that code was bad too, but the latest version for ZB can be found here.

Anyways, enough about that. I "learned" javascript from, primarily, w3schools. Huge mistake. I recommend against w3schools. It's an okay reference for some things (although the MDC is 100000x better.) The one other way I learned how to write JS was from filling code requests. Unfortunately, I feel as though that is no longer a good way to write JS because of the immense time-consuming and general knowledge required to fill codes nowadays - back when I started doing requests they were infinitely easier.

Now, I guess the best way to learn how to code is to pick easier features for yourself and try to write them. To do that you'll have to have a coder on msn or something like that so you can ask him when you run across problems... or attempt to debug them yourself.

The first person I can think that really helped me was Dan (HolySavior.) I mostly filled code requests by myself, but eventually I was approached by Kevin to be coding staff (at ZBC.) After a few days or weeks or months (I don't remember) he asked me if I'd like to collaborate with him on making a code... and of course being a budding JS developer I was overjoyed to work with someone with a lot of experience in the field. I learned quite a bit about coding styles and habits from him. There was never really anyone I really sat down and asked for help, though, unless it was just an extremely unusual or odd problem.

I know the best place to learn HTML and CSS is HTML Dog but I don't know where to learn JavaScript anymore. Viral sent me a link a while ago that was pretty good, but to be honest, the best way to learn a programming language is practice, practice, practice - you can read theory for hours on end every day for years but being able to put that theory into practice is the most important part... which is why I spend most of my time on the computer now either working on coding projects (assigned by Stephen or Dan) or practicing some other language like Python.
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ElementalAlchemist
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Reid.
Feb 7 2010, 09:54 PM
to be honest, the best way to learn a programming language is practice, practice, practice
This is the most important advice you will get from anyone in this topic. No matter what scripting or programming language you are learning, the most important thing is to implement something. Even if it's ambitious for a first project*, you can look stuff up as you go and learn a LOT about what you are doing.

*Being very ambitious for a first project is recommended only for those who can pick up on stuff they learn very quickly. If you can't, try smaller and work your way up.
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Fission
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Oh, and a great way to practice: if you have a problem or want something, especially on your forum, try to doing it yourself. While it isn't always possible to do so in a desktop environment, it is a great way to practice JavaScript and, thus, the basics of programming. From my (fairly limited, I guess) view, all programming uses basic techniques (loops, logic statements, arithmetic, etc.) but only using different syntax. Thus, practice in any language is practice (to a point) in every language. This doesn't apply to some languages, of course. Since I've stopped making things in C++ temporarily due to online and offline responsibilities, I've kept up practice by adding just about every possible code I can imagine. My board has been so overrun with codes that I've had to move them all into files and link to them.
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Ya Reid I understand you but there is something about coding that confuses me a lot. Like how it is used.. Because I was learning couple of techniques couple days ago such as while loop, for loop, arrays, if statements ect. but I have no idea how i would use them in a real code. I know its hard for people who get coding to understand the position of someone who is trying to learn, but there is something about it that confuses me and thats probably it.

HTML I have been know for about 2 years and I understand it 8/10 CSS about 1 year i understand it 5/10

Now I just got in to java script a little over a month ago and it is confusing I think I only understand it 2/10

Like I see all these great award codes and what not, but how do you use javascript techniques in them. And also there is one big confusion I have as well, how would you target the location of the code, I know you use JQuery but how? Like an award code how does it target the users mini profile and or the profile it self. Also Holysaviors great Sub menu code that goes next to the inbox and you can add options in there. It's that type of stuff that is hard to understand and comprehend.

Also Reid I do not really know any one close that knows how to "Code", the only people that I can say I "Know" is the coders here at ZB like viral holy you..

And Fission isn't C++ the type of code they use on video games like Binomials?
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slayer766
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Your best friend would be "View Source". That would give you all the HTML elements and CSS classes and ids for you to deal with. How someone is able to go after the Joined date is to look into the source and find the class name of it and the html element as a dd/dt, and add after or prepend or whatever you're doing to it.


I started coding years ago, when I was at a friends' Invisionfree board and his admin was making some awesome codes. Which led me to the support board, and I messed around with James' Delta RPG by adding items to it and whatnot, I did look at the source but it was all mumbo-jumbo to me at the time. I helped a LOT around the coding support and general support forums back then, and after that I wanted to make my own codes. I made a lot of requests when I began getting a little better, was still nowhere near slaytanist/HolySavior/IceMetalPunk/James/Paper(Still am nowhere near them). Then I got involved with the Automated Lottery/Store & RPG Hack(All the way until v5), as I did no JS on that, just the HTML screens, slaytanist did all the work and he was fun to chat with - one of the coolest you could meet.

Then I started work on my Divinity RPG, which is in pure JS and the current version is a monster, though it's easy to hack - it's fun if you play through it all. Get's people addicted to it. I learned what I know mostly from looking at other codes and editing them, and just over the years the practice as Reid mentioned, and just working more and more with it you'll get used to it and it will become a second language to you.
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HolySavior
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if( holy + alcohol){ happycoding()}
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How did all you guys start coding and how did you learn it? Who helped you or taught you? or did you get information from some where else?

first of all i would like to thank you for calling me a great coder. Personally i think im decent but by far the best coder. i know alot of people will tell you that i am good and that your right. being humble is something you want to retain. reason being it always gives you something to strive for.

I started like alot of other people i wanted to make modifications for a forum i used to run and i slowly learned here on IF/ZB and other boards. i asked alot of questions. and i just kind of jumpped in. i picked a code i wanted to make and started to make it. looking at JS refrences sites, asking questions here and getting help. like reid said, practice, practice practice!

I think the 2 most influential people that helped me the most was Stefan ( former staff here ) and James(WWX) ( also former staff and originator of iFusion where i eventually became staff with him ) they both answered questions and helped me. i think James(WWX) helped me the most and guided me. i could always PM him and eventually IM him on MSN and talk to him about questions and have him help me. and it also gave us a long term friendship ( i still speak to him today even though he is no longer around). I took James's attitude and love of teaching and tryed my best to keep it going by making a learn section on iFusion and ZBCode. than after becoming Codeing Manager for ZNR ( the official resource board) i will be opening up the same learning section so people like you who want to learn and become good and surpass even us in ability can and have the opportunity too! not to mention i also made a JS tutorial site to help people learn and understand JS better since there arent many out there. if you want the link its actually my board URL in my profile
<-- there

i hope that helps and give you some idea what brought me to where i am today. if you ever have questions or need help . dont be afraid to post or send us a PM. we wont give you the answer but point you towards it so you learn :P

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Yeah I am at the same position as all of you were a while back. I have a board for this game, and I really wish I can add all these cool features i see on other websites but I have no idea how to. And i still try to learn but it is really difficult. I do watch and read a lot of tutorials for javascript but I do not know how to use them exactly. So I guess I am going to start looking at other codes and trying to change them like some of you did and like slayer did with the advance RPG code ^_^ . So and I do not even understand how slayer can create such a brilliant code like an RPG.
And no Holysavior I don't think ill ever surpass your skills :-/

But like I said I do want to add couple features on my board and I do try to do some of them my self but I have no clue. I always see these create gaming websites and there features, is there a way that I can learn to copy their features and stuff.

And one quick question to slayer that told me how to locate the DD/DT tags. Slayer on Virals award code HERE how would I make the awards show up on the actual members profile as well as the mini profile. Yeah also one of the biggest features i wanted to add on my board is something like Virals award code but more automatic, so I don't have to keep going in the code to create and add new awards. Like I can create it on a box or something, and like I said I have no clue on how that is done. My guess is it would require some Php and I havent even learned much Javascript yet :-/
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FearKiller
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www.drewscripts.com
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My coding career began with HTML. I was inspired by the users of the GameFAQs forums, specifically the Grand Theft Auto 3 forum. It seemed like everyone had their own website where they posted screnshots and tips for the game and I just wanted to make one for myself as well. It started out with free hosting on Angelfire and was eventually moved to Freewebs where it was put to rest after GTA: Vice City lost its spunk.

I know HTML, CSS, PHP, and MySQL. Most of my knowledge with all 4 languages came from a 'learn by example' point of view, but I did use many other references such as PHP.net, Hudzilla, Webmonkey, HTMLDog, A List Apart, MySQL.org, etc.

I have never taken any class had any single person teach me how things were done.

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HolySavior
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if( holy + alcohol){ happycoding()}
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another way i and alot of coders did. if they took a code already made. than take that idea and recreate it. dont use the code already made. just try to do it yourself and look at how the creator did it. once you get maybe try to improve it.
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HolySavior
Feb 8 2010, 01:43 AM
another way i and alot of coders did. if they took a code already made. than take that idea and recreate it. dont use the code already made. just try to do it yourself and look at how the creator did it. once you get maybe try to improve it.
Ok I kind of got the idea. So if I wanted Virals award code to show on the actual profile of the member and not just the mini profile on the posts I would edit it and take a part of some code that is directed to the members profile. And some how find a way to put that in the award code next to the part where it describe where the awards would show. correct??... sort of :glare: ?? not really ??
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Reid-ZNS
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C'est un piège!
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Try to look at how codes work even if you aren't interested in recreating it (also, some codes cannot be recreated by you because they are meshing javascript with PHP, which you cannot view the source of.)

Beyond the actual language itself - pure javascript - you also need to learn jQuery if you're interested in coding for ZB. That's not to say you couldn't use some other framework, but jQuery is available on all boards by default - and, indeed, cannot be easily removed.

In essence, a great way to learn about how the language features are put to use is to read the code of good coders. However, keep in mind that many good coders use odd algorithms or means of accomplishing things, and trying to learn in a jQuery-filled environment is not conducive to actually learning javascript as a programming language. When you're working with jQuery, it doesn't really feel like programming unless you actively decide to use it in a programming-like way (which I do, both to keep myself sharp and stop myself from going insane.)

So yeah, just read how other coders do it. Looking at Viral's award system, it looks good... but also pretty advanced.
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Viral.
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Hmm I must have missed this topic =\ . Thanks for mentioning my name though :P .

To answer your question, I started out coding when I saw Slayer's RPG system that he made (the one that was mentioned previously). I tried installing it time and time again and couldn't get it to work, so I PMed him for help, but with no response (thanks slayer xD) so I decided to learn how to code and that might have been able to help me install it, or create a new one. When I first started I used w3schools and the forum that I linked to Reid before, tizag.com. I definitely recommend tizag as it is a great resource but doesn't really go into many advanced areas of JavaScript. I remember pestering godzilla and Duveaux for help, over at phantom designs a lot. They were a great help, though in my opinion they didn't have the best, or most elegant coding style; to each his own, as they say. I think my first script was adding a logon button when viewing a users profile. Pointless but it was fun to start with. Within 2 months after that I started on the AIO, which is now used by nearly 1,000 forums. But tbh, I kind of just jump in the deep end and hope I don't leave my armbands behind =\ . As for the award code, trying to explain how it works in detail would be pointless as it uses quite advanced techniques; it would be best to grasp the basics of JavaScript first. However, as you previously said, for it to work without adding awards into the ACP, you would need PHP. However, this will be added in the new AIO 2.0 so keep your eyes open ;) . Just one quick tip: Don't enrol in 'coding' classes or buy those 'Javascript in 10 minutes' books. They do not help and only lead you to writing code in someone else's 'style'. Find your own style and write like that, it helps and makes your codes easier to debug and keeps them unique to you.
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Hronics
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Well, the most important is your desire. If you really want, after reading different tutorials and training, you'll know as much as passing rates. But the second way is to learn programming under the guidance of professors :ph34r:
It is individual for everyone what order of programming languages to choose to learn.
f.e. I tried to learn Java, but the first time I did not succeed. Only after many html tutorials, JavaScript, C ++ I begin to understand coding.
Edited by Hronics, Mar 16 2010, 10:34 AM.
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