Jump to content
  • entries
    4,932
  • comments
    2,716
  • views
    1,807,371

I give up programming


atari2600land

886 views

The last two nights I tried to work on Lowercase I. After failing, along with the Action 54 bug I have to do, I've finally decided to give up coding. It's making my life miserable and it certainly isn't fun, especially when you work for months on end on something just to give up on it, angry, bitter and defeated. So after reviewing my life , asking myself "is coding making it better or worse," and answering myself with a resounding "worse!" I've decided to give it up once and for all. That's not to say I haven't given up video games at all, I've just given up trying to make them and ending up with crap that a five-year-old could do better making. Right now it's looking like every single facet of my life is a stupid pathetic failure. I can't do anything without messing what I've done so far up. Oh well, guess I now have way too much time on my hands. Better spend my new found time in the living room with the dog while mom's out.

7 Comments


Recommended Comments

I think you overestimate what a five-year-old is capable of creating. My fifteen-year-old has difficulty with programming anything although I've been trying to teach him for years.

 

I have to admit, not doing something you don't enjoy and don't need to do is often the sensible plan.

 

Perhaps taking a break is what you need. Maybe you'll find a different creative passion to fill your time with. Or maybe that desire to create homebrew games will hit you with enough force to push you through the challenges.

 

If that does happen, one recommendation I have is to focus on one programming language / console - preferably the one which you have found "easiest" to develop for.

 

My programming knowledge went through several phases. I started with Applesoft BASIC and from there different dialects of BASIC on different computers. I later learned Borland Turbo Pascal - similar to BASIC but with structure instead of GOTO/GOSUB. C came next, although I wouldn't really understand C until after I learned assembly.

 

After a brief attempt to learn 6502, I discovered the power of assembly with the 6809 (TRS-80 Color Computer). Then I went back to the 6502 but was stymied by the lack of 16 bit index registers. 8086 was next with the rise of PCs. I only got back to the 6502 with the 2600.

 

Now I'm trying to learn Swift & IOS programming. It's slow going and frustrating 'cause I have an idea in my head for a game but I don't have anywhere near enough knowledge to start actually creating it.

Link to comment

If that does happen, one recommendation I have is to focus on one programming language / console - preferably the one which you have found "easiest" to develop for.

Agreed.

  • Like 1
Link to comment

I'm still waiting for your i game for Intellivision to be finished. :) You cannot disappoint me ;)

I totally forgot about it. I'd have to start over again, though, since the computer it was on died.

Link to comment

Eh... NEVER GIVE UP!! NEVER SURRENDER!!

 

If you need any advice or help with understanding programming I would love to help. I'm currently teaching some of my kids BASIC and love to talk about the ideas we come up with.

 

Even if you are quitting for a bit, don't give up forever.

  • Like 1
Link to comment

I have had days like that. Once after hours of work I got a program exactly where I wanted it and it got wiped out because I tried to rename the source file from within the IDE and it somehow got lost to the file system.

 

After a bit of rage and a short break I sat down an recoded it in about a third of the time.

 

Other times I have went to bed certain that what I was asking the computer to do was impossible only to wake up the next morning and have it seem so simple.

 

So, take a break. My guess is though you will be back at it soon.

Link to comment
Guest
Add a comment...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...