What is a better language to learn?
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If you have looked at the source code of the OHRRPGCE you have probably noticed James's negative comments about quickbasic, and his suggestions that people interested in learning to program should learn other languages. Here are a few pointers to languages that various OHRRPGCE developers would reccomend learning instead.
Also, some OHR users want to use plotscripting to make alternate battle engines or side-scrollers, and they might find that the job is much easier in a "real" programming language rather than in plotscripting.
This is more or less a personal choice. There's some infinite* languages in existance, each slightly different from the rest. Some of the popular ones are:
- FreeBasic - A language based on QBasic, but updated to bring it into the 32-bit world. Almost as powerful as C (some would say as powerful as C), but with an easy to use BASIC syntax.
- Python - intuitive and powerful syntax based on the best elements of many differant languages (C, Pascal, Perl,..). Encourages modular design as illustrated by the few hundred standard libraries : Do one thing well. With the use of Psyco, it also shares the facility to compile to native machine-code. Ideal for RAD.
- Lua - This language is popular as an embeded language (read, scripting language). It has a simple syntax, and can easily be learned by beginners and veterans alike.
- C/C++ - It's been around since the dawn of the universe. Unfortunately, it's syntax dates from approximately the same era. However, it's speed and compactness can't be beat. C++ is an object orientated extension to C and is therefore even more complex, and slightly slower, but has been the most popular language for decades and nearly all commerical games are programmed in it.
* - Slight exageration
