How do I get started?

Weetie · Post by **Weetie** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 5:28 pm

I'm trying to figure out how to start learning Irrlicht. I'm totally new to game engines & programming in general. I've never learned coding or scripting or anything. Can somebody give me some steps to get set up & started? I've run into a dead end just getting it unpacked from the zip file.
I downloaded the 1.4.2 Irrlicht.zip file & extracted everything into a folder on my local drive. I didn't see any setup.exe file within the zip file, so I didn't know any other way to install it other than just extracting it. a bunch of the files have the same names but different creation dates & file sizes. I'd guess they're related to different releases/versions of Irrlicht, but I don't know how to install the right versions.
Can someone also point me to an online resource to help me learn the basics about game engines without pestering everyone in the forums 30 times a day? I need to know really basic things like what a compiler is, how to use it & where to get the right one.
Any help is greatly appreciated. Thx!

bitplane · Post by **bitplane** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 5:40 pm

Start by reading the FAQ at the top of this forum

I recommend using Microsoft Visual C++ Express as your compiler, once you have it installed go and double click the project files that end in "_vc9" in the examples directory and have a play with them. There's a full explanation in the comments (also on the tutorials section of this website). (if you're on a Mac ignore what I just said and download Xcode from Apple and double click the project file inside /source/Irrlicht/MacOSX/)

Keep in mind that programming isn't a very rewarding task unless you enjoy it, like everyone else you'll spend a lot of time banging your head against your keyboard. You can minimize this pain by learning all about C++, start with the tutorials on cplusplus.com and get a book at the earliest opportunity.

Also you should get the latest version of Irrlicht (1.5)

arras · Post by **arras** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 6:05 pm

You definitely need C++ basics before you start with Irrlicht.

Go and get some C++ book, there are some free on line to get for example and look at some C++ resources-tutorials-examples sites on net. Lot of them there.

Some links:
http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/
http://www.java2s.com/Tutorial/Cpp/CatalogCpp.htm

Thinking in C++ 2nd Edition by Bruce Eckel -Free Electronic Book Volume 1 & Volume 2:
http://mindview.net/Books/TICPP/ThinkingInCPP2e.html

Weetie · Post by **Weetie** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 7:42 pm

So what I hear you saying is I need to learn C++.

I can grab a book or two tonight & start. Shouldn't take more than the weekend to learn, right? (lol)

Thanks

arras · Post by **arras** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 8:14 pm

More likely few weeks

But it will not be lost time, programing is fun. After you learn basics, you can start with first Irrlicht examples/tutorials. Than you can learn more C++ as you will learn Irrlicht. But without understanding basic C++ you will hardly understand Irrlicht at all.

And of course, to start programing anything, you will need to choose some compiler. You can take Microsoft Visual C++ Express as bitplane have suggested. I did start with DevC++ and switched to Code Blocks not long ago. Both are freeware but DevC++ is not developed for few years by now.

Good luck.

Dark_Kilauea · Post by **Dark_Kilauea** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 9:53 pm

Also, when you are ready to start with Irrlicht, here is your new best friend: The API Doc!