If I wanted to use a Language with other libraries?

LizardGamer · Post by **LizardGamer** » Thu May 26, 2011 8:36 am

I'm wanting to use Bullet physics (using the Bullet wrapper), OpenAL (with cAudio), and a couple other libraries etc. But would I be able to access all of this functionality if I used one of the Irrlicht language bindings?

I know that I would have to bind a language library to irrlicht (like C# with greenya's .NET wrapper), but with that done would I be able to access functions/commands of the other libraries (Bullet, OpenAL etc) using (e.g C#)?

Radikalizm · Post by **Radikalizm** » Thu May 26, 2011 11:42 am

You'd need wrappers or ports for all those other libraries too I'm afraid

Managed languages like C# don't really like to play with non-managed languages like C++ all too much, but I don't think it'd be too hard to find wrappers or ports for major libraries like bullet

LizardGamer · Post by **LizardGamer** » Fri May 27, 2011 12:05 am

Radikalizm wrote:You'd need wrappers or ports for all those other libraries too I'm afraid

Managed languages like C# don't really like to play with non-managed languages like C++ all too much, but I don't think it'd be too hard to find wrappers or ports for major libraries like bullet

It looks like I'm learning C++ in the next couple of weeks.

But what would I do if I wanted to just use it as a scripting language, would I still need C# bindings for bullet and openal or something else.

(Plus I either going to be choosing C#, AngelScript or Chaiscript for scripting in my game)

Radikalizm · Post by **Radikalizm** » Fri May 27, 2011 12:13 am

Well no, of course not, a scripting system uses functions you exposed from your engine/game yourself so it does not connect directly with any other libraries you're using

I've looked into using C# for scripting in my engine too, and I considered using it for a while, but I decided to use python in the end

zester · Post by **zester** » Fri May 27, 2011 4:18 am

I've used every language know to man, and personally I have found c++ to be the easiest to
use. I think python is far more complex than c++. I would go with C++ and if you really need
in game scripting http://code.google.com/p/zester/wiki/Lua_C it doesn't get easy'r than that.
But honestly most games don't even need scripting.

LizardGamer · Post by **LizardGamer** » Fri May 27, 2011 5:14 am

zester wrote:But honestly most games don't even need scripting.

But really, having a scripting language makes game production easier.

Radikalizm · Post by **Radikalizm** » Fri May 27, 2011 11:43 am

zester wrote:I've used every language know to man

That would be one huge accomplishment if that were true, here's a wikipedia list of all programming languages excluding some dialects, you actually took the time to learn them all?

zester · Post by **zester** » Fri May 27, 2011 12:35 pm

Radikalizm wrote:
zester wrote:I've used every language know to man
That would be one huge accomplishment if that were true, here's a wikipedia list of all programming languages excluding some dialects, you actually took the time to learn them all?

Ok funny guy you know what I mean!!! Lol

Radikalizm · Post by **Radikalizm** » Fri May 27, 2011 12:41 pm

zester wrote:
Radikalizm wrote:
zester wrote:I've used every language know to man
That would be one huge accomplishment if that were true, here's a wikipedia list of all programming languages excluding some dialects, you actually took the time to learn them all?
Ok funny guy you know what I mean!!! Lol

I know

Just couldn't let the opportunity go

I have to disagree with you on C++ being the easiest to work with in my experience though, although right now it is the language I'm most comfortable in, managed languages like C# and Java are in my opinion still a lot easier, and I'd assume this would be even more true for inexperienced people since you don't have to worry about tons of other things besides your program's functionality

LizardGamer · Post by **LizardGamer** » Sat May 28, 2011 12:32 am

Radikalizm wrote:
zester wrote:
Radikalizm wrote: That would be one huge accomplishment if that were true, here's a wikipedia list of all programming languages excluding some dialects, you actually took the time to learn them all?
Ok funny guy you know what I mean!!! Lol
I know Just couldn't let the opportunity go

I have to disagree with you on C++ being the easiest to work with in my experience though, although right now it is the language I'm most comfortable in, managed languages like C# and Java are in my opinion still a lot easier, and I'd assume this would be even more true for inexperienced people since you don't have to worry about tons of other things besides your program's functionality

Well, C++ looks good and I think I might be good with it (I'm not sure because it is a big language, and how long it takes to learn).

Java looks really easy (maybe more for me, but not sure about how slow it is, becuase I want my games to be fast).

Lua, AngelScript, Chia (or Chai)Script looks really easy (which of course would be faster than Java)

I not truely sure what I want to learn as a main programming language (or as a scripting language)

But Java, C# or Lua might sound good as a primary language.

Radikalizm · Post by **Radikalizm** » Sat May 28, 2011 12:48 am

C++ will require some time to learn, the problem is that there are a lot of concepts (like memory management, correct pointer usage, etc.) you need to learn which actually require you to already now about some other programming concepts
I'm not saying it's not possible to learn C++ directly from the start, I'm just saying that it's probably going to be rather frustrating since you'll have to learn the basics and the more advanced stuff at the same time

If it's purely for irrlicht that you need a language I'd go for C# since the .NET wrappers available now are the most up-to-date of all wrappers (the Java wrapper is severely outdated for example)

Don't worry about speed too much, especially not when you're just setting your first steps in game programming, you should start worrying about it when you need to do more low-level stuff, and even there it doesn't really matter that much

And btw, Lua is a scripting language and is not suited as a main language (unless you're a full-time scripter of course)

LizardGamer · Post by **LizardGamer** » Sat May 28, 2011 2:05 am

Radikalizm wrote:C++ will require some time to learn, the problem is that there are a lot of concepts (like memory management, correct pointer usage, etc.) you need to learn which actually require you to already now about some other programming concepts
I'm not saying it's not possible to learn C++ directly from the start, I'm just saying that it's probably going to be rather frustrating since you'll have to learn the basics and the more advanced stuff at the same time

If it's purely for irrlicht that you need a language I'd go for C# since the .NET wrappers available now are the most up-to-date of all wrappers (the Java wrapper is severely outdated for example)

Don't worry about speed too much, especially not when you're just setting your first steps in game programming, you should start worrying about it when you need to do more low-level stuff, and even there it doesn't really matter that much

And btw, Lua is a scripting language and is not suited as a main language (unless you're a full-time scripter of course)

Do you know if C# mono works with greenya's .net wrapper?

Radikalizm · Post by **Radikalizm** » Sat May 28, 2011 2:11 am

LizardGamer wrote:
Radikalizm wrote:C++ will require some time to learn, the problem is that there are a lot of concepts (like memory management, correct pointer usage, etc.) you need to learn which actually require you to already now about some other programming concepts
I'm not saying it's not possible to learn C++ directly from the start, I'm just saying that it's probably going to be rather frustrating since you'll have to learn the basics and the more advanced stuff at the same time

If it's purely for irrlicht that you need a language I'd go for C# since the .NET wrappers available now are the most up-to-date of all wrappers (the Java wrapper is severely outdated for example)

Don't worry about speed too much, especially not when you're just setting your first steps in game programming, you should start worrying about it when you need to do more low-level stuff, and even there it doesn't really matter that much

And btw, Lua is a scripting language and is not suited as a main language (unless you're a full-time scripter of course)
Do you know if C# mono works with greenya's .net wrapper?

I haven't worked with greenya's wrapper so I couldn't say for sure, but unless he has added some windows dependencies in there and as long as he wrapped all functionality for a linux device (since I assume you're working with linux) I wouldn't see why not

LizardGamer · Post by **LizardGamer** » Sat May 28, 2011 3:35 am

I wish the other people make the other language wrappers would continue, because I only have one problem with C# which is that there are 2 different groups making C# (Microsoft for windows and Mono for everyplatform) and I'm not sure but I think this can cause compatibility issues with ppl with the Microsoft one(Because of the differences).

And irrlicht is a big community and the language wrappers are just dying whilst the Ogre community is big and there language wrappers are still going.

(Since I think that the Lime wrapper one is the only one alive for the irrlicht community)

hendu · Post by **hendu** » Sat May 28, 2011 5:49 am

Just a note, if you release your game for linux using mono, you will have a hard time getting it anywhere. MS tech is not universally loved.