Member Discussions

Hello TMC people, I have an age old question that I can't find an answer to here in the forum.

I am interested in creating a new MUD in the hopes of learning some basics about coding on my Windows machine. Heard this one before yet? Of course you have.

I have yet to find a great step-by-step instructional resource for learning how to code. I mean, something that starts a new coder right at the beginning, and explains the how and why of it all. A resource for someone who doesn't even know what compiling and scripts are.

CoffeeMUD is something I found interesting, but even it doesn't simplify and walk-through a new coder. With no background in Unix/Linux, it seems there is no hope for a Windows savy person to get into it.

I've been told that one of the best ways to learn is through a mentor on an established MUD server... True? I would think that would be wasting a wonderful teacher's time...

If anyone could provide links to excellent resources, a beginners "baby-steps" guide, or point me to a mentor, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks!

http://www.amazon.com/Programming-Absolute-Beginner-Michael-Vine/dp/1598634801

http://www.amazon.com/Programming-3rd-Stephen-G-Kochan/dp/0672326663/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1301932581&sr=1-3

http://www.amazon.com/All---One-Desk-Reference-Dummies/dp/0764570692/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1301932581&sr=1-6

http://www.amazon.com/Expert-Programming-Peter-van-Linden/dp/0131774298/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1301932581&sr=1-8

http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Programming-3rd-Steve-Oualline/dp/1565923065/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1301932581&sr=1-10

http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Novice-Professional/dp/1590597354/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1301932581&sr=1-11

I just bought these the other day. I also subscribed to a bunch of forums that are good at helping with simple stuff (including the beginner mud strings here). I haven't even received the books yet and I've already begun

http://programmers.stackexchange.com/search?q=learn+to+code

http://norvig.com/21-days.html

If you want a book specifically on coding MUDs, you can read
this (it is actually the only book I know of specifically
about MUDs..): http://www.amazon.com/MUD-Game-Programming-
Development/dp/1592000908/ref=sr_1_1?
ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1301961926&sr=8-1

The price seems to be really high for some reason...maybe eba
has it cheaper. It has some good ideas and gives a lot of MUD
specific info in it.

-Kuros

http://www.amazon.com/MUD-Game-Programming-Development/dp/1592000908/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1301961926&sr=8-1

(Just pasting the link as one line so people can click it without copying all three lines and removing the 4 spaces of whitespace that Kuros's browser added.)

Right on! Thanks!

i know this one, too:

http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Mud-Wizards-
Programming-Role-Playing/dp/0672307235

You said:

-> I've been told that one of the best ways to learn is through a mentor on an
established MUD server... True? I would think that would be wasting a
wonderful teacher's time... <-

I respectfully disagree with the last part of your sentiment. It is never a waste
of time on the part of the teacher if the student is willing to learn. I have
mentored more than my fair share of wizards who were completely new to any
kind of coding environment and I do not regret a single moment. As they
have learned, they have been rewarded with the satisfaction of making their
own ideas come to life. And I am rewarded by watching them go through the
process and enjoying their triumphs.

I do think a mentor is the best way to learn. Anyone who volunteers to
mentor knows what the risks are and our biggest fear is a disinterested and
disheartened student.

I hope you find what you need.

Sonja@RealmsMUD

Great link! Thank you!

rayvenwolf wrote:
It is never a waste
of time on the part of the teacher if the student is willing to learn. I have
mentored more than my fair share of wizards who were completely new to any
kind of coding environment and I do not regret a single moment. As they
have learned, they have been rewarded with the satisfaction of making their
own ideas come to life. And I am rewarded by watching them go through the
process and enjoying their triumphs.

I do think a mentor is the best way to learn. Anyone who volunteers to
mentor knows what the risks are and our biggest fear is a disinterested and
disheartened student.

I hope you find what you need.

Sonja@RealmsMUD

I'm glad some people have time and patience to support their hobby as a whole and contribute in this sort of way. It's easy to throw a "new mud faqs" at people because you're too cynical to bother with it yourself.

It's easy to throw a "new mud faqs" at people because you're too cynical to bother with it yourself.

http://dead-souls.net/ds-admin-faq.html#104

I'm glad some people have time and patience to support their
hobby as a whole and contribute in this sort of way. It's easy to throw a "new
mud faqs" at people because you're too cynical to bother with it yourself.

I agree with this sentiment. Depending on where I am, I always make sure I
'man <whatever>' or 'help <some other thing> and glance at it myself before
asking a student to do so. It never fails to surprise me how completely obtuse
some documentation can be. It also never fails to surprise me that docs
change sometimes when I'm not looking. Sneaky things.

I DO refer people to documentation at times but only to support a lesson I am
teaching at the moment. Last week, I encouraged someone to read one half
of a help file because the rest was dumb, but half did have some options and
code opportunities I thought the fledgling coder would find interesting. I
don't want new coders to lose their enthusiasm because a piece of
documentation beat them on the head. Students also learn in different ways
and part of the trick of teaching is adapting my style to the strengths of the
student. In general, students do seem to respond to something like "I just
read this document and I think you will find it useful. Read it then ask me to
elaborate on the parts you found noteworthy."

http://dead-souls.net/ds-admin-faq.html#104

I loved this link, by the way :)

cratylus wrote:

It's easy to throw a "new mud faqs" at people because you're too cynical to bother with it yourself.

http://dead-souls.net/ds-admin-faq.html#104

This one is good. ;-)

I do see what you're saying rayvenwolf, I think I'd like to do some "homework" before I approach a mentor, out of respect. I can imagine teaching others can take up some serious time.

Recommended windows IDE anyone? There are so many out there and to an inexperienced eye they all look the same... MS Visual Basic installs at over 7 gigs, which I think is rediculous...

By the way, I am now selling my new software "Hello World!" for the low price of $699! Act now and I'll throw in a blank "readme.txt" absolutely FREE! What a deal!

Thanks again for all the great links you guys! Awesome!

http://dead-souls.net/ds-admin-faq.html#104

I don't have a mudding comment - I just want to know if George has the awesome hair of his namesake ;)

Look, please just tell me how to eventNarfle the garthak().

That should be on a t-shirt...