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[Q] Visual Basic Student

Hi guys I am a 16 year old student in the UK and has just started college. One of the subjects I am taking is computing. In computing I am learning visual basic. So far I am learning how to write console applications. I have attached a piece of code that demonstrates my skill. But what I would like is to start developing apps. If anyone can point me to tutorials or anything that would be helpful. I also attached a data dictionary to help decipher my code. (what I want to start with is a simple torch app and then build my skill from there)
There is a 'thanks' in there for you.

I took a gander upon your code and wish you good luck with your journey of your programming career. I'm also working towards coding certain apps and utilities myself. Just stick to what you want to and write down in a notepad or if you're more of a person who writes things down in a notebook do that. Write down what you want in a program as well as extra's that you want implemented (such as Beta, Alpha, Free, Pro features, and keep in mind if you're gonna have open source applications for download or put your program on a website for people to download) or something along those lines.

Seeking kind advice from experianced developers

Hi
I recently had a problem with one of the discs in my spinal cord, as a result its quite possible I wont be able to return to my work as an industrial electrician. I am looking for other avenues of employment, I have quite abit of time on my hands to educate myself. I have choosen to look into the app market, after all, smart phones are in the hands of many people. Correct me if I am wrong but a well made app that is very popular could return a healthy living.
I want to make games, I see IAPs, premium version, and advertising as the main avenues for generating cash. Is this correct? Please I would like to start with the question, if hard work and effort put in, can money come out? or is it abit of a minority that makes and ultimatly a waste of time?
My next questions are, where should I start? I have ideas for games and I plan to start small so my knowledge and skills grow, first learning the fundamentals. I have begun to read guides but as was in my trade the advice of an experianced electrician was priceless!
So what software should I use, I plan to make for android then if my apps are popular I would transfer to ios and windows. Is there a base program that I could use which would make it easy to convert from to the said operating systems. Is there no way round it but to start from scratch?
What route would you recommend I take?
I think this is enough for now. Please treat me like a complete noob and have abit of patience :x
Is there any website that explains all the jargon associated with app developing?
Also if theres anything else you think I should know please tell me straight I can take it.
Thanks for any replies!
I really want to make this appen

Game and mobile app designing
Before starting with your game designing job you need to have a good knowledge about language that includes assembly, c, c++, java, Eiffel, Smalltalk, Ada, Lua and Python, Fro the language like assembly, c, c++ and java you just need to have a basic knowledge but the main software designing language that are used today are Lua and Python. One you will have a knowledge regarding the basic language then these language and software are easy to operate. Answering to your question about whether you can make money with this, believe me I started as a beginner for the game designing but then today I have a good command over all the language, software and can also use my knowledge for the mobile app designing for the android, windows and apple platform. This field definitely has money.

Most of your questions aren't of the "do this, it'll be the right way' sort.
If you want to create games, look at the different game development kits around - they will take a lot of burden of you, and might even help you to become multiplatform more easily.
Don't underestimate graphics, sound - they are important key elements of games; you might need other interested people with skills in this areas to develop a good package.
Learn how to programm. Learn how the hardware you designed so far 'thinks' - how the software works, how everything is connected.
I wish you the best, and you might need to rethink your questions, so that people can help you better when you ask more specific questions...

AliciaWinslet said:
Before starting with your game designing job you need to have a good knowledge about language that includes assembly, c, c++, java, Eiffel, Smalltalk, Ada, Lua and Python, Fro the language like assembly, c, c++ and java you just need to have a basic knowledge but the main software designing language that are used today are Lua and Python. One you will have a knowledge regarding the basic language then these language and software are easy to operate. Answering to your question about whether you can make money with this, believe me I started as a beginner for the game designing but then today I have a good command over all the language, software and can also use my knowledge for the mobile app designing for the android, windows and apple platform. This field definitely has money.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are two paths you can take. The scripting (using scripting engines) like quoted post or you can chose the native route. Android is natively written in Java with the java assembly; therefor, java will give you the best performance for an android application. Many openGL engines allow the use of c++ which is the next most common mobile development style with the same performace. I have not heard much on using python for mobile applications, but i know cocos2d was originally a python engine so i know its possible. You could make a million dollar app without knowing any assembly. Assembly was used to make the most out of registers and CPUs back in the days of NES and what have you. With the new tegra processors assembly is very unnecessary, but it never hurts to know it.
My personal recommendation, for the standpoint of a game designer and game engine designer, is to learn java first (it is a simple language) or c++ (more complex but still easier then assembly). If you chose to go the scripting route I would try to find a engine that allows that, there are many. As a side note most commercial games are written in c++ or C (or they are a scripting language that compiles to c++); however in androids case everything is compiled to java assembly.
Hope this helps. There is no wrong path.

[Q] Which Tool Is Right for Me?

I'm wondering, based on experience witch of these people would recommend for mobile app development. (Please mention which of these you actually have experience using.)
I'm an "old school" developer and am proficient in PHP/PERL, HTML, CSS and Javascript. I don't have time to learn a new language like C# and I refuse to use Microsoft's tolls (like .NET, Visual Studio, etc.) but I would spend the time maybe to pickup up RUBY (or maybe Java) if enough benefit was there in the associated mobile app development tool.
I want as close to native as possible with 90%+ cross-platform solution, meaning, 5-10% of the source code may differ due to differences in platform. I will only be developing for Android and IOS (sorry Windows) but may develop for Windows Down the road. Some apps I may develop may be enterprise class that need to get remote data from SQL Server, etc. I have done research and narrowed down my selection and am looking for further insight from those that have actually used these tools. Things that are also important to me include:
- Low cost (I can't afford to pay $100+ a month in fees)
- Good/Large Developer Community
- Good Support from Maker (good roadmap with improvements, bug fixes frequent, etc.)
PhoneGap - This seems like the most popular but it sounds like the "quickest" route for most web developers that are familiar with HTML and Javascript/CSS but to me it sounds like I might want something that is closer to native being that my primary core knowledge has always been as a coder first, and a web developer/designer second.
Appcellerator Titanium - This seems like the other most popular tool that claims to compile so the app uses the devices native controls (via Titanium API) instead of essentially an HTML page masquarading as an app (like PhoneGap) My gut says this one suits my situation better than Phonegap. Why do people use PhoneGap instead of this, because it's easier for non-programmers?
RhoMobile Rhodes - I am wondering how this compares to the two above assuming I learn RUBY on Rails.
Telerik Icenium (now called AppBuilder) - This one I have found the least discussion about.
I just ran across Codename One too which sounded intriguing as would require me to learn Java.
It seems most everyone (that isn't doing native) is using PhoneGap or Titanium and the second two are lesser known so I'm having a hard time finding people that has at least some brief experience using all four or five of these.
Any insight is greatly appreciated.

jazee said:
I'm wondering, based on experience witch of these people would recommend for mobile app development. (Please mention which of these you actually have experience using.)
I'm an "old school" developer and am proficient in PHP/PERL, HTML, CSS and Javascript. I don't have time to learn a new language like C# and I refuse to use Microsoft's tolls (like .NET, Visual Studio, etc.) but I would spend the time maybe to pickup up RUBY (or maybe Java) if enough benefit was there in the associated mobile app development tool.
I want as close to native as possible with 90%+ cross-platform solution, meaning, 5-10% of the source code may differ due to differences in platform. I will only be developing for Android and IOS (sorry Windows) but may develop for Windows Down the road. Some apps I may develop may be enterprise class that need to get remote data from SQL Server, etc. I have done research and narrowed down my selection and am looking for further insight from those that have actually used these tools. Things that are also important to me include:
- Low cost (I can't afford to pay $100+ a month in fees)
- Good/Large Developer Community
- Good Support from Maker (good roadmap with improvements, bug fixes frequent, etc.)
PhoneGap - This seems like the most popular but it sounds like the "quickest" route for most web developers that are familiar with HTML and Javascript/CSS but to me it sounds like I might want something that is closer to native being that my primary core knowledge has always been as a coder first, and a web developer/designer second.
Appcellerator Titanium - This seems like the other most popular tool that claims to compile so the app uses the devices native controls (via Titanium API) instead of essentially an HTML page masquarading as an app (like PhoneGap) My gut says this one suits my situation better than Phonegap. Why do people use PhoneGap instead of this, because it's easier for non-programmers?
RhoMobile Rhodes - I am wondering how this compares to the two above assuming I learn RUBY on Rails.
Telerik Icenium (now called AppBuilder) - This one I have found the least discussion about.
I just ran across Codename One too which sounded intriguing as would require me to learn Java.
It seems most everyone (that isn't doing native) is using Cordova/PhoneGap or Titanium and the second two are lesser known so I'm having a hard time finding people that has at least some brief experience using all four or five of these.
Any insight is greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both Phonegap and Appcelerator compile into a native package containing a mix of native and javascript and with both you develop your code using Javascript. As you've pointed out, one of the key differences is that Appcelerator will use the native device OS widgets rather than web widgets. In simple terms the layout is abstracted into an XML format which is then rendered into native equivalents during compilation for each of the platforms.
Depending on your application, native widgets may be important, or not. For example if you're developing a game then it could actually be advantages not to use the native widgets and have an essentially identical look and feel across all device platforms and screen aspect ratios.
The other difference is that Phonegap is free, (though their optional build service is not). Appcelerator is priced on a monthly subscription, but you also get some cloud features included in that.
Other popular cross platform tools to check out: Xamarin (native widgets, C# development, non-Free), ReactJS (native widgets, Javascript development, free-open source)

You can also try using Ionic and Cordova frameworks, They support cross-platform development and in my opinion have good documentation support

[Q] App Dev -Do I have the skills?

I'm a self-taught web enthusiast at the level of integrating and editing JS and PHP scripts on responsive websites using a text-editor and my own server. I've set up and displayed some MySql tables, understand the structure of CMS. I learned some JavaScript, and see the idea behind event-driven behaviors and the step by step executions necessary in terms of general programming, broadly at least in terms of graphic interface.
Based on these skills, I have two goals:
I have an idea for a relatively simple, mobile app. At first glance, frameworks like AppInventor or App Maker seem simplistic. Does this drag and drop-based development allow for manipulating code, and making it do exactly what I want?
Could I be steps away from getting into app development or getting a programming job? Or would I need to know more about version-control, complex IDEs, and a language other than JavaScript and CSS, at least in terms of getting a real job.
Thanks a lot.

[GAME][2.3+] Rotary Pipes

Rotary Pipes
I recently wrote a simple game that is about a twisted structure of pipes. These seek to get back in shape by rotating them accordingly, such they they form a connected network again.
My main reason for posting this in here is the crossplatform development background. This being said, I converted the Android app to a desktop application for Windows within an hour as described below.
Download
Windows
As already mentioned, the crossplatform development background is my main reason for posting this here. The app for Android has been developed in a way, that makes it easy to convert it to other platforms. The graphical user interface has for this reason been developed with HTML, CSS and JavaScript and can therefore simply be rendered in any common webview. Regarding the core mechanics, basic C / C++ has been used in combination with some preprocessor quirks in order to easily compile it for arbitrary targets. The remaining parts like persistent preference containers have eventually been implemented by utilizing a custom domain specific language in Xtext, which again makes crossplatform development feasible by utilizing code generation.
Feedback
I highly appreciate any feedback, so please do not hesitate with any advices or suggestions.