In this class, for this quarter, we
will use:
1.
Programming Language: C#, if
you have not worked with C# before, be prepared to
learn it in the first week by yourself.
By this point, after CSS342, you should be very familiar with Java or C++.
Well, C# is very similar to both.
2.
Graphics API: We will be working the Microsoft XNA framework, though in this class we will not be learning the particulars of XNA.
In university classes, we learn concepts, and XNA is a tools
for learning (games) or Computer Graphics concepts. Think, you use a Ford
Mustang to learn how
to drive, afterwards you do not say I took a class to learn Ford Mustang,
Right? You take this class and we use XNA, and you learn Computer Graphics. For
Mustang (or XNA) is irrelevant. Remember that.
3.
GUI API: We will be working with the WinForm library
that comes with Visual Studio. GUI library lets we build programs that use mouse,
and button, slider bar, etc. to interface to our users. So, user interface will
be based on WinForm, and graphics will be based on
XNA. If you have never worked with GUI libraries before, well, this can be a
little intimidating, but nothing difficult. Here is a step-by-step guide of how
to work with WinForm library that accompanies the second chapter
of my
book.
Here are the details about the
software you will need to install to develop/run XNA-based programs, and some
other details:
1.
The Integrated Development Environment
(IDE): You can use Visual
Studio 2010 (VS2010), or Visual C# Express 2010 (VCE2010). VCE2010 is a subset of VS2010, it is lighter weight. All examples provided and examples
presented in class will be based on VCE2010. You can open VCE2010 projects with
VS2010. You can choose which IDE you want to work with. To find out more
information about VCE2010, go to:
·
http://www.microsoft.com/express/download#webInstall
select C# Express and English to download/install.
2.
You
need XNA 4.0: Here
are some details:
·
Download: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=9ac86eca-206f-4274-97f2-ef6c8b1f478f
·
It is a good idea
to install IDE _before_ XNA.
Learning C#: To learn
a new programming language, my recommendation is to examine existing source
code performing tasks you are familiar with. Mostly, you will be looking for
“how to” and not “what is”. In another word, you are learning to use a new tool
and not learning any new concepts. If you like to read “physical paper” books,
any book out there on C# will do, I do not have a good recommendation because I
do not refer to any of them. When I need answers to “how to” do something in
C#, I look for code snippets online, and I refer to C#’s reference manual at: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/kx37x362.aspx.
In our class all sample source code are provided in
C#, so that is a good source for examples.