Simplified python programming.

Brett Nortje · Dec 18, 2014

In 2010, i wrote the following guide to robot programming for python:

Basics of Python programming

If you want to learn how to program you will find yourself mixed up between C
and Java, but, the easiest programming language I find is Python. You can
download the components on the web by searching for Python main page or
something and downloading the compiler. There are a lot of other functions to
this so bear with me as we learn how to use the programming language
commands to write a message for the computer to understand and carry out or
do.

The first thing I want you to understand about programming is that the computer
works and thinks like this - [If this, then this.] and [When this, then this]. That is
all a computer understands, as it does what you tell it to do!
Input is what you write on the computer. Output is when the computer does what
you tell it to.

You may program in windows and usually access your programs in a dos prompt
that you can find by clicking on your start menu and finding your way around to
the dos prompt. You must save the file and compile it with a python compiler
which you can find on the web under a python compiler search, or get one set up
at your computer by someone that has it. Compiling the file you have saved onto
your computer is not at all hard.

Fundamental Python programming

Input is when you say something that the computer must do as it is written by
you. To make the computer just do it like it is written, you need to say it must.
This is done by writing [input] and following with a space and normal brackets
and inside those brackets the little ' marks, and the text inside all of that, like
('Hello') or something equally creative and exciting... You must also say the
action that the computer must take, like for example [print] followed by a space
at the beginning of the line. So, if you want to make the computer say hello, then
the line should look like this: print input ('Hello') up against the margin of the
program you are using to to program with. To run a program you need to type
the name of the file and then .py at the end without a space.
So, you know how to make the computer say hello to you. Wow... what a
fantastical journey! But now that we have mastered programming, why not go for god like powers and make it say hello out of it's own, or, when you want it to?

You must write it like this, and please remember that each red writing section
starts on a new line; if statement == ('Hello'): referring to the statement that you
enter into the dos prompt being hello, tab response == print ('Hello, how do you
do?') is the response of the computer to your input and then else: meaning if not
this, then this... tab response == print ('Hey?') which is what the program will say
if you enter anything else. To quit the program just type quit.

As you can see you can already create a text or word based program that you
can mess around with. If you were to try if this then this, like for example if
statement == "Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?" then you
could write tab response == ('But you are... of course!') then you could make it
say your name too!

Please remember that you may not write any single letter as a value, but a
double or triple and so forth. It is like science where you find single letters have
a operation behind them already, so you cannot use x, y, z, but rather xxx or yy
instead of x and y.

If you were to say if statement == "Hello": then tab response == print ('Hello,
what is your name?') then you wrote your code as ax == user_input == input ==
output "ax" , making your name equal a value of ax, like a code for giving your
name a value for the computer and remembering it as ax of course, and then if
you write, after entering your name, tab response == print ('Hello {input = ax}')
and the program will then need to say if statement == "Mirror mirror on the wall,
who is the fairest one of all?" it would then be answering to the value of the ax
you have made it remember and given a value to as being ax for all purposes of
the program, and then it will say your name if you write if statement == "Mirror
mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?" then tab response == print
('Obviously (ax) is the most ravishing sexual predator in the world... Duh!') you
will see your name appear in the next line in that sentence.
Now you can make a real program about [If or when the computer user say this,
then the response should be...] not forgetting to press tab of course, or else say
this. Don't forget to use your if statement, because that is where you type things
into the computer - input or using the computer. It is text based though and
operates in dos, but it is better than nothing. You must learn the basics before
you can learn windows programs...

Remember the golden rules: [if this, then this] and the other one... [when this,
then this]

To assign values to the program simply write >>>bx=10, then >>>cx=20 and
then if statment == "bx+cx" response == print (bx+cx). As you can see it is easy
to make these programs with names and numbers being entered inside the
brackets for it to get on your screen. You may enter as many values as you like
with the >>> stuff before it to show that *** equals this or that value or object. Any object is a thing inside the program that has a value or does something.

You can also say if response == "bx+cx" response == print ('This is your answer.
Is there another?') to go a bit further...

Then you can link objects together too! If you say that if output print == bx+cx
response == print ('would you like to divide it by 3?') and then you could say if
input == ('yes') response == print {bx+cx}/3 and there you have a string or link
set up. You should be able to figure out how to use it now and make your
program better! Remember each time you make changes you need to save the
file and compile it too to use it. You can replace bx or cx with anything that you
can think of, and you can set things directly into the program by entering, for
example length = 5 which will force feed the program, but this is long and you
should rather use bx, or you may say that bx = 3 or whatever. For example you
coudl write tax = 14 and use it again and again with the word tax as a value in
your sums.

Then there is elif which means else if or or of course, for...in where the stuff you
write inside the for in command continues in sequence if activated by a
command in the code where it activates the file name of the operation to run,
and stops when it is over, or you may say print ('The end') or something.
You may activate any program in sequence, so you could just write the >>>
import filename.py and see it run in that sequence. Then while true: will keep
something continuing until there is some more input, like s = {input('text : ')} and
then if s == 'quit' : followed by break and then something like print('text', len{s}}
where that len bit means load, if you have entered it, then print {'done'} to end
the program. This will keep the program making responses of if this then this
until you type quit to end it. This is called looping and breaking.

Then you get in, true and false. You set up the set by entering >>>bri = set
(['name or value', 'name or value', and so forth until you close the set with }) and
then you are ready to set them as true or false, but not yet. You may now say
>>> 'name or value' in bri as the set, [remember?] and then in the same line in
bri and then in the next line true or false saying if it is true or false. Now if you
say it is true it continues using that name or value until it doesn't need to
anymore, or it will not accept the statement as true if it is programmed to think of
it as false.

Now to make objects in code you need to write class Robot : it will create a class
called Robot object and you can work with these files inside files. Then you
should write population = 0 to say which number the robot counts as in the
population of the program. The writing def __inti__(self, name) : will give the
robot a name referring to itself as self, of couse. The self part of the code refers
to an object as it is followed by the name, so self.name = name means that the
object named what the name value is can be assigned information [or statistics if
you are making a game, by saying lives = 3 and so forth], and then you can sayif this, then that all over again, but this time with objects. To activate it as a thing
in your program you write format(self.name) where format writes it into the
programs operations, and then Robot.population += 1 and to see when the robot
is working or active you may write def sayHi(self) : print ('text') to say what the
sayHi command will print on the screen. Then you can use the droid1 = Robot
('name') and what the droid will do in your program, once again with if this then
that. In our game example we used lives as a value, so, if you want to say if
droid1 == length*4 then response == del live - 1 and finally if live = 0 del droid to
lose the game, maybe with a if lives = 0 response == 'Game over" to tell them
the game is over and that they are dead, maybe adding if lives = 0 response =
exit or something like that, just close the damn program!

To be able to program graphics or sounds you need to download a graphics
program and then install it from the python command prompt. There are simple
instructions to make the graphics with and anyone that has done maths,
woodwork, or proper graphic design will be able to help you create and save
your graphics and sounds to work with the programs you write. These fies can
be activated from a if this, then display that or something. All you got to do if you
want to fly it solo is make a graphic and force feed your program these pictures
you have created with elegance and style unto yourself... of course!

There is a lot of other commands that you don't really need to make yourself a
game or a accounting program, and they all come with instructions of what they
do, but you don't need them really - you, if you understand this section, are now
a full on programmer!

To compile a program on linux, you need to type this: chmod +x file.py

You will need access to the net to get the program too!

Now you can make proper programs with values that change all the time.
Remember, [if this, then this]...
Click to expand...

I never got around to testing it, but tested it last night, and it works fine. I amaze myself too! but, i was cruising the net, and I came across a game design guide, so, decided that it needs to be simplified too, seeing as how it has graphics and sound to learn.

Brett Nortje · Dec 18, 2014

The firs thing you need to do is to find a good site for sound and graphics files. the program will, upon command, as if it were just switching things on and off, or, selecting when this, then this, activate the 'sound' or 'animation.' this is like taking a camera, pressing a button, seeing the flash, and out comes your graphic, or, having your body tense up, then coughing. it is really that simple!

Al Sweigart Making Games with Python & Pygame said: ↑

While you can just type in the code you read out of this book, you will need to download the graphics and sound files used by the games in this book from http://invpy.com/downloads. Make sure that these image and sound files are located in the same folder as the .py Python file otherwise your Python program will not be able to find these files.
Click to expand...

He explains it the best, don't you think? Now, for game loops. this is like a program loop, of course. if it loops, it is like a helicopter blade, and when it stops, it will crash automatically, as that is what a program does when it doesn't loop anymore - it crashes. perfectly normal though...

while True: # main game loop
for event in pygame.event.get():
Click to expand...

Now, the quickest way to make a good game is to observe the engines of existing games. if you like the way the the things move around, at a certain speed, and the 'templates' which are the icons on the screen - like shortcuts for windows - then this will work nicely. you simply decompile an existing game, then change it carefully. the good news is that there are lots of 'templates' in games like ice wind dale, being the little blocks to tick on the outside of the screen - you can remove the color of the 'background' and stick in your own 'buttons.' buttons are g.u.i. type things where you can encode it to take up an area of the 'outline of the screen,' where the mouse will not go, and 'map' your way into the icon, as if it were actually inside the screen.

Hell, you could do this with multiple games! you could play Never Winter Nights with Tekken moves, if you modify the 'graphics' and engine to run at a 'constant speed.' of course, blending the engines will be hard, but, have no fear! if you were to place them 'on top' of each other, so that they have each other's source code, then it first of all will require a lot of ram, but, it will be able to 'switch modes!' this would mean, of course, that Tekken is now programmed to pick things up, but won't. it will just ignore the request or command, and act as if it wasn't happening. of course, the program will not stall, as, it is just running operations, and, will be programmed to ignore this one.

Seeing as how most games have a lot of 'options' or ways of working, you could make the ultimate game right now, with, the ultimate graphics and sound, all by making a 'hybrid' game.

If you want to add to the game at all, all you got to do is program the source from the beginning of the program, and then it will be set up to take rule one or two, and change with it. then, at the end of the program, you can make your real changes! you could make up new when this, then this commands, and add new graphics.

I think rebuilding existing games is over rated. the real trick is to decompile, use smaller 'files' for those effects, and then add onto it.

Brett Nortje · Dec 18, 2014

Actually, it seems to me to be, if statement something, response tab print something. this is like a reaction method of sorts, where there is no need for any more knowledge of programming except for maths and multiple prints, yes?

Brett Nortje · Dec 2, 2016

I find programming is about interactions with the motherboard where all the devices are. the c.p.u. just processes information, of course. if you really want to know what is going on, you need to understand the processes of the motherboard, like the bus - without the bus, nothing will work! this bus i speak of is all those little lines you see on the 'green board thing.' this is where the circuits are, like with a light bulb - you see, if the circuit is connected to the rest of the board, electricity travels through it to the next thing. the more things you have connected, the more of the bus you are using, or, r.a.m.

So, now you understand how electricity flows, and, you will be better off at making your own programming language! or;

If you were to observe that the input you use is actually modulated or turned into a tiny 'voltage,' this means some characters carry more charge than others, yes? this means you are basically interacting with a bus that carries information from one transistor to the next - the current will be charged further, and, the current will be cut out in various places depending on what you tell the bus to connect or disconnect, giving you 'output.'

~ That is what computers and electronics are about - output. would you program a computer that has no output? how about a hydraulic arm that doesn't do anything, but has a lovely theory behind it?

Now, if you want to make your own programming language, or understand it better, then i have told you all you need to know to get technical. if you were to combine certain characters or symbols, you could modify the output by merely repeating certain characters next to each other, not meaning anything to you language wise, but meaning to repeat or emphasize certain things, thereby 'increasing charge.'

Brett Nortje · Dec 2, 2016

Now i want to teach you about fields and how to use them. fields are there for grouping things together, code of course. if you were to group characters together, they would be a word, yes? a field in word would be the whole document or each specific word, with the spaces being the start and end of fields. this is how spell check works, it has a list of words it recognizes as being verified, and anything that does not meet the list is underlined in red, of course.

If you were to observe fields in excel, you would see that there are many fields, as many as you make, with sub fields within the 'blocks,' yes? this would mean that each field relates to another field as you group them together, but you are not creating fields or groups, you are activating them, of course.

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Simplified python programming.

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