Category: Programmers

01Jan

Ways to Create Games for Smartphones

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With the increase in popularity of the smartphones also comes the increase in popularity of its apps and games. Anyone with programming and coding knowledge can translate this skill to make games for any platform. However, certain app and game development software allows you to create apps that do not require coding knowledge. Although, creating a smartphone game or any app in general may require registration depending on the platform you choose. You will also need specific software and a software development kit (SDK) to begin coding and mobile testing out your app.

Choose a Platform for Your Game – Before even beginning work on your game you will need to choose the platform for your game or app. These are iPhone, Blackberry, Android, or even Windows Mobile. Although certain games are cross-platform and can be played on several different phone types, as a beginner it would be best to stick to one platform and replicate this once you are successful. The best platform would be the one which you are most comfortable using.

Brainstorming and Developing Ideas – For brainstorming purposes, you should check your platform’s app store for ideas for your game. Even if you already have a solid idea, it does not hurt to check out the competition. Download a few games that have similarities to your idea. Figure out how your game will be different from those that are already out in the market.

Becoming an App Developer – Another crucial step is to register as an app developer. Platforms such as Android and Windows Mobile do not require registration. Both the Apple and Blackberry platforms require you to register to become an app developer for free. You should also read the Resource Guides for the platform you are interested in developing for.

Platform Guides and Tutorials – There are online guides and tutorials available in the online development centers for a specific platform. These online development centers will also provide detailed instructions on the software and tools required. Typically, you are required to own the smartphone of the platform you want to develop for and that platform’s latest SDK.

Testing Out Your Game – While you are creating your app, it is important to constantly test it out. This will allow you to catch any bugs and problems. Even if you have submitted your game or app, you will still be able to make future changes to it. However, it is important to have a solid version right away since customers are able to rate and comment on your game and app.

21Dec

The Three Steps of Game Testing

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Just a few years ago, publishing and marketing a video game was so expensive that independent developers stood virtually no chance of getting their games recognized. The advent of Android has lowered the previously high entrance barriers to professional game development, allowing anyone with programming skills to create their own games and market them for a number of platforms.

Testing is something that should be done throughout the development process. Websites such as SmartBear.com offers a code analysis tool which can streamline your analysis process in case you missed a mistake.  But there are different kinds of testing. Following these three steps in order will ensure that your final product is the best it can possibly be.

1. First Round

The developers should be the first line of testers. It’s a lot easier to fix bugs as you go along than to wait until you’ve designed the last level. Every time you reach a milestone in development, you should play the game from start to finish, keeping a log of the bugs to fix before moving on. By starting from the beginning, you mimic the user experience and can make sure the entire game feels like a cohesive experience rather than just a collection of levels.

2. Content Testing

Once you have some bug-free playable chunks, you can start asking others for their feedback. New developers often get trapped in this part of the process. They get so bogged down in trying to please everyone that they lose sight of actually completing the project. If you plan on making money with your game, you need to consider your target audience. Once you know your audience, collect a random sample of them to play your game. Providing testers with a list of questions can help focus their attention on what aspects you want feedback on.

3. Final Bug Testing

Once you’ve made the absolute best game you can make, it’s time for the final round of testing. Use different testers than the previous stage and make clear to testers that they are NOT providing feedback on the content. Other developers are ideal for this part, as they have some idea of what to keep an eye out for and can offer suggestions on how to fix technical problems.

Most importantly, do not rush the process. Don’t let anyone touch your game until you honestly feel like there is nothing that you can improve on. That way, the feedback you get will push your limits and help you become a better developer.

10Nov

Basic Coding for beginners

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There are lots of different coding practices that beginners can indulge in. There is a lot of room to learn programming, but people must have some idea of what they are interested in.

The very basic elements of HTML programming are found in lots of online tutorials. There are really a plethora of ways to get lessons and practice setting up a webpage. The tags are one of the most basic elements of programming for web pages. Without tags there can be no formatting. This is one of the most important things to learn early on in the world of programming.

Another big thing is syntax. It doesn’t matter if you are programming in Visual C or Flash. Syntax is always very important. Lots of things are similar, but it is never good to just assume that every program has the same sentence structure. There are some variables that may be similar, but it is important to learn the basics on variables and coding structure for each language.

When you start learning the basics you will see that these tutorials that build. The syntax may be first. This may be followed by ways to make your coding look neat. This isn’t particularly necessary, but it is always a good thing to do. When you go back to your coding it is pertinent to have comments inserted. This helps you remember what you were doing the last time you were working.

It is good to have a book as a reference as well. Lots of tutorials are online, but a book may be the best option for understanding the syntax. Videos are good because these programmers can show beginners the error of their ways. In many online lessons a programmer may show you how to correct issues by debugging your program.

Coding can become complex, but beginners should look for the easy lessons or tutors. It works much better when someone knows the foundation. It is easier to build up your skills when you start with the basic elements. It is always good practice to test everything that is done when it is completed. Don’t just assume that things will work. Take the time to look over your work. Check to make sure that all tags are closed. Check your spelling. These are the little things that will often make programs fail. Understand why you are coding what you enter in your programs.

13Oct

knowledge sharing platforms for programmers

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There are some great knowledge sharing platforms for programmers that work together. A team of programmers may have a need to make all of these programs uniform. This is why there are so many knowledge bases in the technology world.

SharePoint by Microsoft is one of the most popular platforms. When people have access to the Intranet they can all access the same files. This is great because a senior programmer may have syntax fixes for some not-so-common errors. It helps when a person shares this information with others. This is what the SharePoint database is designed for.

The industry has a lot of different platforms that all people can share. It all has a lot to do with the company and the tools that are used. Some companies do not have an internal database platform. The companies may have programmers that simply search the web for answers. The problem, however, is that the Internet has billions of pages. People can search and get new results every time. Sometimes this is a good thing if they are still looking for something. At other times it is bad if they are expecting to come across the same results. This is why the blogs and forums are important.

A platform that has forums will allow programmers to get input from others all over the world. This is actually better than an internal group confined to an organization. The majority of companies that have programming teams will have a need to know about new features in programming languages. This is really big with companies that transition from one phase of production to the next.

When new programming language changes are made there is a need to share knowledge. There are sites like Stack Overflow and IDX Developer that are popular. Some of the biggest application developer sites for programmers are focused on mobile apps. Mobile devices have become big and this is where all the programmers are making money. It goes without saying that this is the starting point for all of the chatter about applications. K Publisher is another site for sharing information. This is increasingly popular thanks to more freeware software as well.

Source Forge, for example, has a lot of freeware programs that also have descriptions and product updates. These programs have an open community of developers. The programmers need to share knowledge on errors and developments that have occurred.

25Sep

Streamlining Q&A forums by using management software

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Management software has been used over the years to attempt to analyze the consumer. It is always important for business leaders to know what their customers think. Companies that continue providing services or making products without consulting their customers are in for a rude awakening. Customers always have complaints and questions about products. It doesn’t matter how good a product or business service may be. Someone has to consider the Q&A portion of the business and find better ways to entertain this. There are many options out there but the we recommend visiting Freshdesk.com for tech support software.

That is where management software comes into play. There are lots of web-based forums and dialogues that are putting companies in the hot seat. It is always good to have a forum in place that can entertain these questions and answers. The best way to go about doing this is through a database. The knowledge database can be implemented in management software and carried out further from there. This is what the large companies are capable of. It makes the management of the questions and answers so much easier.

The questions will often change over time. It is difficult to keep up with the wide variety of Q&A issues without any proper management software. It is easier, however, when these management programs are designed to collect data and feedback from consumers. Many websites ask customers for feedback and questions. Web developers will then collect and dump this data into a database. This is where the human element comes into the picture. Someone needs to be in place to clean up the Q&A feedback, translate this into something that is intelligent and relay it back to the general public. This can be done in forums, but the management software helps people keep track of all of this. All of the questions can be contained inside of a database system. Additions can be made to this Q&A as needed. It is all part of an ongoing process.

The forums – when incorporated with the management software – can be quite helpful for companies. This allows a company to give feedback to consumers. So many consumers will often become skeptical about filling out surveys and providing any type of comments because they feel as if this is in vain. Customers like to see that there questions are being answered. They want to know that someone is actually paying attention to their product suggestions. This is why the management software is crucial.

13Sep

Steps to Creating an Engaging and Interactive Interface

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A new web app or mobile app will require an interface that is engaging and interactive. There are many steps that are required to design an interface that adds to the experience of the user. A good design uses various elements including color and layout. The interaction of the user with your website or app often is dependent on the way the user interface is designed.

One important aspect of any user interface is consistency. This means that navigation and transitions to other pages and elements needs to be the same. Most users have expectations of how to use apps found online or used with a mobile device. Mobile app development from mobstac for example are highly polished and tested before being released. This will bring greater quality control and overall better design. Users need to be presented with the same design throughout. Your color scheme is an example of an element that needs to be consistent.

No interface is perfect and users seem to find ways to make mistakes. Users that make mistakes want a way to go back to a previous screen or undo any changes that were made. Interfaces that do not include any type of error correction will not be widely accepted by users. A menu or message on the screen is a way to engage users that have made a mistake.

New information that appears on the screen of the interface needs to be highlighted. If you have a feed for your app that is constantly updated, then highlighting new content is important. Colors offer a way to highlight new content or an icon can appear on the screen.

Cutting and pasting can be done using a mouse and by keyboard shortcuts. Apps will need to include a set of keyboard shortcuts to engage the small number of users who use this feature. You need to have a shortcut to copy, paste, and to undo and action.

Designing an interface that is unique and engaging does not mean abandoning standards and the use of conventions that are familiar to users. Common standards are a clipboard icon to paste and an icon of a folder to open a file. You should also refrain from using different naming conventions for menus. Look at other apps to get an idea of the icons that are being used.

The addition of customization options is a great way to provide an interactive experience for users of an app. One type of customization option is to upload an avatar. Another may be the ability to change to a different background or theme.