Look, I enjoy programming more than anything in the world. It''s my hobby and I love doing it. But whenever I come to this site, I get discouraged. I look at other people''s code and they comment it like "see, it''s simple" or "it''s that easy", but I don''t understand a thing! I don''t have any idea what they''re talking about. I want to become the next John Carmack, but I''m not sure if I''m capable. Is it because I''m 14 years old? Should I wait a bit longer and, when I''m older, I may be able to do this? I mean, I''m having trouble loading a bitmap onto the screen. My application runs, but the screen is just, black. I''m going nuts! If anyone can reassure me that this is normal, please do. If I need to face the music and realize that I''m just not capable, I guess that I have to realize limitations.

Settle down man!
It's normal to hit brick walls when learning new aspects of programming. It happens to me all the time. My problem is that I try to do too much at once and fail because of it. Take your time, learn at your own pace and feel free to ask about anything here!
When I was 14 I sure wasn't able to do anything in the way of graphics programming, then again I know 12 year olds that program at the same level as I do now.
Don't worry, be happy!

Edited by - Atavist on 2/22/00 7:35:16 PM

Dude, relax, its gonna be ok. I have many times felt the same way and still do alot. It is normal not to understand much of the code people write when just starting to program, the only way i have come to be able to understand a decent amount is by looking at each line with a c++ refrence in hand and analyzing the code; after a while you can learn to do this without the book, and then you are well on your way. Just like the last poster most people''s problems (mine included) come from trying to do too much at once, just relax and learn at your own speed. Ohh and by the way my goal is to become the next Carmack, so you are now offically my competition (LOL) .

hope I helped,
Nomad

Thanks. You have no Idea how much that helped. I wasn''t sure if I had what it took, but after this, I realize that I''m still learning. Thanks for the reassurance, I needed it. Thank you.

Why Carmack? I''d much rather be the... hmmm... aha! Why not be the first Teenager to work at Rareware? Uh, bye.

--BugSquash
Taeloid!

I think anyone who learns on their own faces the same dilemma. I taught myself guitar as a teenager (while guys like Carmack were coding) but at several points thought I''d never learn how to do this or that. Then one day everything would just click into place and I''d move on to the next level, and the next stumbling block.

I''ve experienced the same thing programming. Certain concepts I just can''t grasp, or can grasp but can''t execute. Then one day, WHAM! It''s there and I can do it. A friend of my father told me once that anyone can learn anything on their own as long as they follow the 3 P''s:

Perusal - peruse all the info on the subject that you can get your hands on
Practice - practice everything you peruse
Persistence - keep plugging away and don''t give up

first of all!

Jhon Carmack as been in programation for a lot of time, he aslo has a lot of expirences and a lot of ressources! In all this catégorie you don''t beat him! he also program at full time!

If your hobbies is programing, well kepp it as a hobbies, kepp it fun! I do mamateur programming, i like to program but it don''t want to become a pro! i kepp it as a past time!

Im a java programeur, when i begin a was like you...i say to myself than i would never be good. But i will give you 1 trick.

Book aare good but nothing beat a teatcher go follow a class...im not talking about college!

I follow an INTENSVE 14 hours class at one speciel school (MultiHexa) and this really help me! Having a teacher really make the diference for me, and put me on the way!

Hey kid don''t be so hard on yourself. I''m 30 years old and I''ve just started learning game programming. I''m a software engineer so things should be easier for me to pick up than you. But one thing we have in common is that we are both newbies, stand up and be proud. I''m currently reading Andre''s book "Tricks of the Windows Game Programming Gurus"(It''s pretty easy for me because I know how to programm) but the hard part is learning how Windows programming does things. Why don''t you buy it and just read it slowly and take your time. Oh, and by the way I live 2 minutes from Id software. So I think I''m going to beat all of yous as being the next Carmack because I can go up there and pick his brain.

Bye
Casper(the Ghost)

Thanks everybody, I now realize that I am not the only one going through this. I guess if I try hard enough, things will work out. Thanks everybody. And if anyone has anymore suggestions, please post them up. I''m interested in what everyone has to say.

To Delisk: I can tell that you are French-Canadian. Don''t sweat, I am too . If it''s easier for you, you can answer me in french. And as for your teacher comment, I totally agree. But my school prefers macs over PC''s (AARGH!) and the teachers don''t even know what C++ is. After seeing it written down, they as me, "what is C t t?". They''ve got to start teaching the older folks out there some things about computer science (no offense to anyone out there who is a teacher or elder person who knows what they''re doing )
Thanks for responding.

Hehehheheheh i had the same bitmap loading problem once upon a time. I can only say keep trying and post help questions on this board. Its hard to use the API''s when you don''t understanding whats going on. Just keep at it, maybe take a break. Come back to it a week later and go duh that makes sense now. Funny I want to be the next Carmack too.

ECKILLER