TGE + RTS compiling?
by Eran Caspi · in Torque Game Engine · 11/14/2004 (6:08 am) · 7 replies
Hello
I want to buy TGE and the RTS Strarter Kit but
do I need to buy also a compiler like Visual C++?
and if so is there a free compiler that can do the job?
I want to buy TGE and the RTS Strarter Kit but
do I need to buy also a compiler like Visual C++?
and if so is there a free compiler that can do the job?
#2
While VC++ does give you a million options that you may never use, thedefault settings are often okay for minor tweaks. GCC on the other hand has quite a learning curve, a number of obtuse sounding parameters, and an entirely user unfriendly stance for programmers who aren't intimately attuned to their compilers. Of course, getting to know it is well worth the price of admission, but if you're in the "getting to know Torque" and "learning C++" group, it would probably be better to puchase an academic version of VC++ (if you're a student, if not, there's the Learning Edition which is a retooled academic edition). There's no need getting extremely frustrated with your compiler while trying to learn a language and a complex engine at the same time.
If you're used to the different unices, then you should get up to speed rather quickly with gcc, but if getting into the command line in Windows is the last place you hope to find yourself, you're better off with another solution. Dev-C++ is a IDE that uses Mingw, though it has difficulty with large makefiles. Eclipse is another excellent option for an IDE, but it has a huge learning curve itself (and VC++'s IDE has a learning curve, though more intuitive to regular Windows users).
That's my take on the IDE/Compiler problem. I don't know if I helped or if I muddied the waters or just gave horribly inaccurate information. It seems to depend on the time of day and phase of the moon when I can be somewhat helpful.
11/14/2004 (8:33 am)
The asnwer is in the form of a question: "how much do you want to learn your compiler and what is your programming background?"While VC++ does give you a million options that you may never use, thedefault settings are often okay for minor tweaks. GCC on the other hand has quite a learning curve, a number of obtuse sounding parameters, and an entirely user unfriendly stance for programmers who aren't intimately attuned to their compilers. Of course, getting to know it is well worth the price of admission, but if you're in the "getting to know Torque" and "learning C++" group, it would probably be better to puchase an academic version of VC++ (if you're a student, if not, there's the Learning Edition which is a retooled academic edition). There's no need getting extremely frustrated with your compiler while trying to learn a language and a complex engine at the same time.
If you're used to the different unices, then you should get up to speed rather quickly with gcc, but if getting into the command line in Windows is the last place you hope to find yourself, you're better off with another solution. Dev-C++ is a IDE that uses Mingw, though it has difficulty with large makefiles. Eclipse is another excellent option for an IDE, but it has a huge learning curve itself (and VC++'s IDE has a learning curve, though more intuitive to regular Windows users).
That's my take on the IDE/Compiler problem. I don't know if I helped or if I muddied the waters or just gave horribly inaccurate information. It seems to depend on the time of day and phase of the moon when I can be somewhat helpful.
#3
If, as David described, you are both "learning TGE" and learning to work with large projects as well, it makes sense to limit the total number of things you need to learn at once--and an IDE (Integrated Development Environment, normally considered nowadays as a graphical front end to your compiling, editing, and debugging requirements) can be just as confusing and complicated as the TGE environment to someone that is new.
There are several posts in the forums (search on MingW) regarding getting it up and running, but since they are over a large period of time, and have a lot of folks' issues involved, I would suggest just following the basic directions in the install packages. If I remember correctly, install MingW first, and then the MinSys installation will ask you questions about your MingW location.
There are some minor things to configure once you have both MingW and MinSys setup, and if/when you reach that point, I'll be happy to let you know what I did to fix. Basically, it was simply telling minsys where some of your files are.
11/14/2004 (8:44 am)
For a base level, command line compiler configuration that works with the TGE makefile environment very well, and at no cost, I would suggest MingW AND MinSys (you need both).If, as David described, you are both "learning TGE" and learning to work with large projects as well, it makes sense to limit the total number of things you need to learn at once--and an IDE (Integrated Development Environment, normally considered nowadays as a graphical front end to your compiling, editing, and debugging requirements) can be just as confusing and complicated as the TGE environment to someone that is new.
There are several posts in the forums (search on MingW) regarding getting it up and running, but since they are over a large period of time, and have a lot of folks' issues involved, I would suggest just following the basic directions in the install packages. If I remember correctly, install MingW first, and then the MinSys installation will ask you questions about your MingW location.
There are some minor things to configure once you have both MingW and MinSys setup, and if/when you reach that point, I'll be happy to let you know what I did to fix. Basically, it was simply telling minsys where some of your files are.
#4
11/14/2004 (4:57 pm)
If you have to ask the question "do I need a compiler" after reading everything on the product page, please do not attempt to use a free compiler. I have said this over and over, and would really appreciate having community members answer this question in a similar manner. Free compilers can be used with Torque, but they are not easy and they are not supported in the GG docs (except on Mac). MS VC++ .Net is around $70. 
#5
I believe the answer to that is NO. You can create games and mods of your game within scripting alone. If you want to go beyond that then yes a compiler is required.
But to Jeff's point, if you have to ask if you need a compiler then it's probably beyond your scope to start at that level. Start with scripting and move on from there.
11/15/2004 (4:12 am)
I think what Eran was asking wasn't which compiler do I need but DO I NEED a compiler.I believe the answer to that is NO. You can create games and mods of your game within scripting alone. If you want to go beyond that then yes a compiler is required.
But to Jeff's point, if you have to ask if you need a compiler then it's probably beyond your scope to start at that level. Start with scripting and move on from there.
#6
11/15/2004 (4:19 am)
Actually, he was asking if he needed a compiler to use the RTS kit with Torque, in which case thats an affirmative as far as I know. There are a few new classes and such that would require source code changes and a recompile.
#7
Exactly, Im starting now with scripting but I want to use the RTS Starter Kit
and as I understand I need $250 total (Torque + RTS + Compiler) and it's too much
for me at this point. I think I will wait untill I will have a better understanding in Torque and then
the sky is the limit in my case the skybox is the limit :P
11/15/2004 (12:30 pm)
Quote:Actually, he was asking if he needed a compiler to use the RTS kit with Torque
Exactly, Im starting now with scripting but I want to use the RTS Starter Kit
and as I understand I need $250 total (Torque + RTS + Compiler) and it's too much
for me at this point. I think I will wait untill I will have a better understanding in Torque and then
the sky is the limit in my case the skybox is the limit :P
Associate Ron Yacketta
-Ron