Community Post #106 - Error: Funny Jokes about Programming Gives NullPointerException

include TyroTheFox
include Everypony::Relevant News

[size=+1]class Community Post #106 < Community_Post[/size]​

Guess what I've been doing?

Go on! Guess!

NO! Not Knitting.

NO! Not Baking.

NO! Not bucking Knitting again!

I've been doing some programming tutorials! In an effort to teach myself a new language to mess around with and hopefully turn into something profitable, I've been learning RGSS3; the Scripting Language for RPG Maker VX Ace. I'm no stranger to programming, I'll have you know. I've been taught VB.net (which I hate), Java (which I like) and I've dabbled in Python (which seems interesting) but specifically because Fulcrum handed me a copy of RPG Maker, I thought I'd fiddle with it. And I can report it's a surprisingly versatile tool for RPG creation if you willing to put in the legwork with the code. It's only a matter of learning a new load of quirks and syntax for me and you're away!

And by 'away' I mean, trudging through the bog of problems you will perennially have to run through. Most programming is like having to build a clockwork device digitally: you can see all the pieces and have a vague idea of how they fit together but you can't verify it'll do exactly what you want until you compile and run it. It's effectively a massive trial and error run until it's finished the way you want it.

Expect programmers to say things like; "My Code isn't working, I have no idea why.", "My Code is working, I have no idea why." and "The hole in my screen from where I punched through it is definitely covered under the warranty, right?". It's frustrating doing this if you're not 1000% sure what you're doing.

Part of the trouble is the fact that a computer is stupid. Because it's actually a glorified calculator and not exactly thinking machine. It can add together 1 and 1 and give 2. But it can't automatically add together Me and Gumdrops and compute Love. Because that would be silly. I have to tell it to do that. Because computers are so stupid, you have to lead it to everything. So, debugging something is a horrible chore as it's effectively educated guesses (or, more often than not, random stabs in the dark) at what could be causing the issue till you find it. Or it clicks back in seemingly of it's own accord.

Truly, truly maddening. Still, the more practice, the more awesome stuff I can show you guys...I do have a project in the works as a sort of...'test' thing but more on that when this that when it's sort of more finished.

For right now though...

[size=+1]def Site_News()[/size]

You may have noticed the two new, shiny and green themes in your options recently if you have checked recently. They are there because they're up on a poll. This poll is for choosing which of the two slants on the 'Changeling Green' theme you want to keep for the site and regular use. Which version of our first 'Dark' theme would you like. Remember, the others are going to remain the same for now, it's just these two we're asking you to decide on. The deadline is tomorrow so get voting.

Also, anypony going to BUCK in Manchester, England? Yes? Well, me and Vulpine Script are going and I'm bringing my consoles along for the ride too!

Yes! The Everypony Super Smash Brothers Brawl Tournament and Free Play Event is returning to BUCK after the incredible turnout from last year. This year, the Prizes are planned to be even better. We're hoping to have four tournaments with themed prize bundles to win. There's a Gaming Bundle where we give away a classic console (probably a Gameboy Pocket) and some Steam codes for cool things. A Food bundle where we pick up plenty of strange but mostly tasty food and drink from Cyber Candy in Brighton and other places too. And then a Pony Bundle containing a cool Pony Plushy, a MLP CCG deck from the Canterlot Nights set and some other stuff we can find.

Lastly, the winners of those three tournaments will play for a Luna plushy and a Smash Bros. Tiara. Because MLP has Princesses and I'm sure the winner will be able to pull off that look!

Also, the Free Play event (Which will last for 7 hours on Saturday) will be including an addition to the Mega Drive (Genesis in the US) and Dreamcast in the form of a Nintendo 64! So, it's all looking pretty good, me thinks!

More details available as I have them folks! I will keep you updated. Look, I'll make sure!

def updateCommunityAboutSmashBrosTourny()
if TyroTheFox.hasNewNews?()
Community.knowledge += TyroTheFox.getNewNews()
end
end

There! Now it'll work without fail! Probably...You all updated your drivers or whatever within the last week, right?

[size=+1]end[/size]

[size=+1]def Recommended Reading()[/size]

Worth a look. Cobalt-Willow gives us a short idea for a possible episode of the show. Rainbow Dash finds somepony that doesn't like the works of A.K.Yearling and attempts to 'convert' them. Too on the nose or worth putting into Season 5? Give your thoughts!

Guess who still hasn't had enough cinematic pain! Well, it's not me. Crimson has that sewn up with his review of The Legend of Hercules. So, if your bored and feel like a little schadenfreude, check it out.

Wait...That's the one with Kevin Sorbo right?

Well, at least it isn't me! It couldn't have been because I decided I'd buy a bunch of food and drink items from shops where I barely comprehend what's on the packaging. My experiences are recorded for your interest, including a couple of tips on what Eastern Junk Food is like and the most Disgusting Soda America is likely to ever produce!

Well, it's not only true but probably balances out last weeks Community Post a little.

Maybe somepony had the sense to avoid this sort of thing this week? Well, not The Otter apparently as he recalls the 'So-Bad-It's-Hilarious' moments from the latest Transformers Overwhelming-Noise-And-Image-Combination piece that's in cinemas now.

Simon's Bug Blog keeps up the good work with an article on The Tiger Moth. Seriously, though: is he just finding these little guys in his back garden or what? If so, where does he live again that has all these peculiar insects? Madagascar? Peru? Where?!

Maybe your looking for the more hypothetical blog? Well, how about an article about Dilly Star thinking about dead people? Zombies to be exact! Maybe there's a point to be had here about where Gaming's favourite shambling targets should appear next!

And now, a quick message from an otter.

Do you like Naruto and Cosplay? Yami has you covered. I only watch the Abridged Series by Littlekuriboh so I genuinely have no idea who most of these people are because he doesn't introduce their names. Or named them after rock stars.

Another short commandment: Cuddle this person on sight. That is all.

Well, it's been a while but Rockout's back on here, if only because this item was passed over for some reason last week. Behold! Now Wild Awry has a Spin-Off comic! Is there no limit to the amount of spare time on Rockout's hooves?

Lastly, have some cuteness from Turk. Just, just look at that! Don't you just wanna cuddle-wuddle that? Ish sho adorabible!

Ahem...

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Well, that's that for another week. There's just checking I've put in all the keywords I needed to add in the right places and to say thanks for reading.

May your code be bug free and your memory usage low!

Now! Back to looking over the same page of text over and over, struggling to ascertain why the method is suddenly not doing as I expected. I give myself at least a fortnight before it's fixed!

[size=+1]end[/size]

 

I always remember it being a rather simplistic language as it was a mix of a WYSIWYG editor to create a program window and some code to get that running. Anything else that's out side of that was a little off limits...Not terrible to build things in as it became very quick to do but hardly ideal for something more dedicated, like a game.

WYSIWYG being shorthoof for "What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get". It's a form of editor where you just drag and drop in elements you want and all the technical mumbo jumbo is kept behind the scenes but done for you. Mostly.

Fair enoughski. The general gist is that the post is laid out like a script from the same language I've been learning. And that sort of ruins the joke so allow me to give you another: FiM++ from the title image is an actual joke programming language. There's plenty of them. It's code looks like a letter being sent to Princess Celestia. Let me show you how daft it really is.

This is a 'Hello World' function in Java. This function is used to compare how different languages behave next to one another as there's very little that can't print to something a human can read. It let's you see how each language handles a simple piece of code at a moments glance. 'Hello World' just displays the words 'Hello World' to the screen.

Code:

public class HelloWorld extends Object {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println("Hello, World!");
    }
}

Simple...ish and quick to do. It creates a do-dah that starts up then writes 'Hello World' to the screen. That's it.

Now, the same thing in FiM++.

Code:

Dear Princess Celestia:Hello World!

Today I learned how to say hello world!
I said “Hello, World!”!
That's all about how to say hello world.

Your faithful student, Tyro.

Believe me, there's plenty of these silly languages.

Come join uus Icy! Come joiin uuuusss!

Also, I knew he lived somewhere remote. Makes the most sense to me. It's like he has a wildlife reserve down the street.

 

As long as you're looking to make an RPG, like I am, it's really pretty good. I've not found many limitations with the language yet but seeing as there's usually one overall aim to what you're trying to do, I feel like I'm unlikely to. The software is very, very specialised which means it's very, very good at what it does but only RPGs. I'm sure Game Maker is very clever. I've looked at it briefly but I much prefer to fiddle around myself with assets and libraries for some reason. Making it myself feels more rewarding. RPG Maker only gives you a base, all the fun and design comes from you and I'm happy with that.

Same. I'd have prefered to have been taught Java first as it's closer to what most of the other languages do but ugh...It was probably the WYSIWYG elements that they thought would help.