User Technical Level Survey

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Perhaps it would be nice to know the universe of discourse in some of the discussions in this forum. Many people know little of computers beyond pushing buttons and some of us are completely computer literate. The question is how many do we have of each?

[The_City_Builder 299]

I voted "Want to know enough to do mods". I'm slightly above average when it comes to knowledge about using computer programs, but I'm not really a programmer. I do wish to learn how to make script files for SC5, if it supports it.

[Frode789 70]

Can write own operating system?

Really?

[Mark Waybill 242]

I have no experience in programming besides Game Maker and I still was using drag and drop functions for a lot of basic actions although I was beginning to implement GML in things like collision_circle which was the basis for the 'simulation' part of Virtucity. I know MS Word and am learning Excel, can't say I know too many programs although I've been using the Internet since 2000. I have a theoretical understanding of how things are done but when I was learning C or C plus or whatever it was called I realised one had to do a lot of work to make the most basic of programs whereas in GM you could do it in a fraction of the time. I don't think in the future we will have machine level code at all, as I think everything will be designed differently. I think GlassBox is progressive and I for one certainly couldn't become a programmer unless they inserted a chip in my brain somehow and made me like a Cyberman.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Can write own operating system?

Really?

Yes. I've done it, and taught it for many years. Take a look at my profile and you will understand where I am coming from.

[Cockatoo 2,256]

Is having a certain level of computer literacy (like being able to program an OS or build a PC) really applicable to playing/ modding the new SC game? I mean as long as you can understand the game's system requirements, you should be fine, right?

I'd of thought the options would have been something along the lines of...

I am an end user.

I have basic image manipulation skills.

I have basic 3D modelling skills.

I have basic skills with XML.

...

I have in-depth knowledge of the workings of simulation engines.

I'll have to go ordinary user for your poll.

[Mootilda 76]

Yes. I've done it, and taught it for many years. Take a look at my profile and you will understand where I am coming from.

Sure, but what does it have to do with SimCity 5?

It might be more relevant to ask how many of us have experience with transaction processing systems, or online transaction systems.

[croxis 150]

I hate to say it, but this is a really badly constructed poll. It is heavily biased to the advanced end: writing an os and writing drivers are separate when programmer is just one lump. It is also a slap in the face to all the other domains such as creating 2d art, 3d art, and audio. This poll is also looking at multiple dimensions (hardware competency, modding interest, programming operating systems), which isn't bad, but very difficult to get a lot of useful information in one poll.

Here is how I would set up the poll keeping the same number of options:

Ordinary user not interested in modding.

Ordinary user interested in modding but don't know how.

Scripting/programming modding experience (HTML, XML, lua (WoW, CivV), python(CivIV))

Full programming experience (Made own stand alone programs/games)

2D art modding experience (SC2-4)

Real time 3D art experience (not the gmax --> SC4)

Can build own machine.

[Mark Waybill 242]

Ordinary user not interested in modding.

Ordinary user interested in modding but don't know how.

Scripting/programming modding experience (HTML, XML, lua (WoW, CivV), python(CivIV))

Full programming experience (Made own stand alone programs/games)

2D art modding experience (SC2-4)

Real time 3D art experience (not the gmax --> SC4)

Can build own machine.

[Jazzmaster 716]

I know enough about hardware to build my own PC, and I've got experience with installing/uninstalling hard drives and RAM. I've opened up cases and looked inside to get a grasp of how things go. It's really not that difficult a task itself (building a machine), but proper wire management can be sort of an art form. Also, along the way, you learn things about hardware that you probably didn't know before; assuming you've done at least a week or so of part research and didn't just throw any old rig together.

My next PC will be built by yours truly more likely than not.

  Edited March 14, 2012 by Yoshiisland  

[The Avatar 1,089]

I can turn a computer on. Does that count as anything?

[squeaky024 14]

I can mess around with Photoshop, make websites, build computers, effectively manage an entire office of computers (worked as IT guy for my dad's), very basic 3d modeling, understand some code enough to know what the meaning is and what it does, figure out what is wrong with computers.

I'm quite literate and can get around with most things, or find out how if I need to quickly.

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

Advanced computer programming skills will not be one of the 'system requirements' to play SC 13.

[Tarkus 6,932]

My experience level has gradually increased over time since I got into modding SC4 . . . it actually inspired me to take up programming. After figuring out RUL files, I started out just with the web stuff--HTML, CSS, JavaScript, but then picked up a bit of C++ and Java. I'm a bit rusty, though, as I haven't had to use them much at this point in my education, but once I clear the big hurdle (going ABD on my Ph.D.), I plan on getting back into it in earnest. I should add, with all that experience mucking around in the Reader with all that hex instance stuff, the concept of pointers, which has led many academic computer science teachers to initially steer folks away from C++, actually makes total sense. I work with pointers all the time already. It's mostly just a matter of contextualizing things properly.

I've also been building computers since I was in my teen years (though it's been awhile, since I haven't had a desktop for a few years), but I still remember that whole process pretty well. I rather enjoyed it.

I'm not at the point of making an OS at this point, though.

-Tarkus

  Edited March 14, 2012 by Tarkus  

[tSlater 134]

I've written java applets in the past and used to do a lot of web design back in the straight html days (before CSS became huge.) Today's programming environment has left me in the dust.

[Mootilda 76]

I've put myself down as an operating systems programmer, based on the recommendation of a friend who knows my work experience.

However, I tend to think that I'm somewhere in between a programmer and an operating systems programmer. I've worked on compilers, debuggers, run-time libraries, profilers, and other tools that are usually considered to be systems programming.

I've never written an operating system, although I suppose that I could, in a pinch.

I'm still not sure what operating systems have to do with SimCity 5, though. It strikes me that the poll is very unbalanced towards operating systems, which have nothing to do with modding SimCity.

  Edited March 14, 2012 by Mootilda  

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Well, the purpose of this poll was to separate the end users from the techs, frankly. There has been a lot of talk about desirables in the new game well in advance of any solid technical information. My interest is in seeing how many of us might have an idea of how to accomplish a game such as this. It is most certainly not a walk in the park.

Someone commented on transaction processing. Well, yes, there is no doubt that this will be some kind of transaction processing system and that means all the usual stuff on conflict resolution, clean points, rollbacks, delays, etc. However, since it is a game, this will have to be very fast, and quite transparent, as it is in most on-line banking systems where it is possible to have multiple writers in one data base. Limiting this to regional effects and with only a single true writer for any city is reducing the number of conflicts seriously, but they are not eliminated, especially for players of adjacent cities.

So, in addition to being hot game programmers, the bunch at Maxis will have to be pretty good general data processors as well. There is perhaps nothing new in this due to already existing MMOS, but it is a consideration for people changing from a stand-alone system to a world-wide transaction universe in one swoul foop.

I am sorry if my poll strikes people as singling some people out, but I was in fact looking for technical depth. If you want a different poll, make it.

[BurroDiablo 222]

I'm no programmer (I suffer from mild dyscalculia) but I can and have built my own system, although I probably won't be doing this for SC5 as my current PC is well over the minimum system requirements displayed on Origin. I'd also like to learn how to mod the game on an implementation/exporting level, but I already know how to use several 3D & 2D programes.

[rweather5 22]

Very basic programming. Good at HTML, CSS, and PHP. I'm a better website designer than programmer.

[Mark Waybill 242]

I designed some websites using html but that was like ten years ago and i've forgotten most of it now. Pointers were what stumped me with C+++ I think. I've seen inside computers and have fixed my own several times (now I have a laptop) but that was mostly just things like replacing the fan and cleaning it out. I like to think I'm logical but long endless lines of code stump me because, I suppose, I am also one who likes to get down to work and not worry about intricate complications. I understand the theory of how programs work and how to write them but the sheer amount of time spent learning and writing just to produce one game... And even then professional programmers work as part of development teams... It's quite mind boggling really. I'm sure one day they'll invent some easy to use smart code that can create whatever we want but by that point most of what we want shall have been created I would think. Virtucity shows my lack of programming experience. That was drag and drop actions mostly with some GML code, and a few codes made by others for specific functions.

[jacksunny 741]

I am quite good with HTML and CSS, and know a bit of JavaScript.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

The largest responses so far are from people who want to mod and system builders. I don't find this surprising, and most people who post on the heavier forums are these.

I think people these days shy away from basic computer skills such as programming in low-level languages because it has mostly become unnecessary. However, somebody has to write that microcode, so there could well be some career opportunities being passed up. If you are interested in detailed engineering or watchmaking, you could also consider a career in assembly programming.

A lot of my early career as a programmer was as a tool designer and creator for other programmers to use. My first really popular one was taking away the necessity of writing a printer driver for every program written by my group. I simply devised a set of macros that got rid of the need and made writing a computer report in assembly much easier. My programming team become much more productive after that.

[Mark Waybill 242]

I really wanted to learn C or another low level language but I guess because with Game Maker it was much quicker to do things... Also my 'hello world' program appeared for an instant and then dissapeared for some reason... even though I'm sure I looped it somehow

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I really wanted to learn C or another low level language but I guess because with Game Maker it was much quicker to do things... Also my 'hello world' program appeared for an instant and then dissapeared for some reason... even though I'm sure I looped it somehow

If you run this (after compiling it) from a console, it won't disappear until you hit enter.

#include <stdio.h>

int main (int argc, char **argv) {

printf("Hello world!\n");

int x = getchar(); /* wait for user response */

return (0);

}

  Edited March 18, 2012 by A Nonny Moose