Starmap with 2 stars :(

Log in screen
The gui allows typing, but hardcoding is a lot faster.


Sad, lonely stars



Console output shows the stars are there... but where?

Well, it's been the end of a really busy week for me. I've submitted 5 assignments this week, and I don't think I've had a decent nights rest yet. At least I had some fun fooling around with the Thousand Parsec source code and Python-Ogre. One of the devs suggested that for a good GSOC application, I should write a basic 3d client to accomplish the first two of my milestones. Well, I did do something like that. First, I ported the old pyogre client over, then I made it lose some of it's functionality. :) What I mean is, the starmap looks really empty, with only two objects: The Universe and the Milky Way. Heres hoping I can make it look more like the original this weekend. If so, at least I will have something to contribute even if I don't get the nod.

Mechanical process of porting:

1. Change import statements to direct to python-ogre modules instead of pyogre.
2. Fix the errors that crop up. For instance, pyogre uses a lot of attributes, whereas python-ogre provides set/get methods.
3. New OIS system for input, no more ogre.EventProcessor
4. CEGUI works about the same, just remember to use the set/get methods instead of direct attributes. It won't work and there won't be an error to tell you what went wrong.
   
5. When things run, but don't look right... I'm still working on this.
   

In other news, tpclient-wx just had a new point release, with lots of UI improvements, such as a cleaner toolbar and more display options.

First Post!

I'm starting this blog to write about my hobbies, specifically software development. The other blog is more for complaints about my life, so I decided to split the two.

Firstly, this is partly, or maybe wholly, motivated by my attempt to enter the Google Summer of Code, where I'm going to be applying for a student position in Thousand Parsec, a game-framework for making 4x space strategy games. Having a blog would be useful for making weekly updates about my progress, you see.

One curious thing about Thousand Parsec is that I've not even heard about it before, and judging from the responses of other student applicants, it looks like I'm not alone. I've been depending on blogs like TIGSource to keep myself abreast of the indie scene, but perhaps the fact that it is not an actual game makes it fall into obscurity. Or maybe... I'm not spending enough time on the Internet?

Well, it's on the Big and Famous Google's page now, and hopefully my duty will be to promote it even more by creating a new client that looks good and is easy to use, similar to Galactic Civilizations super high-tech looking interface or Master of Orions's classic feel that still keeps me coming back due to it's charming artwork.