BenWoodall(dot)Com

My Dream.In.Code blog: 1-2-3-A-B-C++

Ben — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 21:33:15 +0000

I’ve decided to start a new programming blog on Dream.in.Code. The reason i’m not writing it here is because I want (need) a larger community following, and their’s is awesome. I’ve been visiting DiC for a while now, and I think I can learn a lot by using the forums there.

I know PHP, Javascript, and some Java from college, but I’ve never really gotten far in C++. I’ve owned a few books and tried to learn a few times, but I couldn’t get very far before quitting. This time, it’ll be different.

I picked up a book, Beginning C++ through Game Programming. It’s not to teach you how to write games, it’s written to explain C++ through game programming analogues. I’ve gone through the first 6 chapters, and it’s working pretty well. Between this book and the community on Dream in Code, I think I’ll have a better chance of learning this amazing language.

The blog is 1-2-3-A-B-C++

Join me if you want!

My First Google AppInventor App: SocialBen

Ben — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 17:40:12 +0000

Edit: New Version 2.0 with vibraty things and live action voices!

I don’t even remember signing up for the beta, but I got my Google AppInventor invitation this morning and figured I’d play around with it.

It’s pretty basic: it’s just an app that opens this blog, my twitter feed, and my photo gallery. I think there could be a lot of fun with this. There are still a few bugs for Google to work out with it.

Here’s the barcode link to install it on your Android phone.

Build a Rectangle – C++

Ben — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:54:20 +0000

So I’ve been using this Learn C++ book for a while and I’ve pretty much been sticking to the programs they teach you. So here’s one of my first branching out programs.

It’s pretty simple. Just uses for loops to build a square with dimensions you give it and gives you the area. This is version 1.0. I’m working on another one that uses vectors for 2.0

Download the bin and source here.

Guess Your Number C++

Ben — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 22:34:24 +0000

So, I learned the basics of programming in Java at Louisiana Tech University but never really did much with it. Maybe because Java isn’t a language I was ever interested in. I’ve bought a lot of books on learning C++, but never really got into many of them. I picked up “Beginning C++ through Game Programming, 2nd Edition” last week and it’s working pretty well. It teaches you to program C++ by teaching basic game code. I’m only on Chapter 2 so far. The end of the chapter asks to make a program where the user enters a number and has the computer try to guess it. It took about an hour, but I got it out. It’s pretty basic, but the book really makes learning interesting.

Click here to download source and binary.


// Guess My Number

// Have the computer guess your number
#include 

#include 

#include 
using namespace std;
int main()

{

    srand(time(0));  // seed random number generator

    int tries = 1;   // set initial number of tries to 0

    int lowRange = 1;

    int highRange = 100;

    int myNumber;

    int theGuess = rand() % 101 + 1;     // random number between 1 & 100   
    system("cls"); // clears the terminal screen
    cout << "\tWelcome to Guess My Number\n\n";

    cout << "\tType in a number between 1 and 100: ";

    cin >> myNumber;
    // Next bit of code tests if your number is greater than 100.

    // Still runs, but ends at the end with zero guesses.

    // I'll work on a better way to restart the do loop if it is > 100.

    if (myNumber >= 101)

        cout << "\tYou entered a number out of range (1-100).\n";

    else
    do

    {

        int range = (highRange - lowRange) + 1;
        cout << "\tHighest Guess: " << highRange << ". ";

        cout << "Lowest Guess: " << lowRange << ". ";

        cout << "My guess is: " << theGuess << "\n\n";

        ++tries;

        cin.get();
         if (theGuess > myNumber)

         {

            cout << "\tToo High!\n\n";

            highRange = theGuess;

            // Sets theGuess to a random number between the highest guess and the lowest guess

            theGuess = rand() % (highRange - lowRange) + lowRange;

            }
         else if (theGuess < myNumber)

         {

            cout << "\tToo Low!\n\n";

            lowRange = theGuess;

            // Sets theGuess to a random number between the highest guess and the lowest guess

            theGuess = rand() % (highRange - lowRange) + lowRange;

            if(theGuess == lowRange)       // Increment theGuess if it's equal to the last lowest number

            ++theGuess;

            }
            }while (theGuess != myNumber);

cout << "\tHighest Guess: " << highRange << ". "; cout << "Lowest Guess: " << lowRange << ". "; cout << "My guess is: " << theGuess << "\n\n"; cout << "\tThat's it! Your number was " << myNumber << " and I guessed it in " << tries << " tries!\n\n"; cout << "\tPress enter to continue..."; cin.get(); return 0; }

Teaching Britt to Swim

Ben — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 18:45:36 +0000

Holly and I took our blind dog, Brittanie, to the Luther Burbank park on Mercer Island to teach her to swim

Mariners vs Yankees Game

Ben — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 05:49:02 +0000

We had a BLAST at the game tonight. I uploaded some more pics of the game on the following page:

http://benwoodall.com/photo-gallery/mariners-vs-yankees/

Mercer Island Summer Festival

Ben — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 19:19:58 +0000

Finally Joined LinkedIn

Ben — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:36:40 +0000

Click here to add me as a connection

After months of deliberation, my work recruiter finally talked me into getting an account.

Holly is making progress!

Ben — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 20:59:36 +0000

After Holly’s car accident last month, the doctors told her she wouldn’t be able to walk for at least 6 months. This is her after 2 weeks of physical therapy.

First Time at the Park

Ben — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:54:42 +0000

We visited the Luther Burbank Park at the north end of Mercer Island last weekend. Awesome weather for it!