Rauros's LD3 game's Time log

2003-04-04, 19:47 CST I've got a few weeks light experience using python, mostly on top of PYUI. PYUI hasn't been very condusive to rapid development so far (I don't even have my other project fully operational after changing versions) So, I get to start from total scratch, with nothing except the load-image function from the pygame chimp demo typed into a 'pgutil' module. I hope nobody calls it cheating? :^)

2003-04-04, 20:00 CST Theme is preparation. Looks like it's circuit design. But maybe I'll come up with something better tonight.

2003-04-04, 20:30 CST Oh, and I still don't have a good editor; IDLE sucks.

2003-04-04, 21:06 CST After messing with the IDLE immediate mode finally found a way to 're-import' the game module (use menu, not typed import command) Basic program loop ready (basically from pygame chimp example) Sleep now.

2003-04-05, 05:44 CST Awake and out of bed.

2003-04-05, 07:11 CST I have a square on the screen. Better yet, it is made up of lots of little squares and I can make a line with program code. Next step: define a tool class for handling mouse imput so I can draw on it. But first, breakfast.

2003-04-05, 07:57 CST Back from breakfast.

2003-04-05, 08:37 CST Can draw and erase squares on the 'circuit board'

2003-04-05, 09:39 CST IDLE just crashed during normal text entry. (there is a reason they make you save before every test) Components can place pins down on the board; getting ready to test multiple components, then it's figuring out pin connections.

2003-04-05, 10:32 CST The coninuting saga of IDLE SUCKS. The F5 to import feature was working okay for a while, until I tired working on my pgutil module. No matter what I do, short of shutting down the program (not practical as it involves opening up lots of windows afterwards) it continues to use the first version that got imported. The errors print out the modified lines, but keep giving the same errors over and over again. Looks like I'm back to running the program wholesale from the shell.

2003-04-05, 12:00 CST Lunch with parents. Have successfully idenfied traces between pins, no just need to figure out which components the pins are attached too...

2003-04-05, 13:18 CST Return from lunch.

2003-04-05, 13:47 CST figured out how to make a screenshot. Did not figure out how to recognize 's' key; used space instead. Also ran GIMP for first time, clipped down (since large bottom section not being used, and converted to png.

2003-04-05, 15:01 CST Traces identifiy the correct number of pins. In theory I can start propigating signals.

2003-04-05, 15:00 CST I can light a bulb from a power source, though the traces drawn on the board. Now I need some graphics or something to show that...

2003-04-05, 16:38 CST Simple graphics in place; power source needs to be edited. Next step is probably a tool palette and component placement. But now getting zonked, probably do some other stuff for a while then eat dinner.

2003-04-05, 20:00 CST Dinner, reading, nice long bath...

2003-04-05, 21:05 CST Can place arbitrary components on a larger field, and connect them with traces. Discovered int/float problem in trace calculations when I did an incorrect hookup of two power sources to one bulb. New screenshot and log upload. Goodnight.

2003-04-06, 06:47 oh wait... 07:47 CST: Somehow I forgot about the time change; makes my 'slow out of bed' even worse. I wonder if the contest deadline is adjusted appropriately? Of course it will be past my bedtime if it is...

2003-04-06, 09:03 CST Each tool has own mouse icon. Parts show bounding boxes when component tools are selected. Working on testing said bounds to prevent illegal placements. But first, breakfast.

2003-04-06, 10:02 CST Back to work

2003-04-06, 10:24 CST No more overlapping component placement. Red-box feedback even.

2003-04-06, 10:40 CST Delete tool operative.

2003-04-06, 11:17 CST Can win a trivial version of the game. Need for feedback on that fact, and then multiple projects

2003-04-06, 12:49 CST Game help, exit/done button, and restart of single project after win. Need more components so I can make more projects... But now, lunch.

2003-04-06, 13:22 CST Back from lunch.

2003-04-06, 13:50 CST Small problem; since I'm using a super simplifed electrical model, I don't really have a good way to simulate a resistor. I'll have to rethink the model after the competition.

2003-04-06, 15:31 CST Even my primitive not gates aren't working I have mouse-hover pin names though; now I need a meter tool during run to debug my own parts...

2003-04-06, 16:32 CST Basic gates working; had to collapse toolbar to text because didn't want to implement scrolling.

2003-04-06, 17:39 CST Looks like I need to rework with Volts/amps to make much of anything work...

2003-04-06, 19:14 CST Yeah, diodes finally work...

2003-04-06, 20:12 CST So much for the working diode theory...

2003-04-05, 20:23 CST Diodes: typo assigned to nonvariable. Stupid Python ;^)

2003-04-05, 20:50 CST Final code up, log and screen to follow shortly