Server Help

[ChalkEagle]

If you think this is a post asking for a MERVBot tutorial, surprise, its not.

I am writing up a detailed MERVBot tutorial. Ive done about 7 sections so far as well as how to run it and set it up. Its a work in progress, but if anyone wants to comment on it, feel free. Just felt like doing my part in the war against not enough bot programmers.

www.sectionops.net/er/tutorial.html

(That goes to the Setup/How to run Page, links at the bottom of it)

I am also free for suggestions. Its ment for a very beginner audience, so I try to go into as much detail as I can.

-Chalk Eagle

[Cyan~Fire]

Nice job with what I've read so far. But I do have a few suggestions, as always:

1. Mervbot.com seems to be broken right now. I'd suggest using catid.ssihosting.com, since that will almost definitely stay the same for quite a while.
   
2. On the project setup page, it sounds like the user should compile the default code and use that as their plugin. That won't be too functional. I'd add in something about "write your code!" first.
   
3. On the how to run page, I'd suggest adding the attribute "readonly" to each of the textareas. Looks a lot nicer that way.
   
4. Spawn.h: you can also add functions and member variables. (If they read that tutorial, they should know what members are by now.)
   
5. I'd also tell the reader that detailed descriptions of each event also live in dllcore.h, along with a "DO NOT TOUCH!" message.
   
6. User code should go below "Put blah here" comments.
   
7. Code looks SO much nicer with braces on their own lines. And they're braces, not parenthesis as you said in the code section.
   
8. Make the repetitive ifs in gotCommand() else ifs to save CPU time.
   
9. The !commands command is a little ugly. Why don't you have the user add that in gotHelp()?
   
10. You should really use CMPSTART() in EVENT_Chat instead of assigning the contents to a few different Strings. If you really want to use Strings, at least only use one.
    

That's all for now. Sorry, it's kinda long, but hopefully it'll help. Good luck
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[Bak]

why not open the provided project file in the tutorial (1 step) instead of creating the project file (7 steps).

I keep a copy in a template directory that I copy and rename whenever I make a new plugin.

[50% Packetloss]

there is a reason for not a lot of bot programmers. There arent a lot of people capable of programming. I strongly disagree with teaching script kiddies the ABCs of programming like a retard. There are enough plugins that have been poorly done, including so of mine that i rushed, there needs to be a higher understanding of what the core is doing and that can only be accomplished if the person reading this tutorial knows how to program. And if they know how to program, they wont need a tutorial to hold thier hand through FOR loops and sting handling.

So for you script bitches,
step 1. Learn to program in C and/or C++ (this involves knowing more than int main(){return 0;} )
step 2. Read some of the mervbot source code along with dll code to get a gist of the ideas involved with dll programming

[Deadly]

i dont know C++ and i can make good enough plugins.. the code is prolly shit compared to ppl that know lots of C++ but the plugin works so i dont care
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http://deadly.sscentral.com -- My Bots

[Cyan~Fire]

OK, OK, I really do agree with 50%, but I didn't want to be discouraging. I think that if someone can't figure out how to do the most basic stuff, they won't be able to make a good plugin.

[ExplodyThingy]

If you so desire, Ill add this to the sticky on ssforum.
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