Have to / Want to / Learning to

I thought it would be interesting to know what some of you...

Have to program
Want to program
Are learning to program

for me it's

Have to program:
Database and front end for work.

Want to program:
Games :)

Learning to program:
DirectDraw for DX7

All VB6

At the moment:
I have to program a Pong derivative in an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

I want to program an RPG in DD9.

I am learning to program a MIDI "compiler".

For me I don't have to program anything. At least not while I'm on holiday. When I get back to university I'm sure they'll give us loads more tedious Java programs to make.

I want to be able to program physics simulations and other game related things. Most attempts at figuring out all the maths and trigonometry involved though have failed :(.

At the moment I'm learning to program a string simulation using DirectX. I've already done it in VB though. I'm trying to convert to masm32 :whoops: (I know, I'm not sane :p)

Have to program:
Program an old Access VBA process into a new dynamic Access VBA process

Want to program:
The above in VB.NET

Learning to program:
Nothing yet, but ASP.NET soon

Have to program: Health Management system in VB6

Want To program: anything in VB.NET to increase skill and comfort level. making a recipe program for the wife.

Learning to program: VB.NET and someday directx

Have to program: Nothing: Retired

Want to program: An program to make cartoon animagion using script (for my grandson, he likes cartoons).

Learning to program: DirectX8, POV_Ray and Masm

Wayne

Have to program: Some stupid Karel++ programs for a school assignment due on the first day of school. Although I don't have to program a demo for my portfolio I was told to program one over the summer and then send it to the company to so I am making a C/C++ with DirectX 9.0 3D horror game.

Want to program: Make the previously mentioned C/C++ DirectX 9.0 3D horror game.

Learning to program: DirectX particle systems, vertex/pixel shaders, and DirectSound

Have to program extremely unpleasant project for work - a complex data-oriented web app that has to call another vendor's webservice which in turn is screen scraping an old terminal based app which is in turn calling out to a bunch of different remote data sources - the data is inconsistent, the business rules are inconsistent and often wildly vary between the 30+ vendors, the "middle man" webservice provider doesn't do much for us, constantly breaks our code with their updates and lack of communication, and isn't as familiar as us with the actual data and overall business rule picture, etc. Synchronizing and/or updating data between takes forever due to multiple internet and landline based handoffs. New bugs arise daily - we have a seperate bug tracking system setup just for this idiotic project. It's a situation where both parties (we and the "middle man") are starting to be unpleasant to each other due to how difficult and painful orchestrating the project continues to be - but we deal because the client we're doing all this for has potentially millions of users for our web app and is contractually tied to the "middle man". No pressure! We have a small team of people tackling various aspects of it and we all hate it.

Want to program any work-related project that doesn't suck. I'm working hard on this one I hate (but at least it's C# and ASP.Net, that's a plus) and most previously had to unravel and modify a complete mess by multiple authors with different styles that was in VB6/ASP. "My baby", or how would I say, the code I designed and implemented (content management systems used by our internal content team for managing data used on external web apps) is rolling along nicely but I have a bunch of enhancements and minor changes to make for them - and I never have the time. I want to be working on that stuff. I also want to wrap up the C# code generator add-in I started for the .Net IDE (to use at work for generating data classes in our standard structure) - but again, very little time or energy for it.

I'm learning how to do more with Windows Forms in .Net (C#). I just received my copy of "Windows Forms Programming in C# by Chris Sells" which features some more robust/advanced windows forms topics including custom control drawing - and I'm interested in learning more about that. I bought this book to read during my upcoming vacation (along with a non-computer related book *grin* - we're gonna have lots of flight time). At work I do 99.5% web app programming (and creating data/business and helper objects) - so I like to experiment with other types of coding to keep more well rounded.

Rambling as always,
Paul

Have to program
Database with VB frontend
Want to program
Anything
Learning to program
C++, VB.Net, ASP.Net

Have to program
nothing, i'm just a 16 year old with to much spare time

Want to program
an IRC client (working on that)
an email client (also working on that)

Learning to program
further improving VB6 skills

Want to learn
C++, VB.NET

Have to program
An application that receives RF parameters from a cellular network and an post-processing application.
The first one has two versions, one for Pocket PC wich I'm programming in eVB (I've had problems with VB.NET for Pocket PC's, specifically in serial communication) and one for a Laptop or Tablet PC. Basically what it does is load a map of the building and receive the network parameters from a cell phone, then it saves them in a textfile and marks the point in the map, it does a lot of stuff, but it's hard to explain :p
The second application is after the "Test Drive" is done, it reads the text file and then shows everything, and makes some statistics.

Want to program
I like VB.NET very much, but I don't know what to program exactly. ATM I'm having fun with the Project Euler (http://www.mathschallenge.net/index.php?section=project)and VB.NET. :)

Have to program:
Nothing at the moment, except rubbish university assignments. The worst so far has been a Java app that would calculate the volume of a swimming pool.. which was supposed to take us two weeks!

Want to program:
Anything sufficiently hardcore and complication in VB6...

Learning to program:
Intel x86 instruction encoding - it's sufficiently complex. :)

Wow, lots of cool replies while I was away!

Brad- How are you liking C++? I got a couple books on it and did just enough coding with it following the examples to know that I hate it :p
But I will learn it. I just want to learn more about VB first. I would love to have .NET, but unfortunately it's not in my budget. (I looked at the beta demo. I'd rather tinker with a full version.)

DeX- Assembly? must be a glutton for punishment.

PWNettle- Yes, I remember reading about your pain here http://www.visualbasicforum.com/showthread.php?t=174677

Iceplug - I'm curious what a MIDI "compiler" does. Is it like a sequencer program?

Have to program: stupid everchanging employee database and frontend(Access & VB6)

Want to program: ZooTV is right the euler project is great fun. also 3d graphics

learning to program: openGL with C++

C++ is great and I really enjoy it. I am probably a novice in the language so far. DirectX defiantly has a learning curve but once you understand the concepts the code isn't really that hard. I studied C++ for about 2 months before getting in to DirectX and I think it worked really well for me. I can concentrate on what I have to do in DirectX instead of having to keep pulling out my C++ reference book.

Have to program: VB.Net database frontend for SQL DB, VB6 frontend for Access db, API program to interface with barcode reader through global keyboard hook, Interface to compile scripts in company-hardware specific language, and a couple other things I've since put aside.

Want to program: Something different in VB to put to use my newly acquired API knowledge.

Learning: VB.NET (I've got lots of basics and most of the DB stuff, but I still need to learn more), php and java (when I have the time). Although I'd like to learn many other things. I want to become a diversified programmer, but as of now its C, C++, and VB versions with basic understandings of other things.

Have to Program: Applications and macros for users to "increase productivity" using Attachmate Extra, VB6, SQL, Office 2000, APIs, etc. including Batch Database Populators, Letter Generators, and VB frontends for SQL and Access.

Want to Program: A revision of an old RPG character creator/sheet printer in VB.NET

Learning: VB.NET, ADO.NET, even a little C# when I have time. :D

Have To: Research Dept of Defense UID (Unique Identification Directive) for goal of implementing it at my company :-\ . (MIL Specs... #%#$%$!)

Want To: Finish the Shop Order Metrics app I'm working on.

Learning: Linux

Iceplug - I'm curious what a MIDI "compiler" does. Is it like a sequencer program?
Yes, it's supposed to be a sequencer, but you type it into a file, and then run the 'compiler' which will convert the text file into a MIDI file.
I'm trying to make it as readable as possible to avoid it being something like RegEx.

Have to
Update MS Access/VB database programs I have written for work.

Want to
I also am am making a MIDI sequencer, although I have put that on hold
to make play/record programs for Surround Sound Audio (ie 5.1 channels and more).

Learning to
Visual C++ Windows programming (winAPI only - NO MFC!).

I don't have to program anything.

Want to Program
a 3d client/server online game

Learning to program
C#, VB.NET

Have to program
nothing really right now... im just 13 (turning 14 in a couple of days) so i dont have a job that would involve programming. i also dont have any projects that im working on right now. Usally i'll get an idea try it and then thats that. i have only really made 1 program that i use alot.

Want To Program
Either a cool game or a usefull program that people can acually make use of

Learning to Program
There is still tons more to learn in .NET

Have to program
nothing right now.
I work at a low pay dead end service sector job which has nothing to do with computers or programming.
But in the past I have written programs for other people (unpaid for programming) that used VB as front end for databases. Such programs included schedulers, POS, inventory control, shipping receiving modules, helpdesk systems, networked workflow/document tracking apps, and a QA tracking system. Note: I hate databases!!!

Want to program
games (but I have never seen any company in my region that has ever advertised to hire anyone to develop games in VB...I wonder how Teric got his job in Texas)

Learning to program
virtual controls! ...and VB programs that used only forms (no real controls) and use memoryDC's to draw, as well as backbuffer, graphics.

Want to learn
DirectX (but not enough documentation/samples of DirectX for VB outside of DirectX4VB)

[QUOTE=noi_max]I thought it would be interesting to know what some of you...[QUOTE]

Greetings fellow Portlander!
Have you had a chance to meet with another forum Portlander: Gruff?
I think he eventually wants to me all the forum Portlanders if you have time...

Have to program: nada

Want to program: Games - only RPGs!

Learning to program:
Vector graphics. To add a mini-CorelDraw module to my NuBee Paint program. Also trying to figure out out to make NuBee Paint more like Photoshop. Since my last uploaded version to the forum NuBee Paint has turned into Nubee P-Shop. It now has marching ants boolean selection, floating/dockable toolwindows, area filter brushes, inner beveling, and lighting raycasting. I'm working on recreating the Layers Pane, including layers management (using per pixel alpha masking) and draggable layer z-ordering.

Want to Learn: DirectX/3D - going very slowly, 3D coordinate systems - Ugh! I struggle to visualize.

I have time, and I did bump into Gruff on another thread. His profile sez he's from Beaverton.

Say that NuBee paint sounds cool. Could you PM me with a link?
Love your tutorials by the way.

Portland Rocks!

Here are some fun facts for those tuning in:

Without Portland there would be no Simpsons! :p
http://www.snpp.com/guides/whoiswho.html#portland

Official tourist page with some nice pictures
http://www.pova.com/

More microbreweries per capita than anywhere in the US!
Here's one of the finer companies in the area:
http://www.mcmenamins.com/

Home of the JailBlazers! (uh, did I say Jail? I meant TrailBlazers!)
http://www.nba.com/blazers/

Portland! Gosh I heard they got ***Paved*** roads over there. :D
In Beaver Town we still wear buckskins and carry flintlocks.

I believe:

1) The road to happiness is knowing how to turn a "Have To" into a "Want To"
2) If you are not learning you are limiting your life experience.

Ergo: I like to experience new "Want To's" :)


As RpgNewbie said I think it would be a hoot to get a group of Oregon/Washington State Forum users together and chew the VB fat.
(Some place with air conditioning to beat this heat wave.)
Hopefully there are more than just us three. :)

LOL :chuckle:

Uh... did I happen to mention that Beaverton is really nice too? :whoops:

As far as the have to.. well some of us just don't like databases

I'll never forget how it was put in this thread (http://www.xtremevbtalk.com/showpost.php?p=587917&postcount=246) from "Who are you?"

Thanks to rpgnewbie for sharing his true feeling about databases. :)

[edit]
As RpgNewbie said I think it would be a hoot to get a group of Oregon/Washington State Forum users together and chew the VB fat.
(Some place with air conditioning to beat this heat wave.)
Hopefully there are more than just us three

Yes, that would be cool!!!

P.S. Stay away from Blue Lake Park. Just heard it on the news. The've had an outbreak of the Norwalk virus. Apparently the lake is contaminated. Seems like every other year they have some kind of problem.


RE Topic below: Sandy. "Ack!" Hill billy central. :)

OMG yeah! I read about that at koin6.com this morning when I was checking on the heat wave you mentioned. (I have no ac in the apartment :( )

Bad time of year for it to happen. I Feel sorry for all the people that got it.

Look out for the Ice cream man too!!!!!!
http://koin6.com/news.asp?RECORD_KEY[news]=ID&ID%5Bnews%5D=176

Have to program
VB.NET

Want to program
C# .NET

Are learning to program
C++ .NET

The more powerfull a language is how more I like it :)