Scott T: The Blog

Paging and RMI

Posted Sat, Oct 13, 2007 at 11:04pm by Scott
Tagged: programming, ssc, uni

So the RSS feed wasn't the next thing on the list, but it is coming sooner rather than later! In the mean time, paging has been implemented (at least on the front end) to make it easier to read through older posts (and it was only a 100 odd lines added according to Trac)

Now to the bulk of this post. At uni these past few weeks, we've been working towards handing in an assignment for Computer Programming, however this one has been one I've really enjoyed working on (despite some of the head-banging moments) and even think it would be cool to take further. What we were working on was a multi-player Pac-Man style game.

The language of choice for the Comp Programming topics is Java (although other languages are taught for various topics), and cross-JVM communication for Java requires<0> the use of 'Remote Method Invocation' (or RMI). After being given the basic source code as a framework, we were essentially turned loose to fill in all the TODO's.

Initially, this assignment didn't grab much of my attention since it was just implementing the basics for a stand-alone game, however once Stage 2 started, things got more interesting. With exception of actual coding of connecting to the RMI registry and initiating connection between client and server (the source of much frustration), the ability to get a server set up and have myself and friends join it (each with our own coded client) was quite enjoyable, to the point I was determined to work as hard as possible to eliminate server game-state spoiling caused by problematic clients.

Despite the fact that there were people who despised the task, it brings out the need for tasks to be enjoyable. Idealistically, projects and assignments should be as fun as possible (although the write-ups usually accompanying them aren't) as this encourages further learning and better understanding.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend :)

<0> - A Google search informs me CORBA can also be used

NB: Post titles are still hard to come up with ;)

Comments

Hi! I notice on your main page that you're thinking of making the blog the main thing - I second that thought, I think the blog would be great being the first thing a visitor sees! 
 
I agree with post titles being hard to come up with - sometimes you just want to say "Post #263" hehe. :) 
 
The assignment sounds awesome - it's been a while since I've experienced a "fun" assignment! And making a computer game sounds like my idea of fun.

Posted Wed, Oct 17, 2007 at 9:48am by Katie

Thanks for stopping by Katie! I've got a few things I want to fix/add sometime over the weekend so will probably move the blog then. 
 
I know I enjoyed the challenge (although there were others that didn't) and the end result was something that can be fun with friends. Good things must also come to an end however as the next assignment for that topic is not looking anywhere near as interesting

Posted Thu, Oct 18, 2007 at 9:21am by Scott