[Super-tux-devel] SuperTux's future (that brilliant?)

[Ricardo C. <ri...@ae...>]

Hello,

 While implementing a new bad guy, I could see how much the code sucks for 
extensability. Really, how do we expect to have scripting, lots of great 
enemies and scoped tiles, if all stuff is hard coded!
 It took me half an hour just to add a basic bad guy. Really, it was damn hard 
to found the right places in gameloop and level editor (and the names do not 
help at all). And it really pisses me off to see lots of hard coded values 
and duplicated code. Don't make me starting to talk about the readability of 
the code!

 Tobias told me in the IRC that he was not thinking about a C++ port. That was 
my last hope for a redesign of SuperTux and I really felt like abandoning the 
boat. Sure, SuperTux already uses a object oriented approach, but at what 
cost?
 There is a tentative to make Badguys and Player to share the same functions 
via Physics. In C++, a base class for both would clear the code.
 A lot of stuff would be so much easier to do in C++, just as managing tiles 
and eliminating duplications, for instance in Badguys code.

 I guess what I am trying to say is "does this worths it?". I mean, have a 
look at the code and say sincerely that he is flexible, extensible and easy 
to read.

 These months are crucial for SuperTux, if it doesn't improve it will probably 
die. I don't think there is anyone willing to start it over and over again. 
In my opinion, we should focus our attention in releasing the next version by 
putting the gameplay as it was before and adding a few levels. This way we 
will create a community of users and the motivation earned will be precious.
 Next thing, is to freeze the code and to do a section on the webpage for a 
redesign. Porting to c++, automatizing everything by the use of files, 
merging files, make decent names and indentation.

 To sum up, I don't really want to bash anyone's work and much less to make 
destructrive criticism, I'm just upset with the current situation and 
wouldn't like to pledge myself in a worthless project.

Take care,
 Ricardo Cruz

-- 
MMM-MM!!  So THIS is BIO-NEBULATION!