My iPhone Game Tutorials for Beginners

[Gan]

I can't seem to download the iPhone game template. The computer keeps saying that it can't find the URL

Yeah, some of the links are dead but hey:
I still got the ultimate iPhone OpenGL game template!

a lot of the cases (at least that's what I think they are) start with NS or CG what do they stand for

NS stands for NextStep. It's just what the API was built from.
CG stands for CoreGraphics. It's a powerful framework for drawing.

And what is the importance of the semi-colon.

Semi-colons separate commands.
int x = 1; int y = 1;
Meaning you can put multiple things on the same line if you wanted. You must have a semi-colon after every command or you will get an error.

And what does the star (*) actually do.

The star means that variable is a pointer to a piece of memory. You use it on objects.
NSString* myString = @"This is a string";
You don't need to use it on:
int test = 5;

Pointers(*) come in handy when you want to pass objects through functions and use them elsewhere.
This is really hard to understand until you actually use it.

And what is the difference between strong typing, and weak typing?

This article can explain better than I can:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strong_typing


It appears that a few of the iPhone tutorial links still work.

[GMG Kurt]

also how do the brackets [] and the other brackets {} differ.
And what is the name of the language that Xcode uses?
EDIT: Also what are all of the cases, and what they do?

[Gan]

And what is the name of the language that Xcode uses?

Xcode actually can use many languages. Java, C, C++, ect. But what you'll be using is called Objective C.

also how do the brackets [] and the other brackets {} differ.

[] are used for arrays and commands.
Example array:
int test[5];
test[0] = 33;

Example command:
NSString* myString = @"BWAHAAHAHA";
myString = [myString lowercaseString];

{} are used to put code in. For example:
if (test == 5) {
     test += 1;
     [self doSomeRandomCommand];
}
It's just organizing the code so the compiler knows what goes where.

[x]

Xcode actually can use many languages. Java, C, C++, ect. But what you'll be using is called Objective C.

[] are used for arrays and commands.
Example array:
int test[5];
test[0] = 33;

Example command:
NSString* myString = @"BWAHAAHAHA";
myString = [myString lowercaseString];

{} are used to put code in. For example:
if (test == 5) {
 Â    test += 1;
 Â    [self doSomeRandomCommand];
}
It's just organizing the code so the compiler knows what goes where.

Actually {} in Objective-C can also represent scope. Same as in Java and C++ (and C).

[GMG Kurt]

what do commands like += do, and is <> still a valid command, or can I use the regular inequal symbol?

[Gan]

test += 1
is the same as
test = test + 1

<> isn't a valid command. Instead use !=

[GMG Kurt]

and how do I find out about cases? Like what are all the different types, and what do they do?

[GMG Kurt]

when, and why would you use strong typing over weak typing, and vice versa

[GMG Kurt]

Actually {} in Objective-C can also represent scope. Same as in Java and C++ (and C).

what do you mean by scope?

[GMG Kurt]

Xcode actually can use many languages. Java, C, C++, ect. But what you'll be using is called Objective C.

[] are used for arrays and commands.
Example array:
int test[5];
test[0] = 33;

Example command:
NSString* myString = @"BWAHAAHAHA";
myString = [myString lowercaseString];

{} are used to put code in. For example:
if (test == 5) {
 Â    test += 1;
 Â    [self doSomeRandomCommand];
}
It's just organizing the code so the compiler knows what goes where.

what does the @ sign do?
And why would you put == instead of =

[Gan]

The @ tells the compiler that you're making an NSString. So @"this is a test" is an NSString you made. So you can do:
NSString* test = @"This is a test";

== means = but when comparing two objects you must use ==. So
if (1 == 1) {
     NSLog(@"Yay");
}

NSLog just prints out a message to the debugger.

[GMG Kurt]

it seems that
test[0] = 33;
is comparing two objects. Why doesn't it have the two equal signs, and does NSString just make a string variable?
Also where do you find all the cases, and what they do. It seems like you just pull them out of thin air :-/

[Gan]

test[0] = 33;
That's setting a number to the index of 0 in an array.
If you want to compare two things you must use ==.

NSString is a type of string variable.

What do you mean by cases?

[x]

Scope is your programming locality.

for example take this piece of pseudocode:
int x = 10;
{
 Â   int x = 20;
 Â   output x;
}
output x;

Will print out:
20
10.

You can use {} to create a new scope.

[Gan]

Ah yeah, X is right. Obj-C isn't like Sc where all variables are global. You gotta make sure the variable you want is made within scope.