program resulting in an executable.
 

I want to be sure and mention a couple of things before I get on to my question.
1.), I am a newbie to the forum, and also, very new to the C family of languages, in fact, new to any language that is not used for web programming.
2.) I did try to search this question, both in google, and in this forum, with no result that I could get any real information out of.
3.) I really do not know how to ask my question in a short easy way, but I will try my best.

I am looking for either a book, or an online tutorial, that, in plain English, explains how I can get certain types of results with a program. For instance, I want to build a program that, once finished will compile the results into an executable. The problem is, I can figure out how to build the program itself, but, I don't know how I would get from building the program, to getting it to build an exe file.

I would assume that, my program would first have to result in building a c or c++ or c# or whatever project and then using a compiler to compile the exe.

Problem is, the end user of the program is fairly computer illiterate. So, my program needs to automatically compile the project for them.

Or, do I need to build my own language?

I know that no one can explain step by step what I need to do AND help me with practicle code samples, but, if there is a book I can buy, or an online tutorial that I can get into, I would greatly appretiate the information.

I have bought several books on the subject of C programming and C++ programming, and I need a recomendation, due to the fact that, I find myself buying books that don't give me what I am looking for exactly.

Thanks
Sage

I want to make sure that the tutorial or the book or whatever is in the C family, and not visual basic, or any other language. I am most comfortable in C++ for now, but, wouldn't mind working with C or C# on this.

Are you telling me that you need to make a compiler? If you're giving this to a computer illeterate person, give them QBasic and charge them 50$ ;). Or provide us with a bit more information.

Well, see,
I was wondering if I should actually build a compiler, or, if there was a way to use an existing compiler, or whatever.

Ok, here is the idea. I have a lot of friends who want to be able to make games, 3d games to be exact.

I know, the project will take me forever and a day to learn how to do all of what I need to do, possibly years even, and I'm fine with that.

Anyway. The program that I want to create is an all visual program for 3d game development, build similar to "Game Maker", but, one that can do 3d games without requireing programming knowledge.

The end result of the created game, must be an executable which isn't dependant on any other programs.

I realize that there might be a program out there that already does what I am wanting to do, but none is the swiss army knife that I am wanting to build, I really want to learn to build it from scratch.
Sage

You're being silly. You get a compiler, build the program you write (compile and link), and give the executable to your friend. You'll have to compile it on the same platform, or use a cross-compiler, but my money is on the supposition that you have the same platform.

If you don't know about compilers and what they produce, how the hell would you expect to write one? :rolleyes:

DaWei,
I appretiate your comment, though, I am really NOT being silly.
Notice, not a friend, multiple friends.

Maybe I wasn't exactly clear.
The program is for the user to create 3d games... The games they create, would then be compiled to an exe.

I can figure out how to program a 3d game, not that I am briliant or anything but, I know that I can.

All I am asking for is if someone knows of a book for me to buy or an online tutorial that I can go to that is in simple plain English that can explain the process of building my program. Not really looking for someone to give me a work around to my problem..

I know what I want to do, and it's a pretty specific task.

I want people to be able to install my one program, and from it's installation, build 3d games, that can be installed on other computers without the need to find and download other programs to help it along.

so basically, I need to build a standalone visual 3d game builder, that can build a stand alone 3d game.

Thanks
Sage

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/xna/bb219593.aspx

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/xna/default.aspx

Break a leg!

Hi sagedavis, don't take what I'm about to say too personally, remember I'm only inferring your programming abilities from your 4 posts.

Honestly I don't think you fully appreciate how difficult your task actually is, it would be very unlikely you'd be able to finish it before you friends interests shift over to something else. Getting something like this up to a functional level could take many many years.

You really should look into the alternatives, DarkBASIC is one I happen to know of but beyond that couldn't tell you if it's any good or not. reggaeton_king's links to XNA is probably better.

Hope I wasn't too harsh, I'm only trying to be helpful, while also being honest.

I'm impressed with your motivation to hit the ground running, but perhaps you should start small and work your way up to something as complex. I would suggest learning the basics of the language you will be using prior to taking on such a large project solo.

I also agree with Eoin, in that by the time you get this functional your friends' interests will shift to something else. I've spent way too much time on projects for people that had changed their focus/interests/specs before the project was even complete.

On a side note, you may also want to pick up on some math and assembly if you will be doing 3d games.

OK,
I really do appretiate all of the lovely input here, but, as I said, I don't want work arounds. I don't want a link to someone elses program.

I want to LEARN how to program and achieve my end result.

XNA is no where close to what the finished product is, because, it requires too much programming for the end user.

check out http://www.gamemaker.nl/
I want to build something like that. The problem with that program is that, the 2d games are entirely point click, drag drop, and you can virtually build a 2d game with out any programming, but the 3d mode for it, is ALL programming. You can't even view the 3d objects with the program.

None of the ideas or programs out there, allow you to import a 3d object place it on the 'scene' and tell it what to do, and test it's actions there without compiling, to make sure that it's going to do what it is supposed at run time.

A tutorial or a book would help me to learn, EVEN IF no one decides to use it, or everyone looses interest, all I want to do is LEARN how to put my program idea to use.

I know it's a big project, I know it will take me a long time to learn how to do, I know that many of my friends will outgrow the idea before I even get 10 percent of the way through it, but, I still want to learn how to build the program which is in my head.

Sage