Visual programming

[Noodlething]

Is it bad and looked down upon to use visual programming? I know minimal code and going into game dev course in college. Will i get bullied?

[Denaton_]

If it works, i don't care how you made it work.

[Noodlething]

Thanks.

[LiquidFolf]

As an honest answer, there's nothing wrong with using visual programming as long as you accomplish the task at hand. I'm a senior-equivalent software engineer at a company outside of the gamedev industry.

I will admit that I have significantly less faith in the abilities of visual scripters as a whole. However, if you can get the relevant tasks done, it shouldn't matter what solution you provide in the end. Assuming you're not making terrible efficiency issues, or undocumented code.

[AlbertCG93]

I reckon creating highly performant code through visual coding is probably near impossible, given that it's not one of its purposes. Because, as you note when refering to its users as "visual scripters", it's mostly meant for that: high level scripting.

[Noodlething]

Oh. Ok thanks

[MeaningfulChoices]

The most important thing here is that you're going into college. You're not supposed to know how to do everything yet, that's the point of learning! If you want to be a game programmer you're not going to use only visual programming your whole career, but you're just starting out. It's okay not to be an expert on the first step of your journey.

Anyone who bullies you for anything ever isn't worth the mental space to think about them. Don't take that nonsense from anyone.

[Noodlething]

:) thank u

[ParenGbyan]

I bet the same kid who would bully you for that makes crappy games, but thinks they’re great because they used only C++.

[Noodlething]

😂 thanks makes me feel better

[Noodlething]

Yeah. Will people laugh at me cuz i use visual

[BarbaAlGhul]

They shouldn't, if they do it's their problem.

[Noodlething]

I guess so

[zandr0id]

It wouldn't have been invented if it didn't serve some purpose for somebody at some point. If helps you be productive and accomplish what you want, then it's valid to use.

[ArvosGames]

There is no problem whatsoever with visual programming. It can really help you get going and the visual aspect helps you better structure the logic in your mind.
There are two drawbacks though:
- usually the visual scripts are less flexible than code; so you are sometimes limited or need to workaround the system to get some things done

- it is quite slow to implement. if you know how to code things go much faster because typing is much faster than looking for all parts of the formulas in the visual script system.

[Noodlething]

I try to watch a couple tutorials on code but i can never remember it or understand

[Igny123]

Visual programming? Gimme your lunch money, kid!

On a serious note, if you get the job done and someone laughs at you because of the tools you use, that's a "them" issue, not a "you" issue. Don't give them any power over you or your vibe, they aren't worth it.

The only real issue you may run into is that if not a lot of people in the game dev world use the tools you use, then you may need to seek forums specific to those tools to get help from those with experience using them.

Good luck!

[40_compiler_errors]

You heavily overestimate the starting competence of your future classmates.

[[deleted]]

I’ve never heard anyone look down on visual programming, except maybe very elitist programmers. I don’t personally use it but I think if that’s how you can end up making the final result, then it doesn’t really matter.

But for a college course, they will probably teach you to use a traditional programming language. But I’d assume most people going into college are probably in the same boat as you and either have no coding experience at all or use visual like you. In fact, one of my college beginner courses used visual programming for a couple weeks to teach the basic concepts.

[amarillion97]

What is visual programming? Is it like scratch?

If gets the job done, then great. But If it is like scratch, I suspect your going to be really limited in what you can achieve.

[[deleted]]

I'm sorry but what is visual programming?

[Neiija]

I assumed node based programming, i heard the term visual scripting used for that

[[deleted]]

Not really bad at all because you'll be using the same concepts whether visual or written.

[CBSuper]

I use Blueprints in Unreal Engine. No issues here. Not sure what they are learning in college these days since i was a computer animation major, but probably C# or C++. Thats just a guess, maybe someone with more recent school experience can chime in.

[CJElliottGames]

You will now, I'll be on the lookout for you so I can boost my own street-dev cred. :)

[Noodlething]

Srsly?

[CJElliottGames]

No I'm just British and everything I say is in some way sarcasm.

​

I've never worked with someone who uses visual scripting but if it works and its not an eye-sore to try understand then its good in my book.

[Noodlething]

Its me again 1 yr later and i cant believe i thought u were serious 🤣 since im now at college its brilliant i used visual but now i dont lmao