i was looking at another thread and he came up with a good idea and i will follow suit
my 1st question is
what areas of the Python 2.5 manuel do i need to pay attention to the most? because reading all of it is going to get me massively confused
a 2nd question i am not sure how to ask this how can i know something is working the way i am wanting it to work through the programing?
You know, I’m really glad that you’re interested in learning how to develop games. And welcome to Panda3D!
You should understand, however, that Panda really is designed for people who are already pretty well experienced with programming. There are other engines that might serve as a better introduction to graphics programming for people who are not yet experienced programmers. For instance, Alice specializes in exactly this.
It might be a worthwhile thing to try to do some initial learning with Alice first. This will introduce you to many of the fundamental concepts of programming, especially for programming in a 3-D environment.
If you would prefer to jump feet-first into programming with Panda, I do applaud your enthusiasm. But I’m sorry to say you’ll have a lot of reading and learning ahead of you. You won’t be able to skip over the boring parts. 
David
my scripting experience comes from using LSL, Linden Scripting Language…
it is the script language for things made in the program “Second Life”
Second Life is a massively online virtual world, where everything in the virtual environment is made by people who use the program… the program is free to download and use…
i would suggest if you want an introduction to a simple scripting language, what i would do is download the program, log in, go into the virtual environment, and as soon as you can search for “college of scripting”
you should find a link to a virtual place called the college of scripting, music, and science… go there, and at that virtual environment, there is a REALLY good place to learn basic scripting concepts…
i just need to say, the style and language is different… commands you learn in LSL will be different in python and panda, but it may be a good way to learn the basic concepts behind scripts…
i found it easier to comprehend, and understood LSL quicker than c++ or any other scripting language…
anyway, some more experienced scripters may say otherwise, but i found LSL to be a great intro to scripting languages…
yes i have read about the extensive flexibility of that engine! also, the game itself has broken MANY world records!
well this is something devmaster .net says that panda 3d would be a very good start and now you guys are saying something else would be good to start makes me wonder if anyone truly knows a good place to start.
because atm it feels there is no end in slight of everyone haveing there own ideas of a good place to start but nothing concrete now makes me wonder why you are referring me to this other program it is the fact that you all can’t be bother by my questions or is that my questions not detailed and or professional enough?
well as many philosophers say “To get through the hardest journey we need take only one step at a time, but we must keep on steppingâ€
well, let me just say this, if you want to just dive into python and panda, go ahead…
if alot of the concepts seem over your head, you may want to study an easier scripting language, and then ease into this one…
MY advice would be to go with your gut, if you understand some of the things that are going on in tutorials, then you should just keep working with python and panda, and keep learning by experience…
but if most of these concepts are over your head, i would suggest starting with a simpler language, like lsl…
let me just say, i think that python is simpler for a beginner than c++ is,
so i can see why some sites would say that it is a good place to START to learn how to script… but in my opinion, there are more simple scripting languages that you can learn context and syntax concepts from than python… but it is up to YOU whether you want to study a simpler language, if you REALLY plan on using THIS one…
like i said earlier, if all of these things are too much, start with a simpler scripting language, and work your way back up… but it seems like you should be able to learn enough to just dive right into python and panda without having to check out a simpler script language…
do what you feel…
to answer your question… im a beginner at this language as well, but the reason i feel comfortable with this language is because i had some experience using the scripting language in second life…
that is just how I learned, i dont think everyone should take the same path as me…
i mean, when you take a college course on python scripting, it isnt a pre-requisite to know lsl… so it shouldnt be here either, and it is only a suggestion…
but what I would suggest is to open up the sample programs that come with python… open up the .py files and take a look at them… try to understand what you can… and if you have a question about something, go ahead and post something more definate, like “hey, what does this function do, and how do i use it…” rather than, “hey, im a beginner, what should i do?”
we are TRYING to point you in the right direction but, since we arent really sure what you know or dont know at this point, it is difficult to really steer you to the right info.
trust me, i was saying things like “im a beginner, help me”, and it didnt really get any results. it wasnt until i started asking specific logical questions, that i started getting specific logical answers from the forum…
in any case, the manual should be able to explain basic concepts about the program… and how to get started… perhaps what you need is to go over things with someone helping you in real time… like with a chat or messenger program… do you have windows messenger? i wouldnt mind adding you and helping out so that you understand what is going on… i think you just need a little deeper explanation on things…
here is a whole book on python that i found for free online under the GPU
(General Public License)
feel free to share this book with anyone and everyone…
go there, the whole book is on the website, and it can be downloaded in several different formats…
it should be able to explain alot to someone who isnt familiar with python at all
i gotta say though, this book doesnt cover panda AT ALL… but that doesnt mean that it should be ignored… it looks like a good book to learn from…
i have learned quite a bit already from it.
i am sorry i just got frustrated with what i was reading i was not pre say mad at you all you all have not done anything wrong to me i just felt that everyone has there ideas and i was just trying to figure out how i am going to do this for me atm i am trying to learn as fast as i can.
it just felt like a min there that i was expected to know someone that has been doing it for like 5 years if not more
ok tya
bazso203@gmail.com for email msn messenger name
completely understandable bazo i too got frustrated by panda and “blew a gasket” lol.
ok this is weird pype 2.8.8 came up in a window forum last night and now it is not i wonder if i did anything for it not to come up anymore
what i mean is i start it up and it shows on my task bar but no window
ok it is working again disregard my last 2 post’s
i got a small little problem i think the posters from dev master .net is very confused as to why i should learn how the panda 3d engine works first then learning the python programing language i trust you all of what you all are telling me here.
and that i go on a leap of faith with you all each and every time you all tell me something and with working with plato_03 he has helped me start to get a idea of how this engine works.
i am still reading my way on the manual i know every part of that manual is very important but some areas of it i don’t know / think is relevant at this point in time for me to worry about but i will more then likely worry about it later at some point which i feel will be soon.
so my question is what should i tell the dev master .net posters something hopefully that they will accept?
I think you may have misunderstood some of the helpful suggestions here. I don’t believe anyone is recommending you learn Panda without learning Python first.
Panda is a tool that requires Python. You have to learn to use Python before you can learn to use Panda.
If you’re really good with computer languages you might be able to learn them at the same time. But since you have already told us that you’re starting from no experience with computer programming already, that doesn’t seem like a good idea.
In short, we recommend you to learn Python before you try to learn Panda. I think everyone here would agree with that.
To be perfectly clear: I’m not in any way saying that there’s something wrong with you. I’m not suggesting there’s anything wrong with not knowing Python. I’m not telling you to go away and don’t bother me unless you know Python. I’m giving you helpful advice: I truly think you will find it much easier to learn Python first, and then to learn Panda. I believe this will be the most effective path to enlightenment for you.
David
well that’s the thing i have done it a little bit backwards and i feel that i have made some progress not much on a massive scale but with some help i was able to make a script save it reopen it back up run it.
i was able to generate this picture on this part on the manual so far the program i am using is pype i had to set that up first before i could get to the point of what i just said about generating the picture
farhttp://panda3d.org/manual/index.php/Lo … sy_Scenery
atm i feel pype has been a invaluable tool and help