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1989-07-29
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Subject: GFA Tutorial, Introduction
By: James Collett (Professor)
A Member Of: VIRTUAL INFINITY
Email: s6005146@oxpoly.ac.uk (or s6005146@brookes.ac.uk)
Address: Room N4, L.S.C.Collage, Wheatley, Oxford, OX9 1HX
Mono accnt.: bcc
Why GFA Basic??
===============
In my biased opinion, GFA Basic is the *ultimate* language for the
Atari ST; it can be used for any purpose including: teaching, utilities,
serious applications, games & demos.
GFA`s syntax (discussed this month) is like any other Basic, its
structure (discussed this month) is similar to Pascal or Modula-2, and
its compiler (discussed later) is easily as fast as C`s - but GFA is ten
times as simple to use.
GFA is the *only* language you will ever need to use after going
through this tutorial. If you don`t already have a copy, it`s well
worth buying, and I`d recommend version 3. I`m not sure how expensive
it is off hand but you won`t just be buying it for the tutorial, you
will want to use it again and again. The language can be obtained from
GFA Media:
Address: GFA Data Media (UK) Ltd
Box 121
Wokingham
Berkshire
RG11 5XT
U.K.
Tel: 44 (0)734 794941 } Sales
Fax: 44 (0)734 890782 } Only
Why This Tutorial??
===================
I have been coding in GFA Basic for several years and consider I have
sufficient GFA skills to do this tutorial - and I`m sure they will
balance out any lack in teaching skills! I have seen some languages in
my time and consider GFA the best language for any machine, especially
the ST!
In this four month tutorial, not only will you learn sufficient GFA
to tackle just about any problem, and build a comprehensive library of
standard GFA routines, but also create a simple but addictive game
(LightMaze) along with an art-editor (simplified graphics-package).
I CONSIDER THAT THE ACTUAL TUTORIAL STARTS NEXT MONTH. THIS FIRST
EDITION IS SIMPLY AN INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMING PLUS INTRODUCTION TO
GFA - MOVING EVERYONE TO THE START LINE READY FOR NEXT MONTH! THE
TUTORIAL IS DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER DONE PROGRAMMING BEFORE.
IF YOU HAVE DONE PROGRAMMING BEFORE YOU WILL PROBABLY THINK I`M
PATRONISING BY COVERING SUCH ELEMENTARY STUFF THIS FIRST MONTH.
If you think I am moving too slowly, then please bear with me as we
will soon be moving onto more advanced stuff:
Month One = Basic structure, variables, arrays & procedures
[inc. Exam mark demo prog.]
Month Two = Functions, control, GEM, graphics1
[inc. LightMaze V1 & Art editor V1 demo progs]
Month Three = Disk, memory, graphics2 (& DMA+chip or accessories)
[inc. Lightmaze V2 & Art editor V2 demo progs]
Month Four = Animation, GDOS fonts, graphic techniques
(& accessories or STe DMA + chip music)
[inc. Santa anim. sequence & Art editor V3 demo progs]
Months 5+ = Problems & solutions (continued), tips by you (continued)
------
I cannot 100% guarantee that I will definitely be sticking to THIS
plan, but it hopefully gives you a feel for the way I intend to move.
Also, if you have any problems with any particular aspects of GFA you
can either mail/post them in advance or wait until after I`ve covered it
and then mail/post if the problem still exists. Also, if you have any
GFA tips of your own then please, please let either me or Ictari (Nick)
know!
Prerequisites
=============
As far as hardware and software goes: an ST, a TV/low res monitor and
a copy of GFA. A mouse and joystick are useful but not essential. A
printer is also useful; I recommend that you print these tutorials out
if you have the facilities, all manuals are text only and also designed
to be loaded into First Word Plus if you wish to repaginate them.
For a few of the more advanced areas a STe may be required, or GFA 3
may be required. But the majority should run on any ST and will be
pre-tested in both GFA 2 and GFA 3.
A compiler (discussed later) may also be required for one or two of
the more advanced areas. But again this is not essential for the
majority of aspects covered.
As far as knowledge goes: as long as you know how to run a program
from the desktop and know that a disk sub-divides into folders & files
then you know enough to do this tutorial! It is designed for people who
have never done programming before.
Copyright
=========
I do not wish to hold any copyright on any sources I send WITH the
tutorial - they are yours to do what you like with them and use with no
mention of my name. However, any data (e.g. graphics) or executable
programs I send WITH the tutorial, whether this month or in a future
month, are drawn, written or otherwise created by me (Professor). They
should stay together and with this copyright message if you intend to
give them to anyone else. If you wish to use any part of any data (e.g.
graphics) for your own work then you must ask my permission first.
This copyright message does not apply to anything I send OUTSIDE the
tutorial, and that may carry a separate copyright message if necessary.
---END---