On Thu, Apr 05, 2007 at 12:20:19PM -0500, Hugo Vanwoerkom wrote: > Douglas Allan Tutty wrote: > >On Thu, Apr 05, 2007 at 01:51:03PM +0200, Jan Willem Stumpel wrote: > >>I would like to try some simple graphics programming on Linux -- > >>plotting points, lines, and arcs to a window, filling areas with > >>colour, etc. Preferably with a C interface, something like what > >>you could do with Turbo C on DOS in the 1980's. > >> > >>What would be the easiest system to do this? Should I learn Java? > >>Or something else? > > > >Personally, I only program in two languages: Fortran and Python. So I > >would suggest python. > > Hey! I didn't know that! Did you see that the originator of Fortran John > Backus: > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Backus > recently died? I used to see him around when I was at IBM Research.
Wow. Have you read the origional Fortran for the 704? Its a hoot (its on ibm's website). I first started programming after I read 2001 A Space Audacy and wanted to learn about calculating transfer orbits (neat that Bacus started out calculating the position of the moon). So I taught myself 3D trig and needed a better calculator. So I taught myself how to build a computer. so I bought a case of Z80s, fast static ram, built an 8-phase clock, built a 1KW 8V power supply (everything was TTL, this was when I was 14 in 1980), and cobled up a 8-way Z80 (8 8-bit processors, at 8MHz), shared ram (no wait states) so it could do 64-bit integers with a 64 MHz clock. A couple of problems: only programmable with a Hex keypad directly into ram (front-panel type UI), and read with an LED hex display. If the power died, everything was gone. Later when I had a PC, I learned Fortran. With OS/2 I learned REXX, with Linux I learned Python. My pocket comp only knows BASIC. But the lessons I learned from my first computer stayed: write a black box: give it input and wait for output. The neat thing is I can take the same set of programmes to a bunch of boxes and it can farm the black box programs out to each box as needed. Its simple, easy to debug, and it works. Now that I'm on a *NIX, its the same philosophy. Doug. -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
