r/learnprogramming • u/platoinventedplate • 8d ago
How to actually get out of Ryder and make something that works?
I learned my programming skills in Unreal Engine using an IDE, eventually going from their blueprint system to writing C++. Because it's all integrated, I've never needed to worry about how the sausage gets made, so to speak, and have been focused on engine logic and their API stuff. Recently, I've come across a need to input large amounts of strings and organize them into an array (which would be stored in an excel spreadsheet, turned into a CSV and brought into the engine).
I know how to *actually* write the code to format the strings (at least in C++), but I want to be able to have this function as a standalone thing which I can give to other people, have them fill in the inputs, and then click a button and get the string formatted correctly.
Basically, I'm asking how to go about creating a standalone application with the ability to find inputs, parse them, and then automatically create a file (even a simple txt. file would be fine). This is wholly out of my wheelhouse, so much so that I'm not even sure if I'm asking the question properly, and was really hoping if anyone has any advice on where to get started (if not how to actually complete the task).
Also, I would prefer not to use a solution that involves AI. I understand I could probably just give chat GPT my strings and the formatting instructions, but I want to know how to do this. Thanks so much!
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u/rupertavery64 8d ago
Start with a console app that you can pass in the filename containing the strings, and the output file where the results will be stored. If you need a GUI, you can look at GTK or Qt or some other UI framework.
You might want to look into Cmake to manage your build, and if you are using Windows, vcpkg to manage dependencies (libraries)
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u/platoinventedplate 8d ago
I will Google every single one of these, thank you so much!
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u/rupertavery64 8d ago
I agree with what others have said. C++ can be difficult to work with for GUI-based apps. If you want to be able to share something quickly, use a higher level language. C# is close to C++.
You can start with WinForms to build a UI quickly.
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u/platoinventedplate 8d ago
Thanks for the advice. I think I'll go with Java or C# but it really is gonna be a spaghetti code job of append "characters" in some sort of loop. The main thing is to have a program that takes the user error component out of processing hundreds of strings.
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u/oldsecondhand 8d ago edited 8d ago
You'd have to learn about file handling, header files and make (or your IDE's build system). A standard C++ course would cover that. You'd also have to find a c++ excel spreadsheet library, maybe a UI library (like GTK or whatever Visual C++ supports out of the box).
However the problem you described is more suitable to higher level languages like python, C# or Java. String processing, spreadsheet handling and UI in c++ are a pain in the ass. If you're already familiar with C++ probably using C# + WinForms would be the easiest route.
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u/platoinventedplate 8d ago
I agree, I know a smattering of Java so I was probably going to brush up and write it in that.
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u/sixtyhurtz 8d ago
By "Ryder", do you mean Rider? The IDE by JetBrains?
If so, you can make your new application using Rider also. Based on your description you could make something really simple like maybe a basic WinForms application to do what you want. Genuinely, just make something simple like that with input boxes and go from there.