Start learning how to code with Ruby/RGSS using RMXP : suggestions?

[PeachyGlitch]

Hi
I've been using RMXP for a year now and I love it. So I've decided to finally learn how to program. For this I used the Slip into Ruby tutorial, among others in this forum. I also followed a course on Skillshare. I also found this 4 hour youtube tutorial particularly useful:

The problem is that most of the tutorials I find are for Ruby or Ruby on Rails, and not specifically for RGSS and RMXP.

Do you have any recommendations on where I can go next to learn Ruby/RGSS?

Thank you veeery much

 

[Roninator2]

Slip into Ruby: An introductory guide to RGSS for beginners.

Attention, Duelists! I've been writing a series on getting started with RGSS (aimed primarily at RPG Maker VX Ace) since 2012, and there are now several parts available. I started it on rpgmaker.net, but thought I would also share it with the fine folks here! Chapter 1: Making a...

forums.rpgmakerweb.com

RGSS3 Scripting Tutorial Videos

Only a week and a half into my holidays and I'm up to the point where I'm trying to find more productive ways to procrastinate. So here is my latest scheme. It is my hope to start from the very beginning and go all the way up to RegEXP (as that was my ultimate goal when I started scripting)...

forums.rpgmakerweb.com

But I believe these are for VX Ace

courses are plentiful, but I do not know of any for older rgss. yet the principles are similar

Learn to Code with Ruby with Dozens of Quizzes and Exercises

A comprehensive introduction to coding with the Ruby programming language. Complete beginners welcome!

www.udemy.com

 

[Trihan]

I never did a Slip into Ruby series that specifically breaks down XP because by the time I started it XP wasn't really all that popular any more. The differences aren't *massive*; mostly it's the same basic code split into multiple modules, though RGSS3 did introduce a number of improvements RGSS didn't have. Do you have any specific questions about it that SiR doesn't cover or at least give a starting point for?

 

[PeachyGlitch]

First of all, thank you very much @Trihan for Slip into Ruby, it's great. As Slip into Ruby was not designed for RMXP, I had to figure out some things that didn't work, and why they didn't work; it has forced me to "take the mechanism apart", to get into the RMXP code. It has also taught me that if there is something I can't do or it's costing me too much, that's OK; just read the section and do the next one. I also really appreciated the use of metaphors to explain programming.

I don't have a specific question, that's the thing, I haven't reached the level of asking things yet. Maybe I just have to keep training with different tutorials, with different perspectives, until it "clicks"?. Maybe I'll try a micro-project before starting the bigger project. Maybe switching to RMMV or RMVX might also help, as there are more resources.

 

[Trihan]

First of all, thank you very much @Trihan for Slip into Ruby, it's great. As Slip into Ruby was not designed for RMXP, I had to figure out some things that didn't work, and why they didn't work; it has forced me to "take the mechanism apart", to get into the RMXP code. It has also taught me that if there is something I can't do or it's costing me too much, that's OK; just read the section and do the next one. I also really appreciated the use of metaphors to explain programming.

I don't have a specific question, that's the thing, I haven't reached the level of asking things yet. Maybe I just have to keep training with different tutorials, with different perspectives, until it "clicks"?. Maybe I'll try a micro-project before starting the bigger project. Maybe switching to RMMV or RMVX might also help, as there are more resources.

If you can afford to, I'd definitely recommend it. XP is pretty ancient at this point and even though it has one of the best mapping functions of the series it has a number of quirks and bugs that make it a slog to work with, particularly the bug that only lets you enter 3 lines of text per message unless you bulk enter them, and then you can't go back and edit 4-line text afterwards because the 4th line doesn't display. I couldn't go back to XP now, I only have it to complete my collection.

 

[Roninator2]

Maybe switching to RMMV or RMVX might also help, as there are more resources.

If you do switch, I would say the smallest step should be to vx ace. Then MV and Finally MZ unless you take enough time so that the Unity version is out.
You can get VX, but it also has some flaws. Yet if you work within any programs limitations then it's not a problem.
VX Ace primarily is limited to the resolution 640x480. So going to MV is better in that respect, but then you have to remember that MV and MZ are Javascript, which makes learning ruby useless. except for the programming principles.

 

[PeachyGlitch]

So going to MV is better in that respect, but then you have to remember that MV and MZ are Javascript, which makes learning ruby useless. except for the programming principles.

That is very interesting. I didn't know that RMMV and RMMZ use Javascript. There are plenty of tutorials for Js and it's an "important" language, from what I understand. Several people have recommended that if I have to learn a language, it should be that one.

 

[kyonides]

If you can afford to, I'd definitely recommend it. XP is pretty ancient at this point and even though it has one of the best mapping functions of the series it has a number of quirks and bugs that make it a slog to work with, particularly the bug that only lets you enter 3 lines of text per message unless you bulk enter them, and then you can't go back and edit 4-line text afterwards because the 4th line doesn't display. I couldn't go back to XP now, I only have it to complete my collection.

Just as a curiosity, that bug disappears if you run it on Linux via Steam's Proton emulation. Weird right?

@PeachyGlitch who knows? Now that WebAssembly exists, that might change things on what language to use online.

MV depends heavily on prototyping functions, which is not a good design. It happens because it follows the ES5 standard. At least in ES6 you get simple class inheritance, like just for 1 class IIRC.

As a side note, in Ruby a class can have multiple superclasses alias parent classes but only if they belong to the same family. There is no multiple inheritance from classes with different origins. You use mixing alias modules instead. They are similar to C++ namespaces.

 

[Trihan]

Just as a curiosity, that bug disappears if you run it on Linux via Steam's Proton emulation. Weird right?

@PeachyGlitch who knows? Now that WebAssembly exists, that might change things on what language to use online.

MV depends heavily on prototyping functions, which is not a good design. It happens because it follows the ES5 standard. At least in ES6 you get simple class inheritance, like just for 1 class IIRC.

As a side note, in Ruby a class can have multiple superclasses alias parent classes but only if they belong to the same family. There is no multiple inheritance from classes with different origins. You use mixing alias modules instead. They are similar to C++ namespaces.

Huh, that is actually super interesting.

 

[Arthran]

While I personally recommend just switching to MZ, I will mention another option. If you use mkxp-z, then you can actually use RGSS3 in RPG Maker XP. That way you can keep using the editor that you're comfortable with, but you can use the better documented version of RGSS. It would also have the benefit of improving your performance, and also unlocking the Ruby 3 standard library (so that any Ruby books you find will be more applicable). If you're interested, I've written an explanation of how to add it to your project here.

Several people have recommended that if I have to learn a language, it should be that one.

Even though I've been known to thumb my nose at JavaScript from time to time, I will admit that that's probably a fair statement. It's a handy language to know this day and age.

MV depends heavily on prototyping functions, which is not a good design. It happens because it follows the ES5 standard. At least in ES6 you get simple class inheritance, like just for 1 class IIRC.

ES6 classes are just syntactic sugar that still convert to function prototypes under the hood. There is no functional difference between the two--it's just a matter of whichever way you think looks prettier or more readable or whatever.

 

[MaryMarryMe]

Hi! Thanks for sharing your recommendation on alternative options since I prefer sometimes to stick with the editor I'm comfortable with. Speaking of your insight on JavaScript and ES6 classes, I'm actually curious - what other languages or frameworks do you recommend for someone looking to expand their coding skills beyond RPG Maker?