Using A Graphics/Physics Engine

[Zerolife]

Its less of a question of how to use or obtain one, but more of how to import its classes for use.
I recently downloaded Slick Graphics engine, I have the .jar file of it. Whenever I follow a tutorial to use it and import the classes with the path it tells me, it doesn't work. I have the slick.jar file in the same folder as the program im using it with and all that. I guess I'm missing something. I don't use any fancy editor to code, I do it all by hand. I use textpad. Incase that is needed. Thanks for any responses.

[Nate]

Download Eclipse.

[Zerolife]

Sorry but thats not really something I wish to do. I want to understand the code im writing and how everything works rather than have a tool do it for me. Thats why Im using a primitive compiler to begin with. I want to know exactly whats going on. If there is a way I can do it all within the code itself by hand, I want to know.

Games published by our own members! Check 'em out!

[Eli Delventhal]

Sorry but thats not really something I wish to do. I want to understand the code im writing and how everything works rather than have a tool do it for me. Thats why Im using a primitive compiler to begin with. I want to know exactly whats going on. If there is a way I can do it all within the code itself by hand, I want to know.

Then your question will need to be more specific (i.e. tell us the folder hierarchy you're in, the command line stuff you're typing, etc.). But really, using an IDE is not "having a tool to do it for you," that's like saying you want to write a novel using charcoal instead of a typewriter. It's not that it does things for you, it's that it is, well, better. And more convenient. Integrated Development Environment means just that!

But do what you wish.

[Karmington]

I understand your view, so probably the commandline builder is what you will be looking at in detail.
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/docs/tooldocs/windows/javac.html

It is surely possible... An acquaintance worked for years with notepad making J2ME stuff but I like having a debugger at hand, and editing bigger projects is so much smoother.

Looks like a slick demo here is built with a tool, perhaps Antenna or Maven script?
https://bob.newdawnsoftware.com/repos/slick/trunk/thingle/build.xml

[Zerolife]

Thanks for the responses. After reading your responses I looked into eclipse, just to see if I can still do things my way just to make some things a little easier, but some of the things about it just confuse me. Im just to just opening a new document, and starting from scratch 100%. If anyone has an suggestions for what exact programs to use and any explinations or tutorials for basic use would be nice. I could sit downa nd figure it out on my own, but knowing me I'll get frustrated quick -.-

[Karmington]

http://www.cs.bsu.edu/homepages/pvg/misc/slick_eclipse_tutorial.php

Go with Eclipse, it's a perfectly good dev environment.

If you are starting out on the code path, perhaps do something in 2d first unless
you have a solid grasp of 3d maths under your belt.

Using an Engine is fine, and Slick looks like it has enough demos to get you started and
happy.

[Zerolife]

Thanks so much Karmington, Ill look into eclipse as soon as I can. Funny thing is, I was trying to use slick to begin with, so I don't need to make any changes to my plans lol. Thanks all for the help.