{"author_name":"se1by","cat":"LD #25","comments":[],"epoch":1355176320,"likes":2,"metadata":{"p_key":"50782","p_author":"se1by","p_authorkey":"15608","p_urlkey":"86475","p_title":"I\u2019m in and got a few hints for beginners!","p_cat":"LD #25","p_event":"LD25","p_time":"1355176320","p_likes":"2","p_comments":"0","p_status":"UPD5","us_key":"15608","us_name":"se1by","us_username":"se1by","event_start":"1355443200","event_key":"14","event_name":"LD25"},"text":"

I’m here for my second LD, and I learnt a lot from my first.
\n So I got a few hints for other beginners:
\n 1. Know your tools<\/p>\n

Very important. You think you do? Then test it.<\/p>\n

Take the time for a quick check, could have saved me a lot of time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2. Don’t refactor (if not REALLY necessary)<\/p>\n

This is what I call my biggest mistake in LD 24. I didn’t like my code, it was ok but not what I really wanted.<\/p>\n

So I refactored – and lost about 15 hours.<\/p>\n

Stay with your code if it’s possible, always remember: a prototype doesn’t need clean code.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

3. Sleep<\/p>\n

Another thing which I consider to be very important. I tried to do as much as possible with my time, I coded for 24 hours nonstop and failed miserably.<\/p>\n

In the end the code is totally fucked up and your time is gone.<\/p>\n

You’ll be tired as hell and start making mistakes. So take a nap, it really helps.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Back to the “I’m in!” part:<\/p>\n

I’ll use:<\/p>\n

Language: Java<\/p>\n

Library: Slick2D<\/p>\n

IDE: Eclipse<\/p>\n

Sound: sfxr<\/p>\n

Graphics: Gimp\/Paint.net<\/p>\n

Energy: Coffee and pizza (what else?)<\/p>\n

My workstation didn’t change since last time (and is still\/again messed up :o), so I’ll use the old screenshot:
\n \"Just<\/p>","time":"December 10th, 2012 4:52 pm","title":"I\u2019m in and got a few hints for beginners!"}