Thursday, January 21, 2016

Senior Project Introductory Post

I am a senior attending BASIS Scottsdale, and for our third trimester, we will be doing a senior research project.
Before I begin, here is a link to my proposal outlining what I'm doing, why I'm doing it, and how I'm doing it.




As a beginner in computer language, who has just learned Java (but honestly forgot it since it's been over three years!), for my senior research project, I will test whether I believe C# will be a good language to start with. I will be interning at a software startup called LoopLogic, where I will be using C# on Visual Studio. At my internship, I will be doing automated tests and integrating that into their software (with success hopefully!), But as I learn C#, I will also be making beginner games on the side. I will start with simple ones, like poker and blackjack. This is because one of the problems with learning C# is the visual aspect can be very difficult to learn. The games will just output simple numbers and give the user options to"check" or "fold" or "raise" or "hit". From there, if there is enough time -- we only have ten weeks-- I will try to make more difficult games using graphics, such as a card matching game with pictures.
As my proposal said, I am a car lover. I have been working on them since I was just six or seven years old, and to this day, working on cars remains much more than a hobby to me: I hope to become a mechanical engineer in the auto industry. 
Although I was pretty good under the hood, whether it was the tedious process of adding a supercharger, or simply just tightening the suspension, the ECU (engine control unit) was one part that always stumped me, and the programming in the small square chip that could actually save somebody's life just amazed me. So while learning Java for Computer Science was fun, learning programming that I am actually able to apply to the 'real world' and help a company's software run more smoothly will be far more rewarding, and a step towards my career goal of becoming a mechanical engineer. 
I will start working at my internship on February 1st. Much of my project's outcome will be revealed within the next few weeks, as I have to learn C# before I start at my internship, where I'll be thrown right into the mix. Here is the link to my internship site, a software company called Loop Logic:




3 comments:

  1. Saurav, I think your project is so interesting! As someone who knows so little about cars and computer programming, I am excited to learn more about computer languages and your experience at this start-up. I have one question: Will you be posting links or attachments to the games you will be creating so we can try them out? Thanks and I am super amped to follow your research!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Saurav, this looks like a really cool project. It's great how this applies to your own interests and future aspirations. How, in particular to this--the future of cars, and automated devices--does C# fit in? And, as Max said, will we be able to try out the games that you make? Good luck, and I'm excited to keep up with your posts!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am excited for your project, especially because I have very little knowledge on the subject. I do agree with max and think that you should find a way to give your audience a preview of the games you will be making.
    Best of luck :)

    ReplyDelete