Using C#

So my initial question for my senior research was whether I thought C# as a good language to write script for beginner game design, along with my internship. I have not started the game quite yet, but I can successfully say using Java would have made this a much easier process (at the internship). Unfortunately, I am unable to do that because the rest of their software is already in the C# language, and Loop Logic preferred uniformity. Note that in no way am I blaming the company, just pointing out a few flaws in the C# language.
Here is the man problem I have run into with C# that Java could have fixed:
when uploading a file to the browser (i.e attaching a word document to your email), C# has two ways of doing so, and only one way works all the time. Unfortunately, that one way requires the utilization of an external application, making the process much more arduous. On Java, there are two easy ways to do it that work all the time: a built in "SendKeys" method, and a package one can easily download specifically created to upload a document!
There have been a few other bugs along the way that have made me think that Java would be better as well.
I will start designing my game, so my next post will be about the pros and cons of C# in game design.

Same Old Thing

Hey guys,
So this week, I have just been doing more of the same thing: automated testing. Today, I'll talk about what I've been doing wrong.
He thought me an important lesson though. Whenever running any type of simulation test through any language or platform, always keep the test small. My one successful test, unfortunately, was around sixty lines of code; a test done properly should have no more than twenty for running simulations. What I did was create one large chunk of code that was able to run every single task he had asked me to check. What I should have done was many more classes, and each class would have a different, smaller task. For example, one method could be just creating a presentation (one of the user simulations I have to run), and the next method could edit it. That way, I can also add code to assure it does the correct action, and no small errors are occurring. This is where I made my second error. After every line of code that simulates a user action, the next line of code should be an assertion making sure that the "click" making sure what was supposed to happen actually happened.
So, those were my two main errors so far, but other than that, it has been smooth sailing!
Next week, I'll start making my game and talk about that. 

Space Camp

So for the last twelve days, I was lucky enough to be selected to a Space Camp through my Dad's work (Honeywell), and it was an absolutely amazing (you could say it was out of this world) experience-- so much that I have to talk about it a little before I talk about my senior research project again.

So to begin with, it was really cool meeting people from all around the world-- literally-- and learning to communicate and creating friendships with those who do not even speak English! They had activities through the day that actually helped build leadership skills, and we were put in teams to do various activities like building a heat shield. We were given mesh, some wire, and aluminum foil, and asked to build a shield simulating that of re-entry of a shuttle into the atmosphere--actually the hardest part of the process. Another cool challenge was rocket building-- we were given some plastic, hot glue, an engine, a parachute, and the rocket head (preassembled) and asked to build a rocket that goes as far as possible while also deploying the parachute. I found that having a center of mass a few inches below the center of pressure was the optimal design, and my team's rocket travelled 2500 feet, the furthest out of all the teams!

We were also given the opportunity to look at all kinds of amazing Navy and Air force planes, including the F22 Raptor! Furthermore, there were tons of simulations, and we got to do a simulation of flying a fighter jet that pilots actually use for their first stage of training! There was another one that simulating feeling 4x gravitational force of that felt on earth, that was definitely interesting!

At the end of the week, there were a few awards, and I was nominated for leader of my team among all 380 attendees!!

Coming back down to earth, and my internship this week, will be a little dull and disappointing, but be sure to check in in a few days for my next srp (senior research project) post!