After writing my first article about random map generators, I said I was going to write a city generator. Well now I have, and I'm here to tell you about it over the course of the next few Building the Dream articles.

Blow your own trumpet much?

Although this article could just be dismissed as me blowing my own trumpet, I'm hoping that it will serve a somewhat more useful purpose. Before, during, and after working on the map generator I've searched the Internet for examples of similar generators and failed to find any. Sure, there are odd bits and pieces - descriptions of simpler generators that have given me ideas on some techniques to use, or screenshots of sexy work-in-progress realtime generators, but no actual algorithms or code samples from generators that come close to the required complexity of my generator.
 
So hopefully this article will become a useful reference point for anyone else wanting to undertake the task of writing a city generator, whether they're targeting a grid-based world representation like mine or a vector-based one.
 
Apart from discussing the algorithms used in the generator (and why they're used) I'll also talk about the data structures that are used - so even if you're not interested in random map generators you should be able to find plenty of examples of uses for the data structures covered in the first Building the Dream article, as requested quite some time ago.
 
 

A bit later than I was hoping, but nevertheless it's now time for Building the Dream 2. This time I'll be looking at the RISC OS sound system - everything from the terminology used, to what makes a sound, how the RISC OS sound system works, and how you can write your own sample player.
 
 

Hello and welcome to the Building the Dream, a new series of (regular!) articles at The Icon Bar in which I will be educating you in how to turn your programming dreams into reality. First off, let's get one thing clear - this isn't a beginner's course to programming, or a tutorial in a specific language. Instead it's the place to go once you've finished your programming tutorial and are wondering what to do next. If you have an idea for a program, but are confused about how to implement it, then this is the series for you, as I'll be covering everything from data structures and program design through to project management, optimisation, how to make sure your programs maintain the RISC OS look and feel, and even provide case studies of how certain well-known programs do their stuff.
 

Each week we hold up a mirror to the people of RISC OS and reflect the current topics of debate.
 
In this, the third exciting installment:

• Demo versions of software
• BBC iPlayer protests won't aid RISC OS
• Another user says goodbye

 

The latest RISC OS chat brought to you in glorious cut-n-paste-o-vision.
 
In this week's episode:

• Whatever happened to VA for Mac?
• Should developers join forces?
• A7000 puts you on hold
• Acorn Computers admit their past

 

Or: we read the newsgroups so you don't have to.
 
In this new, hopefully regular, column we collate the interesting, informative and funny comments posted on all the RISC OS web sites and newsgroups throughout the week. Our telescreens are everywhere, and we are always listening.
 
 

CJE senior dogsbody Andrew Conroy emailed with information about a Risc PC RAM deal that also helps the Firefox porting being done by a certain Mr. Naulls. Now, that might seem like slight news to warrant a whole posting to itself; but it got me thinking, and everyone knows that doesn't happen often, so hold the front page.
 

"...touched for the very first time...". When my boyfriend directed me to TIB, that was my general impression. I had wandered into a new and confusing world, where nothing would ever be the same again. Of course, when I got to know the history of Acorn and RISC OS, I realized that I wasn't a newcomer at all. Like most people of my generation in Britain, I had been introduced to computing by the mighty BBC Micro/Master, and later the Archimedes. The first operation I ever did on a computer was to play 'Dragon World' at primary school, which I remember being quite entertained by. I'd love to revisit the game and see if I still feel the same about it nearly twenty years later. At secondary school, most of my first attempts at word processing, programming, desktop publishing and working with spreadsheets were done using BBC computers, and I remember the thrill of being introduced to our school's brand new Archimedes computers at around the age of 14. By that time I had an Atari ST 520, so was familiar with the general layout of the desktop and computer itself. Sadly, though, I don't think I did a great deal on the Archimedes, which is a shame, as I've heard nothing but praise for it.