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COMPUTER PROGRAMMING |
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Computer Programming allows a character
to read and understand programmatic script,
code, concepts, and general architecture.
It also allows the modification of existing
code, extension of existing programs with
new code, design of new software, and the
creation of new software from scratch. |
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It also allows general analysis of the purpose,
interface, and quality of software written
by others.
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Computer Programming can be used as a Complementary
Skill Roll to the PS: Computer Usage Skill. |
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PROGRAMMING DETAILS |
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Computer Programming is a very important
ability in the MetaCyber setting, and is
thus given very detailed attention in the
following documents. A person playing a
Hacker and GM's should read each document
carefully and (for greatest clarity) in
the listed order. |
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LANGUAGES: There are a number of specific
programming languages in use in the MetaCyber
setting, which must be purchased separately
within Computer Programming as 1 point adders, similar to Survival and Gambling.
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SUBGROUPS: There are many different disciplines of Computer Programming in the MetaCyber setting, as detailed herein.
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SKILL MODIFIERS: An in-depth listing of various modifiers to apply to Computer Programming Skill rolls.
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SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT: A discussion on how long it takes to create a software programming, and what level of effort is involved.
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HACKING: Detailed rules on how to hack Computers in the MetaCyber setting are given in this document.
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COMPUTERS AND COMPUTER PROGRAMMING |
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When a Computer has the Skill Computer Programming,
it represents software tools such as development
environments, enterprise managers, object
browsers, debuggers, compilers and decompilers,
help files, and configured services that
help a Computer Programmer do things. The
most essential of these tools are development
environments, debuggers, and compilers (which
are often all integrated into a single framework). |
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Appropriate Computer Programming Skills
on a Computer can be used as Complementary
Skill Rolls by a programmer using that Computer.
Also, attempting to program on a Computer
lacking appropriate Computer Programming
Skills imposes stiff penalties. The combination
of potential bonuses if using a well set-up
Computer vs. penalties for using a Computer
lacking proper tools makes it very important
for a programmer to acquire and maintain
a Computer with everything they need installed
on it. |
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A separate Computer Programming Skill must
be purchased for each individual language,
but each purchase can have as many subgroups
as apply to that language. Thus a Computer
would have to buy Computer Programming (Enoch
/ Enoch Plus; Game Software, Business Software,
Databasing) separately from Computer Programming
(VarDim 3.3; Business Software, Databasing)
and Computer Programming (W12; Game Software,
Business Software, Databasing). This can
make well set up development Computers expensive. |
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In general a person can still write code
on a Computer without development tools,
a debugger, or a compiler, but they suffer
stiff penalties as indicated on the Computer
Programming Modifiers chart. It is possible
(but unusual) for a Computer to have one
but not all tools useful for Computer Programming;
for instance a Computer might have a development
environment and a compiler installed for
a particular language but no debugger. A
-1/2 Limitation for each missing element
would be appropriate on the Computer Programming
Skill. Note that not all languages support
a debugger or a development environment
or even a compiler (scripts are not compiled)
however, and this does not rate a Limitation
to the Skill.
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For instance a Computer that had a compiler
for W12 but no developer environment or
debugger could be bought as:
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Computer Programming (W12; Game Software,
Business Software, Databasing); No Debugger
(-1/2), No Dev Environment (-1/2) |
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