One of the technical questions the interviewer asked was to create a data structure that would insert in O(log n) and return an iterator that would iterate the data back in sorted order in O(n) time. I knew it was a binary tree and the iterator would use an inorder traversal of the tree so I started typing it out.

But when I got to the iterator part, I just couldn’t figure it out.  I knew for sure it was an inorder traversal but I couldn’t figure out how to turn the recursive algorithm that I knew into an iterative one. So I sat there and drew some trees to try and visualize the algorithm for it. I thought using a stack for the traversal would also probably work but I couldn’t figure that out either. And then time was up.

So we continued the interview. I asked some questions about the position. Then the interview ended.

I hung around for a little bit with a friend that worked there and referred me for the job then we biked back to our dorms. As soon as I got back I opened up Visual Studio and worked on the problem again because I knew that if I didn’t I’d probably end up staying up all night thinking about it.

It figured it out in ten minutes.

Coding under pressure, man. Can’t do it.

I implemented the A* pathfinding algorithm in python/pygame today. Yep. I was bored of doing Source SDK stuff for my CSE381 class and so I decided to learn a new language, framework, and algorithm. The program itself is pretty basic and isn’t really that optimized but it works. Maybe I’ll post the executable once I figure out how to build python code into exes.

I’m actually really liking python/pygame. Maybe I’ll make my next game with it.

Here it is: http://chenstopher.com/cse380

There were three questions with two parts each. We had to write some methods for some data structures. I breezed by the first two and thought I finished the third but for some stupid reason, it wouldn’t work.

I sat there debugging this one stupid thing for at least an hour. I couldn’t figure out why the stupid chained hash table was inserting null entries when I tried to add something into it. Eventually, I had enough and deleted everything and started over. Took me two minutes to rewrite the method and it finally worked! I tested it with the grade calculator that the teacher gave us and I got 15 out of 15.

I wanted to get out of there so I quickly handed in the files and the paper, left the computer lab, walked downstairs and out the building. Then I remembered something super important that I forgot to do: update the hash table’s size.

FUCK.

I couldn’t go back and add it, I had already left the exam area and handed it in. I felt so dumb. I just couldn’t shake the fact that I had forgotten something totally stupid and now I won’t get perfect scores on all the tests I’ve taken for that class. Yeah, it sounds lame that I am worried about something like that. But I already forgot to hand in the last hw on time (luckily I was allowed to hand it in late). And this comp sci stuff is probably the one of the only things I’m good at so I’m feeling kind of mad at myself ‘cause I forgot to do it.

Now I have to ace the final. Too bad it’s multiple choice. I hate multiple choice comp sci exams.

Sure, C#/XNA is slower but I don’t think it matters when the games I want to make are gonna be 2D. When I move on to 3D I think I’ll try C++/DirectX again. I can’t really find any decent online resources for DirectX right now and I don’t feel like buying a book.

I’ll probably take the game programming course here at Stony in a later semester. The teacher is cool and having someone guide you through it is a whole lot easier. Wish they had it when I was at Tech. Screw you weird name people, Ariel and Aljohn. Oh and Lukasz.

This kid Allen(?) is starting up a game programming club so I’m gonna be joining that. He seems pretty awesome at programming, much more knowledgeable than I who only knows Java and a bit of C++ (and php/html/css/js). It’ll be fun. I hope.

So anyway, I’ve starting learning C# and it’s a lot like Java. That’s kind of a good thing since Java’s pretty easy. Still deciding on game to start off with.

Snake? Space Invaders? Tetris? PONG?!

For the sake of randomness. Here’s a video of one of the best games ever.

I was trying to look for something to do. Searched DC++ for some games to play, didn’t really work. Tried to watch a movie, wasn’t in the mood. Do homework? It was a Saturday. No one does homework on Saturday.

Then I thought, I kinda want to learn Blender and 3D modeling and texturing. You know, do some animation and game programming. If I wanted to do animation, I’d have to learn some video editing. And for game programming, I’d have to learn DirectX programming and more C++. So, I ended up making a list of stuff I wanted to learn.

The List

• DirectX
• Advanced Game Programming
• More C++
• Blender/3D Modeling/Textures
• Basic Animation
• Basic Video Editing
• iPhone App Development
• Android Development

Yeah that’s a lot of stuff but it’ll give me something to do if I ever fall into “help I’m bored out of my mind” state again. If it ever does happen I can just refer to the list and google up some tutorials.

I tried to start learning Blender but Windows 7 had some problems with it and I didn’t feel like booting up the Vista partition. So I just spent the rest of the day doing nothing.

Yeah I know. I’m lazy. I should probably actually try to accomplish stuff on the list instead of just making one for fun but you know what? Screw you. Just keeeeding. Haha.

I think I’ll start with DirectX/Game/C++.