Is there a need for more quickscripts?

[D'Lanor]

In another thread the subject of Alcscript quickscripts came up in a somewhat negative way. Now I know quickscripts are not perfect and they will always be limited compared to full Alcscripts. They are intended though to make things easier for those who are confused by the large chunks of Alcscript required to make even simple actions happen.

Lately I seem to be the only one who has been programming quickscripts. Quickscripts are tedious to program and they do not cover any new territory, which is most likely why the regular PyPRP devs are currently not working in that area. And that is a good thing because as long as there are new features to add I would prefer them doing that.

Now I am willing to add more quickscripts, but only if there is a need for them. I was planning for example to turn the Alcscript for the two way animation with saved state from the wiki into a quickscript.

In the quickscript you would only have to list your objects and variables (some of which optional) and then it generates the full alcscript from that. That should be about 18 lines for you to code instead of the 145 lines of logic scripting you can see in that wiki article.

So I wonder if people will be using a quickscript like that. Because if there is no need for it I could probably save myself a lot of work.

[Kato]

Put simply, yes. I think a lot of people use quickscripts--they're pretty cool

-Kato

[Tsar Hoikas]

No, I only use full Alcscript and so should everyone else

[Grogyan]

My option is any scripting of any kind is above my head, but do try and use full scripts whenever I can else I use quickscripts.


Right now I just need to signup for classes in both python and AlcScript, D'Lanor, Nadnerb?

[Tinuviel]

My option is any scripting of any kind is above my head, but do try and use full scripts whenever I can else I use quickscripts.
Right now I just need to signup for classes in both python and AlcScript, D'Lanor, Nadnerb?

Like Jennifer's classroom? Ohhh, that would be perfect for my stupied little head But I know that would be asking to much, and quickscripts is a starting point for me when trying to learn script. So I vote yes.

[Chacal]

As the guy who wishes he had time for Age writing, you bet I'd use quickscripts if I could.

[andylegate]

I picked option 1, but with some clarification:

I'll use quickscripts because it helps me get the job done, get's what needs to be done, done, and helps avoid confusion in scrolling through a lengthy ALCscript window.

If there is no quickscript available for what I want to do, or it won't do the job the way it needs to be done, then I normally bite the bullet and go the long way.............which normally ends up with me screaming for help after hours, and hours, and hours, and hours of trying to make it work by myself.

The lack of quickscripts hampers the lone Age Creator. He or she may not understand scripting all that well, and when they look at the long scrolling list of lines of script, tend to become discouraged.

Hence they only put out a little garden Age.

Yes, they can always ask for help. Which may or may not be forth comming. Or when it does come, it seems like gibberish to the person that needs help.

I'm not an expert on making a wrench. But I know how to use one. That also doesn't make me an expert on fixing cars however..........

And that's how I see Quickscripts. They are a tool that really helps in many cases and can help get the job done faster.

Just like cutting down a tree: Full ALCscript = Bow Saw
Quickscripts = Chainsaw

Both will cut down the tree. One will do it a LOT faster than the other, but the other will give you a much more precise and cleaner cut, yet both can be available to the person cutting the tree.........

[Paradox]

I always use full AlcScript, but I'm also obsessive compulsive with controlling every detail...

I can definitely understand the want for quickscripts, but for a developer they make it difficult to debug code snippits on the forum, since I have to go and see what the quickscript is actually doing.

As well, AlcScript is designed specifically to match the way that Plasma handles things. Quickscripts may seem easier, but they actually prevent people from learning how Plasma handles things, and prevent people from learning how to build more advanced puzzles using more obscure engine features and responder options that aren't presented in the quickscripts. Ideally it would be better for everyone to use the full script and understand it, rather than use quickscripts and never attempt more complex logic due to not knowing and not wanting to learn the full script.

[D'Lanor]

Ideally it would be better for everyone to use the full script and understand it, rather than use quickscripts and never attempt more complex logic due to not knowing and not wanting to learn the full script.

I agree. But the key here is "use the full script and understand it". Does it really learn people to understand Plasma or does it only make sense to those of us who already had an idea of how Plasma works?

I guess the next poll question should be: "Do you understand the full Alcscript you are using or was it just a copy and paste job?"

[Trylon]

Quickscript was designed to make repeating scripts easy to implement, and make things to do easy for people who don't get the scripting. But to allow control freaks or other advanced users to use full script when possible.
So I voted "Yes, I prefer quickscripts".