1
00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:05,640
So this whole time that we've been learning the Lua language and doing these practice problems, you've

2
00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:08,220
been creating something called algorithms.

3
00:00:08,550 --> 00:00:14,460
A simple definition for an algorithm is a set of instructions for completing a task or solving a problem.

4
00:00:14,460 --> 00:00:15,540
That's all they are.

5
00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:20,400
When you follow recipes in a cookbook to make food, you're following an algorithm.

6
00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:25,140
When you're following the process to insert your keys, start your car and shift into drive.

7
00:00:25,170 --> 00:00:26,340
That's an algorithm.

8
00:00:26,550 --> 00:00:32,100
In this video, I want to briefly talk about what you should focus on when programming in order to efficiently

9
00:00:32,100 --> 00:00:34,380
solve problems and create algorithms.

10
00:00:34,410 --> 00:00:39,450
The very first step before creating an algorithm is to figure out what problem you're trying to solve.

11
00:00:39,570 --> 00:00:44,250
Maybe you want to figure out how to create a guy that plays a click sound when a button is pressed.

12
00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:48,210
Or maybe you want to animate a player's character when they do something like fire a gun.

13
00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:52,080
Whatever it is, the first step you want to do is identify the problem.

14
00:00:52,410 --> 00:00:56,280
The next step is to start outlining possible ways to solve the problem.

15
00:00:56,280 --> 00:00:58,800
And you may not know exactly how to fix it.

16
00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:03,820
Like perhaps you don't know how to execute a block of code when a player clicks on a button.

17
00:01:03,820 --> 00:01:08,800
But all you need to do is make that rough outline that basically says, okay, when a player clicks

18
00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:13,870
this button, I execute a block of code to perform an action based on the button that is clicked.

19
00:01:13,960 --> 00:01:18,070
I may not know how to do that right now, but I do know that I have to do it later.

20
00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:23,140
Once you get all your steps defined, you want to make sure that these steps, these instructions solve

21
00:01:23,140 --> 00:01:24,010
your problem.

22
00:01:24,010 --> 00:01:29,530
If they do, then you'll start researching on how to execute these steps, like research, how to connect

23
00:01:29,530 --> 00:01:33,640
a function to an event, like when a player clicks on a button and so on.

24
00:01:33,910 --> 00:01:38,980
Once you do that, then you start to build your algorithm, start designing it and implementing all

25
00:01:38,980 --> 00:01:40,540
the stuff you learned prior.

26
00:01:40,570 --> 00:01:45,760
Check to make sure that the algorithm is solving your problem and that you're using the right syntax

27
00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:48,700
and that the logical flow makes sense.

28
00:01:48,850 --> 00:01:53,410
Once you finally complete it, then you can start testing your algorithm to see if it works.

29
00:01:53,410 --> 00:01:58,600
And if it doesn't, you can start debugging it to get the algorithm into a state where it's fully working

30
00:01:58,600 --> 00:01:59,950
and solving your problem.

31
00:02:00,510 --> 00:02:05,370
Then the last step is to document your algorithm, write down comments in your scripts, to remind you

32
00:02:05,370 --> 00:02:10,590
and other developers reading the code what a specific part of it is doing that may seem confusing.

33
00:02:10,770 --> 00:02:16,830
Don't ever over comment your code, but do it to where it's concise and doesn't miss any important details.

34
00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:22,560
Now that, my friend, is the basic process of creating algorithms in your code, if you follow these

35
00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:26,550
steps, solving problems you face when making games will be a lot easier.