Appendix. Glossary - alpha channel
An extra 8 bits per pixel in a bitmap of extra information that specifies how transparent or opaque the pixel is.
- array element
One item in an array.
- ASCII character set
The set of characters specified for computer use by the American Standard Code for Information Interchange.
- attribute
Information in a software object that describes the thing the object represents.
- back buffer
The buffer containing the next image to display on the screen.
- base address
The starting address of an array or a block of memory.
- base class
A class that other classes inherit from.
- binary
Numbers in base 2. Binary numbers only use the digits 0 and 1.
- bit
A binary 0 or 1.
- bitmap
A collection of pixel values, usually stored in a file on a disk, that form a picture.
- buffer
A section of a computer's memory that is used for storing data.
- bug
A mistake in a program.
- byte
A group of 8 bits.
- C++
A programming language that resembles English. Most games are written in C++.
- central processing unit (cpu)
See microprocessor.
- child class
See derived class
- closing brace
Another term for the right brace (}).
- collision detection
The process of testing to see if a sprite has hit something as it moves.
- color depth
The number of bits per pixel.
- compiler
A program that translates statements in programming languages such as C++ into binary.
- compound logical expressions
A logical expression that contains more than one condition.
- condition
A comparison in a logical expression.
- constructor
A special class member function that initializes an instance of the class to a known state.
- debugger
A software tool that helps find bugs.
- default constructor
A constructor with no parameters.
- default parameter
A function parameter that is set to a default value.
- dereference
Accessing the contents of the location a pointer points to.
- derived class
A class that inherits from another class.
- destructor
A special class member function that performs cleanup tasks on an instance of the class.
- digitized sound
Sound or music recorded in a digital format.
- dot product
The multiplying of two vectors to get a scalar.
- dynamic music generation
The technique of generating music as a game runs that is synchronized with the action of the game.
- exponent
A power by which a number is raised.
- frame
One picture drawn on a screen in a series of pictures. The rapid display of frames produces the illusion of animation.
- friend function
A function that is not a member of the class in question butthat has access to its private data.
- front buffer
The buffer containing the image that is currently displayed on the screen.
- function body
The statements or commands contained in a function between the opening and closing braces (the { and } symbols).
- gain
The volume of the sound.
- game class
A class that LlamaWorks2D uses to represent the game itself.
- game engine
Code that does the most common tasks performed by particular types of games. Each type of game requires its own game engine.
- gigabyte
A group of 1,000 megabytes.
- graphics library
A collection of functions that perform the most common and essential tasks all games need to do.
- include statements
C++ statements that begin with the #include directive, followed by the name of the include file. Use them to read .h files into .h or .cpp files.
- index
A subscript number of an array.
- inline member functions
Member functions whose code is defined inside the class itself.
- kilobyte
A group of 1,024 bytes.
- linked list
A list of objects in which each item in the list contains a pointer to the next item.
- linker
A program that converts object code into executable code.
- literal string
A string that is typed directly into program code and contained in quote marks.
- logical expression
A comparison that uses a logical operator and evaluates to the values true or false.
- macro
A special C++ marker you can define that enables the compiler to insert C++ statements into source code.
- main() function
The program entry point, which is another way of saying the point at which the program starts running.
- megabyte
A group of 1,000 kilobytes.
- member data
Data items in a class definition.
- message map
A technique for assigning specific functions to handle user input.
- microprocessor
The "brain" of a computer. Microprocessors really don't "understand" anything; they just execute binary instructions.
- nameless temporary variables
Variables that have no name and are created by calling a class's constructor that are immediately thrown away.
- namespace
A name given to a group of related types, functions, and so forth.
- object code
An intermediate form between source code and executable code. Object code is in binary.
- object-oriented programming
The definition of custom types that represent real or imaginary things in software.
- offset
A subscript number of an array.
- opening brace
Another term for the left brace ({).
- out-of-line member functions
Member functions whose code appears outside of a class definition.
- ownership
The responsibility for deleting dynamically allocated objects.
- parent class
See base class.
- parse
The process of reading input and dividing it into meaningful tokens.
- patches
MIDI instrument sound definitions.
- pixel
A group of three phosphorus dots on a computer monitor. The group consists of one red dot, one green dot, and one blue dot.
- pixel map
See bitmap
- pixmap
See bitmap
- postincrement
An increment that occurs after the value in the variable being incremented has been used.
- posttest loop
A C++ looping statement, such as do-while, that performs its test at the end of the loop.
- precision error
An error caused by a floating-point variable not having enough significant digits to provide the required precision.
- pretest loop
A C++ looping statement, such as while or for, that performs its test at the beginning of the loop.
- program
A set of binary instructions that tell a computer how to do a task.
- program entry point
The starting point of a program. In C++, the main() function is the program entry point.
- program stack
A special area of memory programs used to store temporary variables in a function and values that are returned from a function.
- programming language
A language used to write computer programs. Most programming languages are easier to understand than binary.
- prototype
A statement that describes how to use a function. Specifically, it enables parameter and return type checking.
- real-time input
Input that reflects the current state of the input devices and is responded to faster than humans can respond.
- Redbook audio
CD-quality sound and music.
- reference
Passing or returning an actual variable, rather than a copy of the variable.
- refresh rate
The amount of time it takes for a color screen's group of three electron guns to hit every pixel on the screen, one after the other.
- rendering
The drawing or display of graphics on a computer screen.
- resolution
The number of pixels on a monitor.
- save file
A file containing the player's current progress in the game.
- scalar
An integer or floating-point number.
- scan line
A row of pixels on a screen.
- scope
The portion of a program over which a program element, such as a variable or function, can be seen.
- significant digits
The most important digits in a floating-point number. The digits in a floating-point number that most significantly affect the number's value.
- software object
A programmer-defined data type that represents something imaginary or real and that defines a set of operations programs can perform on variables of that type.
- source code
Statements written in a programming language such as C++.
- source files
Text files containing statements in a programming language such as C++.
- stream
A flow of data into or out of a program.
- subscript
An array element number.
- terabyte
A group of 1,000 gigabytes.
- text file
A data file containing text.
- texture blending
Blending two or more bitmaps together, possibly with transparency.
- token
A meaningful symbol or value, such as an XML tag.
- variable
A named spot in memory that holds data.
- video adapter
A circuit card to which a computer's monitor is connected.
- video mode
The resolution and bit depth of a computer monitor.
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