• @refalo
    link
    22 months ago

    Programmer for 25 years. Only time I have ever used math more complicated than simple multiply/divide was… actually never.

    That one time when I copy/pasted a formula for linear interpolation, was still just multiplication and division. And I still have no idea how it works.

    I’ve even done OpenGL and graphics programming and still haven’t needed any algebra/trig/etc, although I don’t do complex 3D rendering or physics or anything like that.

    I wish I knew how to do cool programming stuff like draw circles and waves and stuff though, but I’ve never seen a tutorial that didn’t go WAY over my head immediately.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      6
      edit-2
      2 months ago

      Drawing a circle is actually pretty simple! Say we want to draw one with:

      • radius r=5
      • center C=(0,0)
      • 1000 points

      The logic would be:

      for (let i = 0; i < 1000; i++) {
          // full circle is made up of 2 * PI angles -> calculate current loop angle
          const angle = (2 * Math.PI) * (i / 1000)
          const x = r * Math.cos(angle)
          const y = r * Math.sin(angle)
          drawPixel(x, y)
      }
      

      The circle starts being drawn at (5, 0). As y approaches -5, x gets smaller until it hits 0. Then x approaches -5 and y approaches 0, and so on.

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        12 months ago

        That won’t work well ;-) it will draw 1000 pixels whatever the circumference!

        A good start though, for sure.

        • @[email protected]
          link
          fedilink
          12 months ago

          It’s just meant to be a simple example. If someone says other tutorials quickly go over their head, it’s not a good idea to introduce unnecessary concepts to start with.