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Acmlm's Board - I3 Archive - - Posts by Guy Perfect
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Guy Perfect









Since: 11-18-05

Last post: 6302 days
Last view: 6301 days
Posted on 02-03-06 04:09 PM, in Who's up for some distributed cracking? Link
By my calculations, it will take 4.5 days (minus 45 minutes) to gather your 20 people together.

Make sure you release a decompression utility, HyperHacker, instead of distributing the actual decompressed ROM data. Even though it's not verbatim what was in the ROM, it's still illegal distribution of copyrighted material.

You might want to keep a mind for saving old computers in the future. I've got three machines under my desk here spanning times reaching back seven years, so I could run processes on the other two simultaneously and leave them on all day.

You may want to either scrounge up an old computer or invest in a specialized RTC ('Round The Clock) box that you can use for such things. I used one for downloading some 11GB of misc F-Zero videos from MFO once. Took it 3 days, 24/7. I didn't have to worry about it, though, because my main computer was not running the program, so I had all the time to myself with it.


EDIT:
Wait, Monday afternoon? Since it's somewhere around noonish right now (14:11 my time), then, uh... You'll start distributing files 3 days from now. If it takes your computer 4.5 days to complete the task, then you'd have been almost done. And I'm pretty sure it will take more than 1.5 days to get all your results back.

(edited by BGNG on 02-03-06 03:12 PM)
Guy Perfect









Since: 11-18-05

Last post: 6302 days
Last view: 6301 days
Posted on 02-03-06 09:15 PM, in Who's up for some distributed cracking? Link
If you have access to two computers, then why not use two computers? Surely running on yours and your mom's is better than just running on yours.
Guy Perfect









Since: 11-18-05

Last post: 6302 days
Last view: 6301 days
Posted on 02-04-06 12:08 AM, in VB6 - Writing a string variable (variable equivalent of varname.WriteLine) Link
Erm... I just use the intrinsic file I/O methods... Get and Put with the file opened as Binary... 
Dim StringVar As String: StringVar = "FreeBASIC or Bust"
Dim LongVar As Long: LongVar = FreeFile
Dim PutString As String: PutString = StringVar & vbCrLf

If Dir("Data") <> "" Then Kill "Data"
Open "Data" For Binary Access Write As LongVar
    Put LongVar, 1, PutString
Close LongVar
Guy Perfect









Since: 11-18-05

Last post: 6302 days
Last view: 6301 days
Posted on 02-04-06 11:14 AM, in VB6 - Writing a string variable (variable equivalent of varname.WriteLine) Link
I highly recommend not using the FileSystemObject in the first place. These days, there's more of a push towards productivity than efficiency, which is why everything tends to lean towards object-oriented programming. The truth of the matter is, using lower-level functions and statements is much faster and much more effective on the performance of the program. They're really not particularly inconvenient, either.

You can allocate the necessary memory in a String variable to hold all the contents of a text file, then parse it into a string array by splitting it at each newline. Using a dynamic string array and the Split() function, you can parse any string into an array of strings using a fixed delimiter, such as the newline constant vbCrLf.

Split() will set the lower bound of an undimensioned array to 0, which will end up being the first line of the file in the end. So in the code below, FileLines(0) is the first line of the file. The only thing you'll really have to worry about is the size of the file. But since text files don't usually get bigger than, say, 10MB (process logs defy the rule), you should be just fine.

Observe: 
Dim Filename As String
Dim FileLines() As String, NumLines As Long
Dim FileNum As Long, FileData As String

'Set the filename
Filename = "Data"

'Check for file existance
If Dir(Filename) = "" Then
    MsgBox "File access error:" & vbCrLf & _
        "File not found", vbCritical
    Exit Sub 'College professors will discourage this
End If

FileNum = FreeFile 'Find a usable file number
Open Filename For Binary Access Read As FileNum
    FileData = Space(LOF(FileNum)) 'Allocate space
    Get FileNum, 1, FileData 'Read all file data
Close FileNum

'Parse the file data at a newline (vbCrLf)
FileLines = Split(FileData, vbCrLf)
NumLines = UBound(FileLines) + 1 'Get number of lines


(edited by BGNG on 02-04-06 02:15 PM)
Guy Perfect









Since: 11-18-05

Last post: 6302 days
Last view: 6301 days
Posted on 02-05-06 01:40 PM, in OpenGL: Display lists vs. Vertex pointers ? Link
It depends on what you're doing, but Display Lists are generally the best way to go. If you're doing objects that morph, then a Vertex Array would be faster since you wouldn't have to recompile the scene each frame. If you're doing a landscape that won't be changing, then you can use a Display List to keep it easy-to-reach for the GPU.

I might be mistaken, but aren't Vertex Array's an extension? I like to avoid extensions for the sake of allowing utmost compatibility.
Guy Perfect









Since: 11-18-05

Last post: 6302 days
Last view: 6301 days
Posted on 02-05-06 09:45 PM, in F-Zero X -- Editor Project Link
Widgets Begin



I guess this picture sums it up as best as any thousand words can. This is the starting of the widget creation for the various decorations that are applied to the courses in the game. It is also the final stretch of work that needs to be done for the course geometry graphics engine. Other than this, it's just the floor and horizon.

I've personally hand-coded that "GO" gate, just as I will all the other models in the game. It is scalable and can be applied to any control point with any course width. I've also implemented that lap line as of the last update; the little green/yellow chekcerboardy thing on the course.


Course Features - The Zones



Those of you who were around what seems like forever ago might remember Spring C., my first lot-of-effort course with nauseating curves and colors that induce confusion. This is a picture of that course. See how it's in the shape of a spring? Yeah, I totally picked a good name.

Anyway, you can clearly see all three of Pit Area, Dart Zone and Slip Zone in this picture. And as mentioned earlier, you can set the tunnels to be partially transparent (like they are in this picture) to reveal their contents. In this case, we can see Dart Zones and Slip Zones inside the tunnels.

All combinations of Pit/Dart/Slip are supported, including left-side, center and right-side capabilities.
Guy Perfect









Since: 11-18-05

Last post: 6302 days
Last view: 6301 days
Posted on 02-06-06 09:16 AM, in Holy shit, look what I found! Link
The only comment I have is that it's perhaps one of the funniest things I've heard in a long time to say "Those stupid pirates are stealing my ROM hack!" The irony is just so abundant it tastes like a subtle blend of roasted turkey and oregano.
Guy Perfect









Since: 11-18-05

Last post: 6302 days
Last view: 6301 days
Posted on 02-06-06 09:22 AM, in To make a Board - Perl? PHP? Link
Hang on, slick. There are other alternatives out there.

If your web server will allow it, you may want to look into CGI. While Perl is a typical language for CGI, the nature of CGI will let you use compiled executables written in any language, such as variants of C, Java, variants of BASIC, etc. Have an old copy of VB laying around? There's an actual use for it. Trying to remember the good old days of C console programming? CGI can make that live again.

CGI uses standard input and output for interaction with the web server, so just treat it like the console in your applications. C++ users will appreciate the ease of using cout to write output to the web browser. QBASIC users will find that it's easy to get data from the server with the LINE INPUT statement. Ordinary stuff, and it's easy to do.


So take a look into your options. If you can use a compiling programming language instead of a server-side script, it would be much better in the long run because it will be faster and you won't be limited or have to learn a new form of programming.
Guy Perfect









Since: 11-18-05

Last post: 6302 days
Last view: 6301 days
Posted on 02-06-06 01:04 PM, in Holy shit, look what I found! Link
Constructive comments from now on.
Guy Perfect









Since: 11-18-05

Last post: 6302 days
Last view: 6301 days
Posted on 02-06-06 08:52 PM, in To make a Board - Perl? PHP? Link
Again, since CGI runs compiled programs, it could be a security risk. You have to look long and hard to find a server that allows executing CGI applications, but if yours lets you, then don't be afraid to go for it.
Guy Perfect









Since: 11-18-05

Last post: 6302 days
Last view: 6301 days
Posted on 02-06-06 10:19 PM, in To make a Board - Perl? PHP? Link
HyperHacker beat me to this post. Yes, PHP is a lot cleaner and safer, but it is, as I mentioned, just another language to learn. If you do decide to go CGI in the future, however, here are some examples...


I've prepared CGI scripts for demonstration purposes on my web server that both do the same thing, but one is written in C and the other in FreeBASIC. You can download the source files for both of them, and I'll post them both here.

My web server is a slow 433MHz laptop running Linux and Apache in the closet upstairs. It uses my internet, so what you see on this page is a limited time offer.


http://63.78.181.101/CGI_Demo/FreeBASIC/GetIP.cgi

GetIP.cgi.bas 
Const CrLf = Chr(13) & Chr(10)

Sub Main()
    'Get the remote IP environment variable
    Dim RemoteIP As String = Environ("REMOTE_ADDR")

    'Print the HTTP Status and Content-type header
    Print "Status: 200/OK"
    Print "Content-type: text/html" & CrLf

    'Output the IP to the server
    Print "Your IP address is: " & RemoteIP
End Sub

'Main isn't automatic in FreeBASIC
Call Main

http://63.78.181.101/CGI_Demo/C/GetIP.cgi

GetIP.c 
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int main() {
    // Get the remote IP environment variable
    char* RemoteIP = getenv("REMOTE_ADDR");

    // Print the HTTP Status and Content-type header
    printf("Status: 200/OK\n");
    printf("Content-type: text/html\n\n");

    // Output the IP to the server
    printf("Your IP address is: %s", RemoteIP);

    // GCC made me use int, so here's a return 0
    return 0;
}
Guy Perfect









Since: 11-18-05

Last post: 6302 days
Last view: 6301 days
Posted on 02-07-06 12:19 AM, in To make a Board - Perl? PHP? Link
You act like you've never seen BASIC before. It's an old language, and there's several variants of it; many of them directly compatible with each other. If you copied and pasted that code into VB6, it'd work verbatim with the exception of the "As String =" thing, which wasn't supported until VB.NET.

BASIC cannot do escape characters, so you have to define constants. Visual Basic is known for its billions (not really that many) of intrinsic constants such as vbCrLf for newline, vbTab, vbNull, etc. In other versions, you'll have to define your own constants like I did in that source.

I don't shut down my server. It's always on. I say the offer is for a limited time because I won't keep those files up on it forever. They'll be taken down in a few days.


I helped my ISP get started, so they gave me my own public IP address for free. With that, I can just have them forward incoming requests to my router and deal with things from there as if I was a network administrator for some corporation. I've got several services available, such as web hosting, Remote Desktop (for using my computer while out of the house) and even the game Soldat.

The web server, as I mentioned before, is a laptop running Linux. It's VERY well for wear even being 8 years old. It runs unusually well with Linux on it and works great as a web server.

That's one thing people don't realize: Laptops are ideal machines for servers. They're lightweight, fit anywhere, have compact interfaces and all sorts of connections, have the input devices and monitor built right in, the battery acts as an on-the-spot UPS... The list goes on. Just stick one of those in the same place as the router and you've got yourself a server.

And yeah, I get complete control over what I get to do with my server. Being an admin has its pros and cons. Linux can be tricky to set up, but if you're computer-savvy enough, there's not much to get in your way. Just install some PCMCIA kernel modules and reconfigure the startup scripts let me use an external ethernet card just fine with no problems.

Also, I get the perks of running CGI with FreeBASIC. That's always nice. (-:
Guy Perfect









Since: 11-18-05

Last post: 6302 days
Last view: 6301 days
Posted on 02-07-06 12:09 PM, in To make a Board - Perl? PHP? Link
Originally posted by Ikuzou
I've heard once that laptops can't resist the heat, and ruins the hard disc.. watch out.
In that case, you should not leave any laptop on for more than a few hours, and certainly don't let it connect to the internet.

That's not really much of a problem nowadays. Laptops can play Half Life 2 at a reasonable quality with their enormous screen resolutions as it is, so they can certainly deal with heat and hard disk activity.

Originally posted by Coby
Stick to PHP, it's nice, fast and easy.
Nice, perhaps. Easy, once you get the hang of it. Fast, not so much. With PHP, the server has to load, parse, interperate and execute as opposed to CGI, where the server has to load and execute. PHP takes up a significant amount of resources over time more than CGI, which on performance-critical servers means a major cost issue.

PHP is a good option, don't get me wrong, but I wouldn't say it's better than CGI. PHP has its limitations where some freakishly obscure applications are possible with CGI. For the sake of a bizarre example, what if you wanted the server to scan in a picture from a scanner and use it as a texture to render in an OpenGL scene, then display a snapshot of that scene to the web user? You could do that with CGI, but I'm pretty sure it can't be done in PHP.

Besides, how many web developers in this forum don't already know some other languge? It's not like there's any learning curve involved with CGI in that regard.
Guy Perfect









Since: 11-18-05

Last post: 6302 days
Last view: 6301 days
Posted on 02-07-06 01:34 PM, in To make a Board - Perl? PHP? Link
So the whole "I helped my ISP get started" means I don't know how the internet works? Most ISPs these days put you on a bus with other customers on an internal network. You are incorrect: Not everybody has their own IP. People only tend to get their own IPs when they connect through a dial-up with DHCP or some select DSL providers. Otherwise, you're using your ISP's router.

Chances are, if you and your neighbors are using the same broadband ISP, you'll find that going to something like http://www.whatismyip.org/ will show that you all in fact have the SAME IP address. The reason you can each browse the net seperately is because your ISP's router is maintaining TCP connections with the web servers. Based on the connection ID, the router can determine where to send each incoming packet.

For example, the external IP of my router is 172.17.100.101. Anyone who knows jack rubbish about internet can tell you that this is a Class B private IP address, which cannot be routed over the internet. Internally, my router's IP address is 192.168.1.1, which is a Class C private IP address. The IP that people use from the internet to access my router, however, is 63.78.181.101, which is a public IP address registered to my ISP. When my ISP gets incoming requests to that address, they have it run through a NAT and forward it to my router.

Everyone else in the neighborhood does, in fact, have the same IP address. The static IP option was designed for businesses for an additional fee, but due to my assistence, my ISP gave me the first one (*.101) for free. Yes, FreeDOS, I am that special.


In a feeble attempt to connect this post to the topic at hand...

With your own public IP address, you can run CGI applications on your server without fear of restriction.

(Perfect connective sentence. No one will ever know)


Anyhow, you mentioned that PHP can do that crazy freaky wacky thing I noted. I'm curious at to how you might go about doing it. Would it be by calling shell commands or can it actually do it itself?
Guy Perfect









Since: 11-18-05

Last post: 6302 days
Last view: 6301 days
Posted on 02-07-06 06:06 PM, in To make a Board - Perl? PHP? Link
You can get a reasonable laptop for around $700 nowadays (after rebate, of course). Just check out some of the stuff at NewEgg. Not top of the line by any means, but who said a server has to be ultra fast? Memory's a good thing, and hard disk space is a must, but if you're just serving web content, then...

...well, an AMD-K6-2 processor running at 433MHz on a 4GB hard drive with 124MB of RAM will do you just fine. (-:
Guy Perfect









Since: 11-18-05

Last post: 6302 days
Last view: 6301 days
Posted on 02-08-06 05:28 PM, in To make a Board - Perl? PHP? Link
1) If you're going to set up a server, it's most likely for a business or non-profit organization and cost won't be coming out of your pocket.

2) My files won't be hosted on my server. That's just stupid. Why would I give out all my personal bandwidth to the internet like that?

3) Renting a server means playing by someone else's rules. In a techie's world, that's sinful.

4) It's very difficult to make a slow, crappy server. You would either have to dip below the 300MHz line or put Windows on it. Web servers can run with very little other software (not even a GUI), so all of a server's resources can be focused on web.

(edited by BGNG on 02-08-06 04:30 PM)
Guy Perfect









Since: 11-18-05

Last post: 6302 days
Last view: 6301 days
Posted on 02-08-06 08:12 PM, in To make a Board - Perl? PHP? Link
Originally posted by Gavin
Originally posted by BGNG
1) If you're going to set up a server, it's most likely for a business or non-profit organization and cost won't be coming out of your pocket.

2) My files won't be hosted on my server. That's just stupid. Why would I give out all my personal bandwidth to the internet like that?

3) Renting a server means playing by someone else's rules. In a techie's world, that's sinful.

4) It's very difficult to make a slow, crappy server. You would either have to dip below the 300MHz line or put Windows on it. Web servers can run with very little other software (not even a GUI), so all of a server's resources can be focused on web.


I suppose you should then make the distinction between your "techie tinkerer's world" and the "real professional world". Don't get me wrong, I love to tinker and I love to play. When I was running my own web server I had lots of fun and learned a bunch, I just don't happen to think it's very practical for websites that face exposure to the Internet at large.

Try quoting only a portion of the post next time. I have no idea which of those you were replying to. Plus, if anyone wants to read my entire post, they can just look up one. There's no need to quote the whole thing.
Guy Perfect









Since: 11-18-05

Last post: 6302 days
Last view: 6301 days
Posted on 02-09-06 12:11 AM, in General Super Mario 64 hacking / TT64 Progress thread Link
I like that idea, SmallHacker, except I think acronyms are going too far. Just keep it a word and it will all be good.

But "It's-a Me 64" is just the kind of clever name to make this project memorable. (-:
Guy Perfect









Since: 11-18-05

Last post: 6302 days
Last view: 6301 days
Posted on 02-09-06 02:19 PM, in To make a Board - Perl? PHP? Link
Absolutely. Commercial internet providers don't usually have ample bandwidth to shovel out to their hundreds of customers, so hosing a site off of one's own internet is sluggish at best. That's why I only use mine for personal activties and the occasional small-file distribution, like those CGI's earlier in this thread.

To clarify, I was referring to "server" as the computer with hosting services, assuming a fast connection. Servers used in corporations usually have very high speeds, in which case the performance of the computer would be the determining factor of its effectiveness as a server.

But for running a personal website, you are correct: It's more cost-effective to rent out someone else's connection and machine instead of using your own. The ramifications of this, however, is that you have a set of guidelines to follow that are not present if you were to run it yourself (maximum transmission/mo., things you can host, etc.).
Guy Perfect









Since: 11-18-05

Last post: 6302 days
Last view: 6301 days
Posted on 02-11-06 02:17 AM, in General Super Mario 64 hacking / TT64 Progress thread Link
Then it's settled. Mokey Kong 64 is the name of the editor. (It was the best I could do to get it back on topic)
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Acmlm's Board - I3 Archive - - Posts by Guy Perfect


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