Road map to learning how to script in DCS.

[JohnMclane]

Been flying in DCS for a long time and just got into the mission editor a couple months ago when I got the Kiowa. I entered the rabit hole deep enough to where I'm at a point where I need scripts to make missions work as I want them to. The last couple of weeks have actually been about asking questions on how to do things, waiting a couple of days looking for copy paste answers on the scripting end.

This is really not sustainable... I'd rather understand how it works than keep asking very specific questions about very specific outcomes. I've self learned Python for data science a handful of years ago and it took a <profanity>load of time to get proficient in it. Am I looking at the same kind of timeframe when it comes to LUA code, when it comes strictly to mission coding in DCS or can I cut corners a little and make it more efficient? time wise.

I will literally only use LUA for DCS, anyone got some kind of a roadmap for this? 

Edited December 21, 2024 by JohnMclane

[dmatsch]

lifetime software engineer here.  Had to learn many many (many) new technologies and languages in little time.

1. A core knowledge of how your chosen language operates is essential.  Looping, object creation, syntax.  This case, LUA.  Docs and tutorials are everywhere.  write a basic "hello world" outside of DCS.

2. take existing DCS scripts that work and modify them.  As long as you make backups of the original, you're fine.  Use Notepad ++

3. I started with the MOOSE RAT module.  There's plenty of LUA in there for you to experiment and learn, and it's fairly straightforward with plenty of working examples.

4. this forum.  keep asking questions, only a jerk would berate you for being a newbie and tell you to RTFM.

 

DML is a code-free module that's pretty powerful.  It's modules are also a great place to play around and modify.

 

TLDR:  There's no "easy way" to learn a new coding language.  It's literally the same road as the one to Carnegie Hall.

[JohnMclane]

2 hours ago, dmatsch said:

lifetime software engineer here.  Had to learn many many (many) new technologies and languages in little time.

1. A core knowledge of how your chosen language operates is essential.  Looping, object creation, syntax.  This case, LUA.  Docs and tutorials are everywhere.  write a basic "hello world" outside of DCS.

2. take existing DCS scripts that work and modify them.  As long as you make backups of the original, you're fine.  Use Notepad ++

3. I started with the MOOSE RAT module.  There's plenty of LUA in there for you to experiment and learn, and it's fairly straightforward with plenty of working examples.

4. this forum.  keep asking questions, only a jerk would berate you for being a newbie and tell you to RTFM.

 

DML is a code-free module that's pretty powerful.  It's modules are also a great place to play around and modify.

 

TLDR:  There's no "easy way" to learn a new coding language.  It's literally the same road as the one to Carnegie Hall.

I actually came across DML early this morning and been reading the Docs. It looks like a powerful tool, I'll be using it in the meantime I learn how to actually code LUA. When it comes to tools like DML, if it stops being maintained, would you pretty much lose it's functionality with subsequent DCS updates?

[cfrag]

On 12/22/2024 at 6:36 PM, JohnMclane said:

if it stops being maintained, would you pretty much lose it's functionality with subsequent DCS updates?

Yes.

At least you still have the source, though. Anything from 3rd party vendors like Razbam, and you are SOL when they leave. 

[Wrecking Crew]

These docs have been around for a while, happy to share..

If you want to use Flags with 'alpha' names then just replace the numbers with words 

WC's Script & Mist Examples.luaWC's Flags.txt