Cobra (programming language)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cobra is a new programming language developed by Graham Kennedy from the Squeaky Duck Design Company (http://www.squeakyduck.co.uk). It is a rapid application development language, designed primarily for easy creation of computer game software but also includes tools that allow for application development. The syntax is based on the Pascal programming language but allows for a BASIC-like syntax to be used as well. For ultimate speed Cobra also allows the inclusion of Assembly Language routines - although this is only a recent addition.
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[edit] Features
Both a 2D and 3D engine are implemented in the Cobra programming language. Each works independently of the other but both can be used simultaneously.
[edit] Cobra3D
Cobra3D is the current name for Cobra's 3D engine component that uses an enhanced version of GLScene (a free 3D lib for Delphi). It utilizes OpenGL, and aims to take advantage of OpenGL's power and portability. In addition to basic 3D capabilities simliar to other 3D engines, to simplify and speed up development of 3D games, Cobra's 3D Engine comes included with 3D special effects such as shadows, blurring, cel shading, and particles.
[edit] Pure2D
Cobra's "Pure2D" library works independently of the 3D engine and actually requires no 3D acceleration or runtime libraries whatsoever (DirectX or OpenGL are not required). Cobra supports effects that are usually only feasible by using 3D hardware. Among these are realtime rotations, scaling, and free-form transforming. In addition, Cobra supports realtime blend modes for sprites, and alpha blending for its drawing commands (which include basic shapes).
[edit] Cobra2D
Cobra also has a 2D hardware accelerated version of Pure2D which has just been released.
[edit] Other
Other features include:
- Support for several audio file formats, and CD playback
- Expandibility through modules and DLL's
- Ability to render AVI movies and save with virtually any available codec
- Easy creation of Windows® screensavers
- Custom loading routines
- Built in GUI commands
- Internet support through "CobraNet"
- Built in frame limiting
- Multiple joystick support
[edit] Code
The following is an example of Cobra source code. It loads a 3D object and rotates it with full planar dynamic shadows.
program
uses cobra3d, keyset
var
cam, light, light2 : element
buggy1 : element
ground : element
begin
openscreen(800, 600)
cam = createcamera()
usecamera(cam)
positionentity(cam, 0, 15, 50)
EntitySetAttribute(cam, 'DepthOfView', 1100)
EntitySetAttribute(cam, 'FocalLength', 120)
light = createlight(cam)
light2 = createlight()
positionentity(light2, 40, 40, 0)
ground = createshadowplane()
rotateentity(ground, 90, 0, 0)
buggy1 = loadmesh('buggy3ds\buggy2.3ds')
scaleentity(buggy1, 0.1, 0.1, 0.1)
EntitySetAttribute(ground,'width',700)
EntitySetAttribute(ground,'height',700)
EntitySetAttribute(ground,'xtiles',50);
EntitySetAttribute(ground,'ytiles',50);
setshadowlight(ground, light2)
setshadowobject(ground, buggy1)
setcameratarget(cam, buggy1)
while not keydown(vk_escape)
turnentity(buggy1, 0, 0.05, 0)
flip
wend
end
[edit] Cobra LE
At the end of August 2006, Idigicon and Graham Kennedy announced that Cobra would be re-targeted to the education market, complementing Idigicon's educational software and support for UK educational initiatives. Kennedy has revealed that this version, called Cobra Learning Environment will be the only version published by Idigicon.
The latest version is published by the Squeaky Duck Design Company (http://www.squeakyduck.co.uk) and builds upon the foundations of the education product.
