Forum Thread

Hello everyone! You all can call me Radic; I'm a programming student that likes to draw on my laptop or play video games in my free time.
I'll mostly use this thread to post updates about my current project, but I might end up rambling a little about my general life, haha.

Alright, here's a general to-do list! Note: Not all of it will be programming-related! I do have a few other tasks I should really get done.

TODO:
- Writing bot CURRENT PROJECT!
55%
- Idle SCP Game
(Not started)
- ??? Collection Game
18%
- Congressional App Challenge Submission
(Not started; don't know this year's theme)
- Profile Image
(Not started)

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The progress bar
These are estimates! I'll explain the reasoning behind my estimates (and announce when a progress bar is updated) in relevant posts to this thread.
As for the colors, I'm using a random number picker, haha.

Writing Bot

My current project is upgrading my writing bot. It's already gone through two iterations already; the first used pure Markov chain calculations with just one piece of text and ended up outputting essential gibberish.
The current one uses a mix of that and a primitive machine learning algorithm. This algorithm uses a database that's literally just a HashMap(String, Arraylist(String)) stored in a text file. As it reads in a piece of text, you have the option to add to this database. When you do, it'll read through the text and insert a word with what follows it. What it writes is somewhat legible, but I still need to edit it myself if I want it to make actual sense.

So, this brings me to my task: upgrading the bot with TensorFlow. Regrettably, all the guides I've found on TensorFlow for Java are bad, so I'm working with my teacher to properly upgrade it. I doubt my laptop can run the training process, so I'm going to be using a website known as Paperspace; it's essentially AWS for machine learning, but there's a free version.
I also need to learn TensorFlow for Python, and Socket programming; the Java version of TensorFlow doesn't store memory so I can't train it. Socket programming will let my preexisting Java code communicate with the Python program I'm going to write so I don't need to translate my Java algorithm.

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TODO:
- Write the Java algorithm
COMPLETE
- Incorporate TensorFlow in my Java program
10%
- Write the Python TensorFlow code
(Not started)
- Set up Socket programming
(Not started)
- Train the bot
(Not started)

This doesn't have to do with my writing bot; instead, I'm posting a small update about my owl cabin game. I realized it's too similar to a pre-existing app in the app store, so I'm going to be reworking it as a different type of game. Instead, it'll be a construction game, where you have to salvage materials to renovate old homes.
I'm a little upset about not being able to include any nature, but what I was going to create was essentially a copy of that other app, plus a few features.

Because of me not being able to include nature and a bit of dissatisfaction with it being a game version of a home-flipping television show, I'm going to keep brainstorming alternative themes. The structure of the game (that is, collecting materials to build/upgrade things and potentially attracting animal buddies or helpers) will remain the same, so my progress on it isn't hurt too much.

??? Collection Game
Proper dedicated post to this, because I have a request: I'm going to be making a poll in my profile for the theme of this game.
Each game will also have ad revenue, so I can make a little money off of it. I hate games that throw ads in your face for no reason, so the method of viewing ads will always be optional, although they do provide temporary upgrades.
I'll outline the different things here:

Witch and Familiars
Own a house in a pine forest and collect different ingredients for spells and potions. Some of them unlock decorations/upgrades for your home. Might attract different types of critters that'll be called your familiars in-game. There'll be a catalogue that will automatically update as new familiars visit.
Ad Revenue
Autocollect specific ingredients for a certain amount of time. The more ads you watch, the longer the autocollection time is.

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Crow's Nest
You're a crow. Collect shiny things to decorate or upgrade your nest with or trade with humans to get food. You can also collect food, which'll be at a steady rate but always immediately less than if you traded shiny things for food.
Ad Revenue
Autocollect shiny things a half-hour at a time.

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Farmer
Own a farm and grow different crops. You can sell these crops for money to upgrade your farm or directly use them to craft decorations or upgrades. Depending on what you have, you can attract different cats, owls, or dogs to your farm or barn. There'll be a catalogue for each specific animal, including the farm animals you can purchase.
Ad Revenue
Autocollect a crop of your choice for a certain amount of time. The more ads you watch, the longer the autocollection time is.