#c programming tutorial

[tpointtechblog]

What is C? A Beginner’s Guide to C Language and C Programming

what C is, why it’s important, and how you can get started with C programming When it comes to programming languages, C holds a special place as one of the most popular and foundational languages in the software development world.

Whether you’re just starting your coding journey or want to build a strong base for advanced programming, understanding C is essential. Let’s dive into what C is, why…

[hob28]

Advanced C Programming: Mastering the Language

Introduction

Advanced C programming is essential for developers looking to deepen their understanding of the language and tackle complex programming challenges. While the basics of C provide a solid foundation, mastering advanced concepts can significantly enhance your ability to write efficient, high-performance code.

1. Overview of Advanced C Programming

Advanced C programming builds on the fundamentals, introducing concepts that enhance efficiency, performance, and code organization. This stage of learning empowers programmers to write more sophisticated applications and prepares them for roles that demand a high level of proficiency in C.

2. Pointers and Memory Management

Mastering pointers and dynamic memory management is crucial for advanced C programming, as they allow for efficient use of resources. Pointers enable direct access to memory locations, which is essential for tasks such as dynamic array allocation and manipulating data structures. Understanding how to allocate, reallocate, and free memory using functions like malloc, calloc, realloc, and free can help avoid memory leaks and ensure optimal resource management.

3. Data Structures in C

Understanding advanced data structures, such as linked lists, trees, and hash tables, is key to optimizing algorithms and managing data effectively. These structures allow developers to store and manipulate data in ways that improve performance and scalability. For example, linked lists provide flexibility in data storage, while binary trees enable efficient searching and sorting operations.

4. File Handling Techniques

Advanced file handling techniques enable developers to manipulate data efficiently, allowing for the creation of robust applications that interact with the file system. Mastering functions like fopen, fread, fwrite, and fclose helps you read from and write to files, handle binary data, and manage different file modes. Understanding error handling during file operations is also critical for building resilient applications.

5. Multithreading and Concurrency

Implementing multithreading and managing concurrency are essential skills for developing high-performance applications in C. Utilizing libraries such as POSIX threads (pthreads) allows you to create and manage multiple threads within a single process. This capability can significantly enhance the performance of I/O-bound or CPU-bound applications by enabling parallel processing.

6. Advanced C Standard Library Functions

Leveraging advanced functions from the C Standard Library can simplify complex tasks and improve code efficiency. Functions for string manipulation, mathematical computations, and memory management are just a few examples. Familiarizing yourself with these functions not only saves time but also helps you write cleaner, more efficient code.

7. Debugging and Optimization Techniques

Effective debugging and optimization techniques are critical for refining code and enhancing performance in advanced C programming. Tools like GDB (GNU Debugger) help track down bugs and analyze program behavior. Additionally, understanding compiler optimizations and using profiling tools can identify bottlenecks in your code, leading to improved performance.

8. Best Practices in Advanced C Programming

Following best practices in coding and project organization helps maintain readability and manageability of complex C programs. This includes using consistent naming conventions, modularizing code through functions and header files, and documenting your code thoroughly. Such practices not only make your code easier to understand but also facilitate collaboration with other developers.

9. Conclusion

By exploring advanced C programming concepts, developers can elevate their skills and create more efficient, powerful, and scalable applications. Mastering these topics not only enhances your technical capabilities but also opens doors to advanced roles in software development, systems programming, and beyond. Embrace the challenge of advanced C programming, and take your coding skills to new heights!

[tutorialwithexample]

C Programming Tutorial for Beginners: A Simple Guide

C programming is one of the most popular and powerful programming languages. It is widely used in software development, operating systems, and embedded systems. If you are new to coding, this C Programming Tutorial for Beginners will help you understand the basics in an easy way.

Why Learn C Programming?

C is a fundamental programming language that forms the base for many modern languages like C++, Java, and Python. Learning C helps you build a strong foundation in coding logic and problem-solving.

Basics of C Programming

To start with C programming, you need to understand some key concepts:

Syntax: C follows a structured syntax with simple commands.

Variables and Data Types: Variables store values, and data types define the kind of data (e.g., integers, characters).

Operators: Used for calculations and logic, like addition, subtraction, and comparisons.

Control Statements: Help in decision-making (if-else) and loops (for, while).

Functions: Blocks of code that perform specific tasks and make programming easier.

How to Start Learning C?

You can begin learning C programming by reading tutorials, practicing basic programs, and understanding coding logic. Start with simple concepts and gradually move to advanced topics like pointers and file handling.

C is an excellent choice for beginners because it helps develop strong programming skills. Start your C programming journey today!

For a detailed step-by-step guide, visit C Programming Tutorial for Beginners.

[jtpoint]

C Programming Tutorial for Beginners

Learn C programming from scratch with this beginner-friendly tutorial. Step-by-step lessons, simple examples, and easy explanations to help you start coding in C quickly. Perfect for beginners!

[shawnthebro]

Stamina can be an important element in our game. A fully customizable stamina system will allow us to make the game we’ve been envisioning!

[unnonexistence]

still learning R and like... i know piped commands make for nicer & more readable code i knowww... but why take away the brackets!!! i want the brackets back!!!!

[milkshakebattlecat]

I dislike using rigidbodies to move my objects because physics interactions can sometimes go ham and while that can be very amusing, I prefer things to be predictable. So for moving arrows in this game I handled the movement math myself via coroutine. Let's take a look-see, shall we? :3

The goal of this coroutine is to move its symbol object in an arcing motion from its initial position, moving it upward and to either the right or left. Then it will fall downward. Rather than having each symbol object run this coroutine from an attached script, I am using a central script (my GameManager) to apply this movement to a given object, so the first thing I do is make sure the symbol still exists before proceeding with the coroutine:

If we find that our symbol has been destroyed, we exit the coroutine with "yield break". You wouldn't need this check if the script is running this movement on its own object, as coroutines are ended upon an object's destruction.

There are a bunch of variables we'll define within our coroutine to calculate our desired motion; we'll start by defining an arcDuration:

This determines how long the object will take to move in the arc shape. A shorter duration results in faster movement. Using a random amount between a min and max duration creates some variance in how fast different symbol objects will move. I have my minArcDuration set to 1 and maxArcDuration set to 2.5 for quick bouncy movements.

These variables referencing the outermost bounds of the camera's view will be used to ensure that symbols remain within the visible area of the camera at all times. I'm not using a topBound because I'm fine with symbols possibly going off the top of the screen, but I use a maxArcHeight variable that is set low enough that they never do.

For even more spawn variability, we add a little randomness to our starting point. My spawnPointVariance is set very low at 0.3; my initial symbol spawn position is low on the screen, and due to how the rest of this coroutine works, it's important that the symbols are never allowed to spawn below the bottomBound or else they will be instantly deleted (and result in a miss!)

The height here is, of course, how far up the symbol will travel, and the distance refers to how far it will move to the left or right. We calculate the peak of the arc by adding our distance and height to the x and y values of our starting position. Randomizing between negative and positive distance values for our x position adds another layer of variability which includes the possibility of moving either left or right, even though our minArcDistance and maxArcDistance are both set to positive values for clarity (mine are set to 1 and 6).

This is the part of the code that decides upon our symbol's speed by calculating the distance it has to cover from its start to its peak. By dividing our horizontalDistance by our arcDuration (distance divided by time), we calculate how fast the symbol needs to move to cover the entire distance in the given duration. Mathf.Abs is used to ensure that horizontalDistance is always positive, lest we get a negative value that causes us to move in the opposite of the intended direction.

We'll also want a speed variable for when the arcing motion ends and the symbol starts falling, that's where downwardSpeed comes in. In earlier versions of this function, I used downwardSpeed alone to transform the object's position, but I've since refined the logic to take the current horizontalSpeed into account for more consistent motion; we'll see that later. (Also you can see I've been tweaking that arbitrary range a bit... the fall speed was brutal during those mass waves ;o;)

Here we create an elapsedTime variable starting at 0. In our while loop, we will use this variable to count how much time has passed, and if it becomes greater than or equal to arcDuration, we'll change isFalling to true and begin moving down.

We create a Vector3 moveDirection which gives the vector pointing from the startPosition to the peakPosition, and then turn it into Vector3 horizontalDirection, which retains only the X-axis direction. Both values are normalized to ensure consistency. Without normalization, the magnitude (or distance) of the vector would vary depending on the distance between the start and peak positions, which could result in inconsistent speed. Normalization caps the magnitude at 1, meaning the vector represents just the direction, not the distance, allowing for consistent speed calculation later.

Here's how we start our while loop: as long as our symbol object is not null and the game says we canMove, we say yield return null, which will instruct our loop to occur every frame. If either the symbol becomes null or canMove becomes false, the while loop will end and so will the coroutine - for this reason, I only set canMove false when the game ends and the symbols will never have to resume movement, rather than in cases where I want them to pause movement and resume later, such as when a player pauses the game or during level-up periods. For the latter I use an isLevelingUp bool in my while loop that waits until that bool is false before proceeding (yield return new WaitUntil(() => !isLevelingUp)), and for the former I actually change the game Time.timeScale to 0, which is not typically recommend but fuck it we doin it live, because I don't have a mechanism for resuming this function with appropriate variables if it is stopped. It could surely be done if you just store the local variables somehow.

This is the first part of our movement logic that we put in the while loop; remember we already set isFalling false, so this part will proceed with the rising motion.

We count our elapsedTime here by adding Time.deltaTime, a variable which represents the time in seconds that has passed since the last frame, ensuring that time calculation is frame-rate independent. Do NOT use Time.time in cases like this unless you want your users with varying computer specs to all have different experiences with your game for some insane, villainous reason

The variable 't' is looking at the elapsedTime divided by arcDuration, a ratio that tells us how far along we are in the arc movement. If elapsedTime equals arcDuration, this ratio would be 1, meaning the arc is complete. We use Mathf.Clamp01 to clamp this value between 0 and 1, ensuring that it won't ever go higher than 1, so that we can use it to calculate our desired arcPosition and be sure it never exceeds a certain point due to frame lag or some such. If 't' is allowed to exceed 1, the arcPos calculation could possibly go beyond the intended peakPos. We are going for predictable motion, so this is no good

We define our Vector3 arcPos with Vector3.Lerp, short for "Linear Interpolation", a function for calculating smooth transition between two points overtime. Ours takes our startPos and peakPos and moves our symbol between the two values according to the value of 't' which is incrementing every frame with Time.deltaTime. As 't' progresses from 0 to 1, Vector3.Lerp interpolates linearly between startPos and peakPos, so when 't' is 0, arcPos is exactly at startPos. When 't' is 1, arcPos reaches peakPos. For values of 't' between 0 and 1, arcPos is smoothly positioned between these two points. Very useful function, I be lerping for days

Then we alter the y coordinate of our arcPos by adding a calculation meant to create smooth, curved arc shape on the y axis, giving our object its rounded, bouncy trajectory. Without this calculation, you'll see your symbols rising and falling sharply without any of that rounded motion. This uses some functions I am not as familiar with and an explanation of the math involved is beyond my potato brain, but here's a chatgpt explanation of how it works:

Mathf.Sin(t * Mathf.PI): This calculates a sinusoidal wave based on the value of t. Mathf.PI represents half of a full circle in radians (180 degrees), creating a smooth curve. At t = 0, Mathf.Sin(0 * Mathf.PI) is 0, so there’s no vertical displacement. At t = 0.5, Mathf.Sin(0.5 * Mathf.PI) is 1, reaching the maximum vertical displacement (the peak height of the arc). At t = 1, Mathf.Sin(1 * Mathf.PI) returns to 0, completing the arc with no vertical displacement. This scales the vertical displacement to ensure the arc reaches the desired height. If height is 10, then at the peak, the symbol moves 10 units up.

With those positions calculated, we can calculate the "newX" variable which represents where we want our symbol to appear along the x axis. It adds the horizontal movement to the current x coordinate, adjusted for the time passed since the last frame.

We use Mathf.Clamp to ensure our newX value doesn't exceed either the left or right bounds of the screen. This function limits the given value to be between min and max value.

Finally we tell our loop to actually reposition the symbol object by creating a new Vector3 out of newX, arcPos.y, and using our symbol's own z coordinate. That last bit is important to ensure your sprite visibility/hierarchy doesn't go out of whack! If I used arcPos.z there instead, for example, it's likely my sprites would no longer be visible to my camera. The z position the symbol spawned at is the z position I want it to retain. Your needs may vary.

This part tells us our arcDuration should end, so we set isFalling to true, which will cause the secondary logic in our while loop to trigger:

Previously, objects retained their x position and only had negative downwardSpeed applied to their y position, but I didn't like that behaviour as it looked a little wonky (symbols would reach their arc peak and then suddenly stop and drop in a straight line downward).

By creating a new Vector3 fallDirection that retains the horizontalDirection and horizontalSpeed from the arc phase, we're able to apply smooth downward motion to the symbol that continues to the left or right.

Just below that, we once again clamp the symbol's x position to the left and right screen bounds so the symbols can't travel offscreen:

The loop would continue causing the symbols to fall forever if we didn't have this check:

which triggers some project specific logic and destroys the symbol, then exits the coroutine with "yield break". Although the coroutine already exits when the symbol becomes null, which it will see is the case in the next frame as we destroyed the symbol here, adding an explicit yield break is an added layer of security to ensure predictability. Once again, not super necessary if you decide to run this code from the moving object itself, but just be sure you move your Destroy() request to the bottom of any logic in that case, as nothing after that point would be able to trigger if you destroy the object which is running the coroutine!

and that's all folks. If this helps you make something, show me!

HEY, did you really make it all the way to the end of this post?! ilu :3 Do let me know if this kind of gratuitous code breakdown interests you and I will summon motivation to make more such posts. I personally like to see how the sausage is made so I hoped someone might find it neat. If ya got any questions I am happy to try and answer, the ol' inbox is always open.

[jtshock-devlog]

10/1/2023 Update

Howdy! I made a lot of progress this week regarding developing my room algorithm. I accomplished most of my initial goals. It isn't pretty, but it is functional and that is what matters. There is a lot to be improved, as the way I generate the hallways and similar is not very robust and breaks really easily, which in turn can cause a lot of issues, such as many crashes (seriously, I'm trying to fix the problem since I crash almost every 4th time I try running in debug mode or regenerate the rooms).

As always, here are some cool WIP screenshots during the development this week.

This was the first ever test of actually trying to spawn walls lol! It wasn't long before I managed to get it to actually work!

Godot has been pretty straight forward so far and it really helps that they have native C# support, else this all would've taken a lot longer. After I managed to get 1 room generated, I then implemented the logic for other rooms.

I got a proper algorithm to ensure no rooms would generate on top of each other, and it has worked well so far! Once I knew I could make multiple rooms, I then focused really hard on getting the hallways. I am not 100% happy with how my code works for the paths, as it only really works for L hallways and I already want to try and work on refining the dungeon algorithm before I go super far into developing other mechanics for the game. However, what I have works for now.

The corridors were backwards! This was a headache to fix mainly due to sloppy code. But eventually...

I ironed out a few more cases afterwards, but I had it good enough I wanted to implement spawning in the player/ other actors within the dungeon. It made me really learn how the node system worked in Godot and it actually is very intuitive, I like it a lot. This all culminated in this short video!

And that is where my development is! I am having a lot of fun and really proud I figured out most of this stuff on my own, only looking up some basic stuff or what a function is called.

My current goals are going to mainly comprise of refactoring and cleaning up the room generation and tile placement. But the next big hurdle is figuring out how to handle the Turn-Based combat & updating. Definitely a big goal but I am excited to figure it out! Gonna be busy this week with more schoolwork, but should have plenty of time to keep developing.

[brainlesstechnerd]

Introduction: As a high school student in the 21st century, there's no denying the importance of computer science in today's world. Whether you're a seasoned programmer or just dipping your toes into the world of coding, the power of computer science is undeniable. In this blog, I'll share my journey as a 12th-grader venturing into the fascinating realms of C, C++, and Python, and how this journey has not only improved my computer science profile but also shaped my outlook on technology and problem-solving.

Chapter 1: The Foundations - Learning C

Learning C:

C, often referred to as the "mother of all programming languages," is where my journey began. Its simplicity and efficiency make it an excellent choice for beginners. As a high school student with limited programming experience, I decided to start with the basics.

Challenges and Triumphs:

Learning C came with its fair share of challenges, but it was incredibly rewarding. I tackled problems like understanding pointers and memory management, and I quickly realized that the core concepts of C would lay a strong foundation for my future endeavors in computer science.

Chapter 2: Building on the Basics - C++

Transition to C++:

With C under my belt, I transitioned to C++. C++ builds upon the concepts of C while introducing the object-oriented programming paradigm. It was a natural progression, and I found myself enjoying the flexibility and power it offered.

Projects and Applications:

I started working on small projects and applications in C++. From simple text-based games to data structures and algorithms implementations, C++ opened up a world of possibilities. It was during this phase that I began to see how the knowledge of programming languages could translate into tangible solutions.

Chapter 3: Python - The Versatile Language

Exploring Python:

Python is often praised for its simplicity and readability. As I delved into Python, I realized why it's a favorite among developers for a wide range of applications, from web development to machine learning.

Python in Real-Life Projects:

Python allowed me to take on real-life projects with ease. I built web applications using frameworks like Flask and Django, and I even dabbled in data analysis and machine learning. The versatility of Python broadened my horizons and showed me the real-world applications of computer science.

Chapter 4: A Glimpse into the Future

Continual Learning:

As I prepare to graduate high school and venture into higher education, my journey with C, C++, and Python has instilled in me the importance of continual learning. The field of computer science is dynamic, and staying up-to-date with the latest technologies and trends is crucial.

Networking and Collaboration:

I've also come to appreciate the significance of networking and collaboration in the computer science community. Joining online forums, participating in coding challenges, and collaborating on open-source projects have enriched my learning experience.

Conclusion: Embracing the World of Computer Science

My journey as a 12th-grader exploring C, C++, and Python has been an enlightening experience. These languages have not only improved my computer science profile but have also given me a broader perspective on problem-solving and technology. As I step into the future, I'm excited to see where this journey will take me, and I'm ready to embrace the ever-evolving world of computer science.

If you're a fellow student or someone curious about programming, I encourage you to take the plunge and start your own journey. With determination and a willingness to learn, the world of computer science is yours to explore and conquer.

[tpointtech]

https://livepositively.com/the-role-of-c-language-in-operating-system-development/

[python-programming-language]

2 Jahre bei SoloLearn ...

Heute habe ich meinen 2-jährigen Lauf erreicht, d.h. ich habe 730 Tage lang täglich mit SoloLearn gelernt. Mein Abo habe ich jetzt aber beendet. Momentan absolviere ich noch den Einführungskurs in C++, werde mich aber danach auf Python, Small Visual Basic und Scratch konzentrieren.

Post #243: SoloLearn, Mein 730-Tage-Lauf, 2025.

[tutorialwithexample]

Building Blocks of C Programming: A Comprehensive Guide for Mastery

Are you ready to dive into the world of programming? Look no further than the C Programming Tutorial. Whether you're a beginner eager to learn the basics or an experienced programmer seeking to sharpen your skills, this tutorial is your gateway to mastering the art of C programming.

Why C Programming?

C is a powerful and widely-used programming language known for its efficiency and versatility. Understanding C programming opens doors to countless opportunities in software development, embedded systems, game development, and more. With its direct memory access and low-level functionalities, C allows programmers to create efficient and optimized code.

Comprehensive Learning:

The C Programming Tutorial provides a comprehensive and structured approach to learning. It covers essential topics such as variables, data types, control structures, functions, and pointers. With practical examples and step-by-step explanations, you'll gain a solid foundation in C programming principles and techniques.

Practical Application:

What sets this tutorial apart is its focus on practical application. By working through hands-on exercises and projects, you'll strengthen your problem-solving skills and learn how to write efficient and reliable C programs. The tutorial's emphasis on practical examples ensures that you grasp the concepts and apply them effectively.

Embark on your journey to becoming a proficient C programmer with the C Programming Tutorial at Tutorial and Example. From the basics to advanced concepts, this tutorial equips you with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in the world of programming. Start your learning adventure today and unleash your coding potential.

[jtpoint]

Welcome to the C Programming Tutorial! Whether you're a beginner or looking to enhance your skills, this comprehensive guide will walk you through the fundamentals of C programming. From basic concepts to advanced techniques, learn how to write efficient and powerful programs using the C programming language.

[shawnthebro]

Do you want to rename a project and C++ is giving you a hard time? Don’t worry, we can make it happen!

[tofupixel]

⭐ So you want to learn pixel art? ⭐

🔹 Part 1 of ??? - The Basics!

Edit: Now available in Google Doc format if you don't have a Tumblr account 🥰

Hello, my name is Tofu and I'm a professional pixel artist. I have been supporting myself with freelance pixel art since 2020, when I was let go from my job during the pandemic.

My progress, from 2017 to 2024. IMO the only thing that really matters is time and effort, not some kind of natural talent for art.

This guide will not be comprehensive, as nobody should be expected to read allat. Instead I will lean heavily on my own experience, and share what worked for me, so take everything with a grain of salt. This is a guide, not a tutorial. Cheers!

🔹 Do I need money?

NO!!! Pixel art is one of the most accessible mediums out there.

I still use a mouse because I prefer it to a tablet! You won't be at any disadvantage here if you can't afford the best hardware or software.

Because our canvases are typically very small, you don't need a good PC to run a good brush engine or anything like that.

✨Did you know? One of the most skilled and beloved pixel artists uses MS PAINT! Wow!!

🔹 What software should I use?

Here are some of the most popular programs I see my friends and peers using. Stars show how much I recommend the software for beginners! ⭐

💰 Paid options:

⭐⭐⭐ Aseprite (for PC) - $19.99

This is what I and many other pixel artists use. You may find when applying to jobs that they require some knowledge of Aseprite. Since it has become so popular, companies like that you can swap raw files between artists.

Aseprite is amazingly customizable, with custom skins, scripts and extensions on Itch.io, both free and paid.

If you have ever used any art software before, it has most of the same features and should feel fairly familiar to use. It features a robust animation suite and a tilemap feature, which have saved me thousands of hours of labour in my work. The software is also being updated all the time, and the developers listen to the users. I really recommend Aseprite!

⭐ Photoshop (for PC) - Monthly $$

A decent option for those who already are used to the PS interface. Requires some setup to get it ready for pixel-perfect art, but there are plenty of tutorials for doing so.

Animation is also much more tedious on PS which you may want to consider before investing time!

⭐⭐ ProMotion NG (for PC) - $19.00

An advanced and powerful software which has many features Aseprite does not, including Colour Cycling and animated tiles.

⭐⭐⭐ Pixquare (for iOS) - $7.99 - $19.99 (30% off with code 'tofu'!!)

Probably the best app available for iPad users, in active development, with new features added all the time.

Look! My buddy Jon recommends it highly, and uses it often.

One cool thing about Pixquare is that it takes Aseprite raw files! Many of my friends use it to work on the same project, both in their office and on the go.

⭐ Procreate (for iOS) - $12.99

If you have access to Procreate already, it's a decent option to get used to doing pixel art. It does however require some setup. Artist Pixebo is famously using Procreate, and they have tutorials of their own if you want to learn.

⭐⭐ ReSprite iOS and Android. (free trial, but:) $19.99 premium or $$ monthly

ReSprite is VERY similar in terms of UI to Aseprite, so I can recommend it. They just launched their Android release!

🆓 Free options:

⭐⭐⭐ Libresprite (for PC)

Libresprite is an alternative to Aseprite. It is very, very similar, to the point where documentation for Aseprite will be helpful to Libresprite users.

⭐⭐ Pixilart (for PC and mobile)

A free in-browser app, and also a mobile app! It is tied to the website Pixilart, where artists upload and share their work. A good option for those also looking to get involved in a community.

⭐⭐ Dotpict (for mobile)

Dotpict is similar to Pixilart, with a mobile app tied to a website, but it's a Japanese service. Did you know that in Japanese, pixel art is called 'Dot Art'? Dotpict can be a great way to connect with a different community of pixel artists! They also have prompts and challenges often.

🔹 So I got my software, now what?

◽Nice! Now it's time for the basics of pixel art.

❗ WAIT ❗ Before this section, I want to add a little disclaimer. All of these rules/guidelines can be broken at will, and some 'no-nos' can look amazing when done intentionally.

The pixel-art fundamentals can be exceedingly helpful to new artists, who may feel lost or overwhelmed by choice. But if you feel they restrict you too harshly, don't force yourself! At the end of the day it's your art, and you shouldn't try to contort yourself into what people think a pixel artist 'should be'. What matters is your own artistic expression. 💕👍

◽Phew! With that out of the way...

🔸"The Rules"

There are few hard 'rules' of pixel art, mostly about scaling and exporting. Some of these things will frequently trip up newbies if they aren't aware, and are easy to overlook.

🔹Scaling method

There are a couple ways of scaling your art. The default in most art programs, and the entire internet, is Bi-linear scaling, which usually works out fine for most purposes. But as pixel artists, we need a different method.

Both are scaled up x10. See the difference?

On the left is scaled using Bilinear, and on the right is using Nearest-Neighbor. We love seeing those pixels stay crisp and clean, so we use nearest-neighbor. 

(Most pixel-art programs have nearest-neighbor enabled by default! So this may not apply to you, but it's important to know.)

🔹Mixels

Mixels are when there are different (mixed) pixel sizes in the same image.

Here I have scaled up my art- the left is 200%, and the right is 150%. Yuck!

As we can see, the "pixel" sizes end up different. We generally try to scale our work by multiples of 100 - 200%, 300% etc. rather than 150%. At larger scales however, the minute differences in pixel sizes are hardly noticeable!

Mixels are also sometimes seen when an artist scales up their work, then continues drawing on it with a 1 pixel brush.

Many would say that this is not great looking! This type of pixels can be indicative of a beginner artist. But there are plenty of creative pixel artists out there who mixels intentionally, making something modern and cool.

🔹Saving Your Files

We usually save our still images as .PNGs as they don’t create any JPEG artifacts or loss of quality. It's a little hard to see here, but there are some artifacts, and it looks a little blurry. It also makes the art very hard to work with if we are importing a JPEG.

For animations .GIF is good, but be careful of the 256 colour limit. Try to avoid using too many blending mode layers or gradients when working with animations. If you aren’t careful, your animation could flash afterwards, as the .GIF tries to reduce colours wherever it can. It doesn’t look great!

Here's an old piece from 2021 where I experienced .GIF lossiness, because I used gradients and transparency, resulting in way too many colours.

🔹Pixel Art Fundamentals - Techniques and Jargon

❗❗Confused about Jaggies? Anti-Aliasing? Banding? Dithering? THIS THREAD is for you❗❗ << it's a link, click it!!

As far as I'm concerned, this is THE tutorial of all time for understanding pixel art. These are techniques created and named by the community of people who actually put the list together, some of the best pixel artists alive currently. Please read it!!

🔸How To Learn

Okay, so you have your software, and you're all ready to start. But maybe you need some more guidance? Try these tutorials and resources! It can be helpful to work along with a tutorial until you build your confidence up.

⭐⭐ Pixel Logic (A Digital Book) - $10 A very comprehensive visual guide book by a very skilled and established artist in the industry. I own a copy myself.

⭐⭐⭐ StudioMiniBoss - free A collection of visual tutorials, by the artist that worked on Celeste! When starting out, if I got stuck, I would go and scour his tutorials and see how he did it.

⭐ Lospec Tutorials - free A very large collection of various tutorials from all over the internet. There is a lot to sift through here if you have the time.

⭐⭐⭐ Cyangmou's Tutorials - free (tipping optional) Cyangmou is one of the most respected and accomplished modern pixel artists, and he has amassed a HUGE collection of free and incredibly well-educated visual tutorials. He also hosts an educational stream every week on Twitch called 'pixelart for beginners'.

⭐⭐⭐ Youtube Tutorials - free There are hundreds, if not thousands of tutorials on YouTube, but it can be tricky to find the good ones. My personal recommendations are MortMort, Brandon, and AdamCYounis- these guys really know what they're talking about!

🔸 How to choose a canvas size

When looking at pixel art turorials, we may see people suggest things like 16x16, 32x32 and 64x64. These are standard sizes for pixel art games with tiles. However, if you're just making a drawing, you don't necessarily need to use a standard canvas size like that.

What I like to think about when choosing a canvas size for my illustrations is 'what features do I think it is important to represent?' And make my canvas as small as possible, while still leaving room for my most important elements.

Imagine I have characters in a scene like this:

I made my canvas as small as possible (232 x 314), but just big enough to represent the features and have them be recognizable (it's Good Omens fanart 😤)!! If I had made it any bigger, I would be working on it for ever, due to how much more foliage I would have to render.

If you want to do an illustration and you're not sure, just start at somewhere around 100x100 - 200x200 and go from there.

It's perfectly okay to crop your canvas, or scale it up, or crunch your art down at any point if you think you need a different size. I do it all the time! It only takes a bit of cleanup to get you back to where you were.

🔸Where To Post

Outside of just regular socials, Twitter, Tumblr, Deviantart, Instagram etc, there are a few places that lean more towards pixel art that you might not have heard of.

⭐ Lospec Lospec is a low-res focused art website. Some pieces get given a 'monthly masterpiece' award. Not incredibly active, but I believe there are more features being added often.

⭐⭐ Pixilart Pixilart is a very popular pixel art community, with an app tied to it. The community tends to lean on the young side, so this is a low-pressure place to post with an relaxed vibe.

⭐⭐ Pixeljoint Pixeljoint is one of the big, old-school pixel art websites. You can only upload your art unscaled (1x) because there is a built-in zoom viewer. It has a bit of a reputation for being elitist (back in the 00s it was), but in my experience it's not like that any more. This is a fine place for a pixel artist to post if they are really interested in learning, and the history. The Hall of Fame has some of the most famous / impressive pixel art pieces that paved the way for the work we are doing today.

⭐⭐⭐ Cafe Dot Cafe Dot is my art server so I'm a little biased here. 🍵 It was created during the recent social media turbulence. We wanted a place to post art with no algorithms, and no NFT or AI chuds. We have a heavy no-self-promotion rule, and are more interested in community than skill or exclusivity. The other thing is that we have some kind of verification system- you must apply to be a Creator before you can post in the Art feed, or use voice. This helps combat the people who just want to self-promo and dip, or cause trouble, as well as weed out AI/NFT people. Until then, you are still welcome to post in any of the threads or channels. There is a lot to do in Cafe Dot. I host events weekly, so check the threads!

⭐⭐/r/pixelart The pixel art subreddit is pretty active! I've also heard some of my friends found work through posting here, so it's worth a try if you're looking. However, it is still Reddit- so if you're sensitive to rude people, or criticism you didn't ask for, you may want to avoid this one. Lol

🔸 Where To Find Work

You need money? I got you! As someone who mostly gets scouted on social media, I can share a few tips with you:

Put your email / portfolio in your bio Recruiters don't have all that much time to find artists, make it as easy as possible for someone to find your important information!

Clean up your profile If your profile feed is all full of memes, most people will just tab out rather than sift through. Doesn't apply as much to Tumblr if you have an art tag people can look at.

Post regularly, and repost Activity beats everything in the social media game. It's like rolling the dice, and the more you post the more chances you have. You have to have no shame, it's all business baby

Outside of just posting regularly and hoping people reach out to you, it can be hard to know where to look. Here are a few places you can sign up to and post around on.

/r/INAT INAT (I Need A Team) is a subreddit for finding a team to work with. You can post your portfolio here, or browse for people who need artists.

/r/GameDevClassifieds Same as above, but specifically for game-related projects.

Remote Game Jobs / Work With Indies Like Indeed but for game jobs. Browse them often, or get email notifications.

VGen VGen is a website specifically for commissions. You need a code from another verified artist before you can upgrade your account and sell, so ask around on social media or ask your friends. Once your account is upgraded, you can make a 'menu' of services people can purchase, and they send you an offer which you are able to accept, decline, or counter.

The evil websites of doom: Fiverr and Upwork I don't recommend them!! They take a big cut of your profit, and the sites are teeming with NFT and AI people hoping to make a quick buck. The site is also extremely oversaturated and competitive, resulting in a race to the bottom (the cheapest, the fastest, doing the most for the least). Imagine the kind of clients who go to these websites, looking for the cheapest option. But if you're really desperate...

🔸 Community

I do really recommend getting involved in a community. Finding like-minded friends can help you stay motivated to keep drawing. One day, those friends you met when you were just starting out may become your peers in the industry. Making friends is a game changer!

Discord servers Nowadays, the forums of old are mostly abandoned, and people split off into many different servers. Cafe Dot, Pixel Art Discord (PAD), and if you can stomach scrolling past all the AI slop, you can browse Discord servers here.

Twitch Streams Twitch has kind of a bad reputation for being home to some of the more edgy gamers online, but the pixel art community is extremely welcoming and inclusive. Some of the people I met on Twitch are my friends to this day, and we've even worked together on different projects! Browse pixel art streams here, or follow some I recommend: NickWoz, JDZombi, CupOhJoe, GrayLure, LumpyTouch, FrankiePixelShow, MortMort, Sodor, NateyCakes, NyuraKim, ShinySeabass, I could go on for ever really... There are a lot of good eggs on Pixel Art Twitch.

🔸 Other Helpful Websites

Palettes Lospec has a huge collection of user-made palettes, for any artist who has trouble choosing their colours, or just wants to try something fun. Rejected Palettes is full of palettes that didn't quite make it onto Lospec, ran by people who believe there are no bad colours.

The Spriters Resource TSR is an incredible website where users can upload spritesheets and tilesets from games. You can browse for your favourite childhood game, and see how they made it! This website has helped me so much in understanding how game assets come together in a scene.

VGMaps Similar to the above, except there are entire maps laid out how they would be played. This is incredible if you have to do level design, or for mocking up a scene for fun.

Game UI Database Not pixel-art specific, but UI is a very challenging part of graphics, so this site can be a game-changer for finding good references!

Retronator A digital newspaper for pixel-art lovers! New game releases, tutorials, and artworks!

Itch.io A website where people can upload, games, assets, tools... An amazing hub for game devs and game fans alike. A few of my favourite tools: Tiled, PICO-8, Pixel Composer, Juice FX, Magic Pencil for Aseprite

🔸 The End?

This is just part 1 for now, so please drop me a follow to see any more guides I release in the future. I plan on doing some writeups on how I choose colours, how to practise, and more!

I'm not an expert by any means, but everything I did to get to where I am is outlined in this guide. Pixel art is my passion, my job and my hobby! I want pixel art to be recognized everywhere as an art-form, a medium of its own outside of game-art or computer graphics!

This guide took me a long time, and took a lot of research and experience. Consider following me or supporting me if you are feeling generous.

And good luck to all the fledgling pixel artists, I hope you'll continue and have fun. I hope my guide helped you, and don't hesitate to send me an ask if you have any questions! 💕

My other tutorials (so far): How to draw Simple Grass for a game Hue Shifting