DIY Flash Game Server

[Squidge]

Sup!

So...when it comes to web programming I'm a bit of a N00b. I understand the basics of OOP and the very basic basics of communication via the web (using sockets/ports). I've messed with actionscript enough to know my way around a bit. I'm wondering where I should start, what language(s) would be best/fastest, etc.

I'm aware there are commercially available game servers (SmartFox Server, Electro-Server), but I'm on a shoestring budget and I think it would be a positive learning experience to try programming my own software server.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

[Seb Hughes]

Sup!

So...when it comes to web programming I'm a bit of a N00b. I understand the basics of OOP and the very basic basics of communication via the web (using sockets/ports). I've messed with actionscript enough to know my way around a bit. I'm wondering where I should start, what language(s) would be best/fastest, etc.

I'm aware there are commercially available game servers (SmartFox Server, Electro-Server), but I'm on a shoestring budget and I think it would be a positive learning experience to try programming my own software server.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Erm, did you say programy your own web server software, you wont be able to do it, nor I. probely nobody on this forum could do that. It would be a HUGE task, why not check out apache, most of the web servers run it, and it is free :D

www.apache.org

[duncanhall]

This is what you want (http://www.kirupa.com/developer/flash8/php5sockets_flash8.htm)

Although I never actually got it to work.

[Seb Hughes]

The thign is to runa socket server etc, you need root access i think. :P

[duncanhall]

Yeah, I think that was problem, only having shared hosting. I'm saving that tutuorial for a rainy day when I have a wardrobe full of my own servers.

Having said that, I checked out that SmartFox Server (http://www.smartfoxserver.com/) metioned above and it looks pretty kick arse.

[Squidge]

Thanks 4 t3h speedy replies peeps! So I'll have to check out apache. This would allow me to build a multiplayer game in Flash?

The only thing I was a little unsure about with SmartFox Server is a) the cost is high, although it's free to develop and b) when installed and running, the server opens a DOS window (in windows) and one of the command lines references www.electro-server.com (http://www.electro-server.com). Well, that threw me off a bit because I understood these to be competing programs. Why would I bother with SmartFox when I could just get electro-server? Should I just use apache?