DCS Skyraider - C++ Programmer
c++
lua
cmake
game dev
Description
I worked on the development team for the Skyraider aircraft add-on for the popular combat flight simulator Digital Combat Simulator. I wrote code to simulate systems, process/manage data streaming in from the game engine, and constructed build systems.
Problem
I was known in the flight simulator communities that I participated in as a competent software developer. I wrote missions in Lua for the community and wrote utility applications to help install mods. I was approached by a friend of mine that stated that he knew someone that had a great idea for a 3rd party aircraft and they needed a programmer. I had C++ in college and had learned it some years ago when I dabbled in game dev in Unreal Engine.
Solution
I joined the team and was an early contributor. I started the project from scratch and implemented the build system with CMAKE and wrote many of the interfaces/classes and data structures that was needed for the game. I worked alongside some really smart people that were very versed in aerodynamics, but they struggled with translating it to code. We worked as a team and got a working product to demo to land a contract with DCS as a legitimate 3rd party developer.
Story
I learned a lot working on this project. The DCS SDK is a protected code base that only licensed 3rd party developers get access to. I had to read source code to understand how to use the SDK. I wrote code in both C++ and Lua. I learned a lot about scope and memory management in this project. I don't work on this project anymore actively due to other obligations but I'm still apart of the team/community if they need me for consulting.