Programming for mac and pc

[Chantek]

Hello!
Im going to programme a simple game with an IDE for both pc and for mac and linux. And I need some basic information about how that can be done. Do I use the same coding for both the mac game as the pc and linux version?

Should I make the game on pc first and then change it so its playable for mac and linux or is that hard to do if the game is complicated?

Thanks for an answer! :)
/ Martin

[quirkyusername]

if you use a library like SDL or SFML then there should be very little difference. Have you ever programmed a game before? It's not easy and you will need to understand C++ in great detail to succeed but we can get you started if you're going to try.

[hanst99]

There are a number of API's you could use that are implemented on Mac/Linux/Windows (SFML, Allegro, SDL...), also IDE's that have ports for these platforms (like Code::Blocks or Eclipse).

If you use any of those, you could technically write programs that would compile unchanged on either of those platforms.

If you choose a more platform dependent API (or use some feature that may have platform dependent side effects) you will have to produce different versions for all platforms.

[Chantek]

I have some sort of photografic memory so ill learn quick so i usually learn by doing. So its no problem. Just need some basic info so i only learn what i need to learn. :)

Does it mean that I can programme everything for pc originally on for example eclipse or code::blocks and then when im finished make it work for mac/linux?

Could you please explain more easily what an API is.