A "newb" programmer.

[dxoigmn]

So what if you aren't learning anything new?  As you gain experience it's amazing how wildly different things can become.  I recently came across an "Alpha 2" version of code for ArmaBot on my computer; it was the third revision I had made that connected to Battle.net, but it was too rudimentary yet to connect with a two-keyed product.  As I was looking through the code base, I was amazed at how different it was from the "Beta 1" version that I had recently built, and how ever further different both are from my current project.  Sure, a lot of names are the same and those objects serve generally the same purpose, but the way in which the modules and elements interact is quite distinct in each version.

Part of the other reason I started a new project was that a new problem had appeared while I was working on ArmaBot, that I didn't believe I could adapt ArmaBot to fix.  I wanted to chat on Bnet with my buddies while I was at work.  Since we have a firewall at work, it would have been impossible; however, if I publish an RBP server on my home computer on, say, port 80 (HTTP), I can chat at work.

For me, I'm a high-level thinker; I like the flexibility of high-level architecture, and I think often in terms of business objects before I can think of database structure or assembly.  Sure, I can *read* assembly, and do some rudimentary reversal, but if other people are willing to share the knowledge that they've acquired on their own, then I prefer to go that way.  It lets me focus my attention on the details of design and user interface effectiveness, rather than worrying about what it means when packet 0x50 is received by the client.

Same.  I have probably rewritten my bot several times and even changed languages (VB 6 -> VB.NET, not a radical change though).  I've looked at all my older sources and they look like crap and progress until I find something that I like.  Mostly like crap because I spent time screwing around with the protocol trying to figure out what certain things do.  Now that I've moved to VB.NET, I really like the way my classes are able to interact and that high-level abstraction.

[CrAz3D]

Unlike some people here, I just program in spare time & do not have any urge to perfect my programming skills.  I don't plan to take CS classes, I don't plan to have any career dealing with computers other than client billing/info management.

I see reinventing the wheel as pointless.  If you redid it everytime it would take forever to make any sort of new vehicle.

I make/remake/rename my BNET projects (they all end up being similar in the end) because of new problems I encounter that would be painstaking & just make more sense to rewrite.

Recently I got bored bored & decided to make my simple little client db thing that I will never use.  I am currently thinking of writing a simple thing in VB.NET to make indexing files eaiser for me (I index files @ my job)

I haven't seen bot programming as a waste of time...I'm not like all, but 3-4, of my friends getting high/drunk every chance I get.

[UserLoser.]

I'd rather learn to reverse the protocol and algorithms involved with the protocol by myself, and (if the protocol is changed / patched) have the skills to reverse it again, than follow a protocol and use algorithms written and documented by others.

World of Warcraft is waiting for you

[Newby]

I'd rather learn to reverse the protocol and algorithms involved with the protocol by myself, and (if the protocol is changed / patched) have the skills to reverse it again, than follow a protocol and use algorithms written and documented by others.

World of Warcraft is waiting for you

If I had the money per month the game cost, I would reverse it.

Sadly, I'm out of money from purchasing an external hard drive.

[CrAz3D]

Why would you use a bot on WoW net?  Well, I seewhy you would, but won't most people just get sick of paying every much & quit WoW net eventually...making a bot might be fun, but why would you keeping logging in on WoW net if you have to pay?

[iago]

To me, writing a bot is entirely an academic exercise.  And a very good one, at that.  I've learned a lot about gui's, network programming, reverse engineering, expandable programs, etc. 

I haven't read most of this thread, but I get the impression that's what it's about. 

[Newby]

Why would you use a bot on WoW net?

I guarantee you people would pay to have a bot that could load a healing character, that would follow you around and heal you.

[UserLoser.]

Why would you use a bot on WoW net?  Well, I seewhy you would, but won't most people just get sick of paying every much & quit WoW net eventually...making a bot might be fun, but why would you keeping logging in on WoW net if you have to pay?

What's purpose of probably every chat bot you've used for Battle.net?
- Chat in channels.

Why would you use a bot on WoW?
- Chat in channels.

Pretty much the same thing..

[Newby]

What's purpose of probably every chat bot you've used for Battle.net?
- Chat in channels.

Why would you use a bot on WoW?
- Chat in channels.

Why would you pay $10-15 a month for an account, and then use it to chat? :p

[UserLoser.]

What's purpose of probably every chat bot you've used for Battle.net?
- Chat in channels.

Why would you use a bot on WoW?
- Chat in channels.

Why would you pay $10-15 a month for an account, and then use it to chat? :p

Why would you pay $10-50 at a store for a game, and then use it's CDKey to chat? :p

[Newby]

What's purpose of probably every chat bot you've used for Battle.net?
- Chat in channels.

Why would you use a bot on WoW?
- Chat in channels.

Why would you pay $10-15 a month for an account, and then use it to chat? :p

Why would you pay $10-50 at a store for a game, and then use it's CDKey to chat? :p

You get bored with the game.

However, unlike Starcraft and such, you get charged $10-15 a month every month. Starcraft and the other Blizzard games are a flat fee.

[EpicOfTimeWasted]

And as for the list of things it provides, I'd go as far to say that 80% of the users here didn't reverse and/or write any of the algorithms used for decryption/encryption/decompression/compression, and probably the same number didn't figure out the protocol on its own.

Sure, you may say something like "If the functions are public, why re-invent the wheel?"

I'll bet that's what CSB users are saying.

So what you're saying is that before someone can write a program that uses sockets, they must first write their own TCP/IP stack, write the functions that generate the proper headers, and finally write the functions that actually send the packet?  Most people don't care to know the inner workings of TCP/IP, so they use the solid foundation that their OS provides, rather than having to re-invent the wheel.

If your goal is to learn the inner workings of b.net, by all means, have at it.  If you are only interested in making a simple bot, save yourself the hassle and find a solid foundation to build off of (this is not an endorsement for CSB, nor a plug for my library).  Contrary to what appears to be popular belief, it does NOT make you less of a man (or woman).

[Newby]

And as for the list of things it provides, I'd go as far to say that 80% of the users here didn't reverse and/or write any of the algorithms used for decryption/encryption/decompression/compression, and probably the same number didn't figure out the protocol on its own.

Sure, you may say something like "If the functions are public, why re-invent the wheel?"

I'll bet that's what CSB users are saying.

So what you're saying is that before someone can write a program that uses sockets, they must first write their own TCP/IP stack, write the functions that generate the proper headers, and finally write the functions that actually send the packet?  Most people don't care to know the inner workings of TCP/IP, so they use the solid foundation that their OS provides, rather than having to re-invent the wheel.

If your goal is to learn the inner workings of b.net, by all means, have at it.  If you are only interested in making a simple bot, save yourself the hassle and find a solid foundation to build off of (this is not an endorsement for CSB, nor a plug for my library).  Contrary to what appears to be popular belief, it does NOT make you less of a man (or woman).

I knew somebody would bring it to the point where you would be writing your own TCP/IP stack and such.

I guess I could say there's a point at which it gets rediculous, but yeah, I guess I'm one of those people who takes joy in writing stuff myself, rather than using the work of others.

No wonder I haven't programmed in forever.

[CrAz3D]

I enjoy writing w/e the heck it is that I;m writing....