Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

(About SiMPLE and Cybertrek)

Why should I have to know anything about computer programming? Aren't there already more than enough computer programs around?

That's a bit like asking, "Why should anyone be taught how to write? Aren't there more than enough books and magazines that have already been written?"

There is an old Chinese proverb:

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

A similar thing can be said about computer programming:

"Give a man a program and you satisfy his software needs for a day. Teach a man how to write programs and you satisfy his software needs for a lifetime."

In the field of music, there are professional singers who've made high quality recordings that anyone can listen to. So, if you want to hear a song, you can just play one of those recordings. But then, if that's the case, why has karaoke become so popular? Why would anyone want to sing a song themselves when they could listen to a professional who can sing that song better? Why? Because it's fun to do things yourself! And the same goes for programming!

Computer programming is a "game" that challenges your creative abilities as well as your intellect!

But I know absolutely nothing about computer programming. So how will I ever be able to write my own computer programs?

We have an online SiMPLE tutorial that teaches you, from the ground up, the fundamentals of computer programming As you read the tutorial, you will actually start creating your own computer programs in a training language called Micro-SiMPLE, a subset of SiMPLE which requires you to know only four keywords. (Other programming languages require you to know hundreds of them!!)

How "smart" do I have to be if I want to be able to write my own computer programs?

Not very! (With SiMPLE, even we can do it! ) But we do recommend that you be at least about ten years old.

Is SiMPLE only for creating "graphics" programs (such as games)?

No! SiMPLE can be used for much more than merely creating graphics and games. For example, with SiMPLE you can create programs that read and write data to any type of file on any of your your disks. This means that you have the capability of creating your own data processing software! Furthermore, SiMPLE's math library contains functions that not only let you compute ordinary trigonometric values but hyperbolic values as well. (And there are several other functions in the library that provide some unique capabilities not usually found in other programming languages.)

SiMPLE is a general purpose development system that let's you do many things. (In fact, SiMPLE itself was actually used to create most of SiMPLE! )

If I create a SiMPLE program and give a copy of it to my friends, will they have to install SiMPLE on their computers before they can run my program?

No. Programs created with SiMPLE compile into ordinary executable (.EXE) files which will run on almost any PC. (But after your friends see the kinds of cool programs you're making, they'll probably want to install SiMPLE on their computers too!)

Is my free copy of SiMPLE merely some kind of "limited time" trial version that will expire in 30 days or so?

No! SiMPLE is yours to keep forever!   It will never expire.

If I download SiMPLE, am I under any obligation to buy other products from your company?

None whatsoever! SiMPLE is a complete development system all by itself. There are absolutely no hidden costs or obligations. (And it does not contain any adware or spyware.)

I understand that there is an "old" version of SiMPLE, and a "new" version. What's the difference between them?

The "old" version of SiMPLE (which is now considered to be obsolete) was created many years ago and only runs on 32-bit computers. The "new" version runs on either 32-bit or 64-bit computers. (Click here for more info.)

Can SiMPLE be used to create programs that will run in a window?

Yes! In fact, SiMPLE gives you a choice: You can not only create programs that run in a window, but you can also create programs that run in "full-screen" mode (in which you have control over every  pixel on your display screen!)

Can SiMPLE be used on an Apple Macintosh?

At the present time SiMPLE works only on Windows-based computers. If your Macintosh has special hardware that supports Windows (or if it has a Windows emulator), then it will run SiMPLE. Otherwise you will have to wait until such time as we release a Mac version.

What are the minimum system requirements for running SiMPLE?

The only system requirement for running SiMPLE is that your computer must have a version of Windows (i.e., Windows 95 or later.) If your machine supports almost any version of Windows, then it should automatically support SiMPLE too.

[However, there are a very small number of computers on which SiMPLE doesn't seem to work properly, and we don't exactly know why. If SiMPLE doesn't work on your computer, click here for instructions on how to to run SiMPLE in Trace Mode so that we can help you track down the problem.]

How much disk space does SiMPLE need?

That depends on how many programs you intend to create! SiMPLE itself (along with its C++ compiler) use only about 64 megabytes. So 80-90 megabytes of disk space should be enough to last you for quite a while.

If I install the current version of SiMPLE, and you make changes to it later on, how do I update my installed version?

Just visit our How to Update Your Copy of SiMPLE page.

How can I tell if my installed copy of SiMPLE is the latest version?

If you are using the "new" version of SiMPLE (the one that works on either 32-bit or 64-bit computers), the version number is displayed each time you use SiMPLE. If you are using the "old" version of SiMPLE (the one that works only on 32-bit computers), just type the command:

VERSION

on the command line. Then check our website regularly to verify that your copy of SiMPLE is the current one.

If I install SiMPLE on my computer and I later decide that I don't want to use SiMPLE anymore, how hard will it be to remove it from my system?

Uninstalling SiMPLE is trivially easy -- all you have to do is delete the "SiMPLE" folder, the "Borland" folder, and the "Library" folder from the drive that you "installed" SiMPLE on. Because SiMPLE is completely non-intrusive, no "uninstall wizard" is needed. (Don't you wish that all  software could be like that!)

I've heard about something called "Object-Oriented Programming" (OOP). What exactly is it, and will SiMPLE let me do it?

An "Object" is a software entity that contains its own built-in data and functionality. Strictly speaking, SiMPLE is not an "Object-oriented programming language". But that doesn't mean that you can't do Object-oriented programming with SiMPLE. (For further information about "Objects" and how to implement them, see: "Doing Object-Oriented Programming In SiMPLE")

All of this is fine and dandy. But other programming languages, such as C++, are more "fashionable" to use. So even though it's a much more difficult language, what I would really like to have is the ability to create programs in C++.

Well, guess what...

SiMPLE lets you write programs in C++ too!

SiMPLE contains a full C++ compiler! And you can either intermix C++ statements along with SiMPLE statements (click here to read how), or you can use the SiMPLE environment to write programs entirely in C++ (click here to read how). So, if you're already an experienced C++ programmer, SiMPLE provides you with the best of both environments. Or if you're just an aspiring C++ novice, you can use SiMPLE to ease yourself into the world of C++ programming in gentle steps (instead of having to "dive" into it "cold").

Can I use SiMPLE to create programs for the Internet?

It depends on what you mean by "for the Internet". You certainly can upload SiMPLE programs (source listings and/or executable files) to your website so that anyone in the world can download them. And you can also create SiMPLE programs that directly receive files from websites on the Internet. And you can even even use SiMPLE to create a local area network, and create games that can be played between two or more computers. (For example, see our "Space War" game.) But if you want to create web pages that have all kinds of fancy animations on them, you'll just have to settle for using things like HTML and JavaScript.)

What is your "Usage Agreement" for using SiMPLE?

Our "Usage Agreement" page is very short, and you can read it by clicking here.

Why are you giving away SiMPLE instead of selling it?

Now that we are living in the 21^st century, we believe that everybody should have at least an elementary knowledge of computer programming. And they shouldn't have to pay money in order to achieve that minimum level of computer literacy. So we are making SiMPLE available to the world, free of charge.

What should I do if I have other questions about SiMPLE?

Visit our SiMPLE CodeWorks Online Communications Center.

What's the secret password for getting into Club SiMPLE?

The secret password is: mouse. (But don't tell anyone!)

The Cybertrek Adventure Game

What is Cybertrek?

Cybertrek is the world's first adventure game/story that requires you to know how to use your computer. It was created by "Mr. Logic" in 2002, and it was the very first "URL-completion" type of puzzle/riddle ever made.

How do I play Cybertrek?

To visit the Cybertrek game's homepage, click here.

When I eventually find the start of Cybertrek, all I get is another page that says: "Cybertrek by Mr. Logic," and some kind of a picture underneath it. What am I supposed to do?

See if you can find a "hot spot" somewhere on the picture. Then click there.

I'm playing the Cybertrek game and I'm stuck in the secret underground laboratory. What should I do?

First of all, a word to the wise: You should be actually reading the story, and not merely skipping down to the bottom of each page just to get to the next puzzle question!  (If you're not reading the story, you may be missing important clues.) With that said, find a slip of paper somewhere in the lab. Then drag your mouse over it.

I'm playing Cybertrek-2 and I've just left the airport parking lot. How do I get to Harlow?

Perhaps you noticed a street sign saying "Harlow-27Km". Just follow the sign! (If you're still lost, click here for the answer.)

I'm playing Cybertrek-2 and I've been in every room of the Murdock mansion, but I can't find the jewels. Where are they hidden?

They're hidden in a part of the mansion that is very dark. So you might want to find some way of "illuminating" hard to see things. (If you're still "in the dark" about what to do, click here for another hint. Or, if you're totally lost, click here for the spoiler.)

I'm playing Cybertrek-3 and I don't know the suffix for the lock on Inspector Truseau's cell. Where do I find it?

Look in the Murdock Mansion's Art Gallery (in Cybertrek-2).

I'm playing Cybertrek-4 and they didn't give me the option of looking at the program that Corky wrote to find the password for the Traumstadt Hotel's front door. Where can I find his program?

If you've gotten this far in the game, then we feel that you're smart enough to be able to start writing your own programs. (After all, that's half the fun of the game.) However if you think you really need to see it, we'll show you Corky's program ... but this will be the last time that we'll do so. (Click here.)

What should I do if I have other questions about Cybertrek?

Simply post your questions on the Cybertrek Message Board in our SiMPLE CodeWorks Forums.

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