Moving from VC++ 6.0 to VC++.NET

[wavering]

Why don't you write it in MOPEKS instead?

In 20 years that may be possible! MOPEKS works by finding a program that fits the data so here is some data

1, 1
9, 3
144, 12

Clearly, this is square roots and here is the program that MOPEKS came up with this morning from that data

double _stdcall SquareRoots(double R){
  // Problem Description: '02    Square Roots'
  // Generated by MOPEKS at 9.35 am on Tuesday 5th August 2014

  // Initialise variables at zero
  double ax = 0;
  double bx = 0;
  double cx = 0;
  double dx = 0;

  //                                                  64 bits in Hex    1   2      3   4    5      6    7      8     9       10       11
  //                                                                 Type LHS   EPrp Opr RHS1  Prop1 RHS2  Prop2  Goto   Method    Steps

  Line1: ax = 3 - R;                           // &H9208B5C4187A8CBC    4   0      1   1    5     14    4      3     3       40       94  
  Line2: cx = R / ax;                          // &H18DBB330669188DB    0   2     27   3    4     25    0     12     4       24      109  
  Line3: ax = cx + ax;                         // &H1000080048200002    0   0      0   0    2      0    0      9     1        0        1  
  Line4: ax = ax / 2;                          // &H9009A0A7443D179E    4   0      1   3    0      5    7      8     1       81       79  
  Line5: if(cx < R / ax)goto line2;            // &H5937F1B01820D033    2   2      6   3    4     13    0      3     1       13       25  

  out: return ax;
}

It can then go on to build a whole stack of programs using each program it has generated so far until you get something like:

Private Function R_Orbts_S_AntCl(ByVal R As Long, ByVal S As Long)
Dim ax As Double, bx As Double, cx As Double, dx As Double

1:  ax = AnglSbtnddBy2Ob(S, R)
2:  bx = 1 - 1
3:  bx = ax + bx                    'bx is the relevant angle to use so far ...
4:  cx = DistBtwn2Objcts(R, S)
5:  cx = R.Speed / cx
6:  cx = cx / 2
7:  cx = ATan(cx)                   'cx is the angle correction (to allow for triangle)
8:  bx = bx - cx                    'bx is the relevant angle to use!
9:  dx = Return180()
10: bx = bx + dx
11: ax = Cos(bx)
12: ax = R.Speed * ax
13: ax = ax + R.XAxis
14: ax ==> NextStep(R.XAxis)
15: ax = Sin(bx)
16: ax = R.Speed * ax
17: ax = R.YAxis - ax
18: ax ==> NextStep(R.YAxis)
End Function

I believe this is the correct route to artificial intelligence ... as a friend of mine remarked "if you are right, this is the most significant thing since the origin of life 4 billion years ago". So, no pressure

Just kidding but if it's MOPEKS we're dealing with here than it's most likely a combinatorial problem

Well, the programs evolve in a breeding pool and this is classic Genetic programming. Where I have extended it is the programs using each other and attach themselves to objects which interact in an environment - if you want to see more see the website. Bear in mind this is fully operational, you can download and install a fully working version for free - this is not about making money, it is about promoting an idea.

Once I have got the .net versions working the next step is a camera trained on an interactive situation (eg a billiard table) and it will derive programs that have predictive power ie which ball will go where and the ideal angle etc

Furthermore for a project like MOPEKS I don't think .NET is the optimal platform because it's not portable. I think you should seriously consider Java or a native C++ with Qt combination. It will work on many platforms including Windows too so why limit yourself to Windows only?

A bit late now - this has got 35,000 lines of code written by me and has taken me almost 20 years so I am stuck with what I have!

So don't just port. First come up with a feasible solution and then make a proper new design based on your experience with the old program. Otherwise the project is doomed. Good luck.

Well, maybe if others think the basic principles have merit but if I am the sole person working on it that will not happen - I will die of old age first!