Need help in speeding up the output stream (C)

[SpeedyGonzales]

Hi guys:

I just started my text based game programming today i tried some of my basic skill on it, i programmed this very simple text program that simply consists of a character moving around the Command prompt screen with support of very Simple collision detection when it hits the walls.

MY PROBLEM is that i programmed it so that when i hit either (a,w,s,d) keys the whole output buffer is cleared and a new updated one is created and displayed on the screen, you can feel the flashing screen during each operation, i wondered is there any solution for such glitching?? is there any function to overcome this problem ?? cause i just watched some videos on youtube some guys programmed their own text based games and it just works fine for them!!!

#include <stdio.h>
#include <conio.h>
#include <windows.h>


int main ()
{
    void wall(int *, int *);
    
  char ch;  
  int x , y ;
    x = 5;
    y = 40;
    
           wall(&x , &y);
    ch = getch();
    while (1)
    {
          switch (ch)
    {
           case 'w':
           case 'W':
                if (x > 1)
                x--;
                break;
                
            case 'a':
            case 'A':
                 if (y > 1)
                 y--;
                 break;
            case 's':
            case 'S':
                 if (x < 10)
                 x++;
                 break;
            case 'd':
            case 'D':
                 if (y < 78)
                 y++;
                 break ;                                
           }
           
           system("cls");
           wall(&x ,&y);
          ch = getch();
         
           }
    
     
     
     
    getch();
    return 0;
    }
 
 
         
 void wall (int *x, int *y )
           {
               
                 int i;
                 int j;
                 for (i = 1; i <= 80 ; i++)
                printf("X");
              
                 
                 for ( i = 1; i <= 10 ; i++)
                   {
                       printf("X");
                       for (j = 1; j <= 78; j++)
                        {
                           if (i == *x && j == *y)
                          {
                            printf("G");
                            
                            continue;
                              }
                              
                          printf(" ");
                       
                          }
                       printf ("X");
                       }
                        for (i = 1; i <= 80 ; i++)
                printf("X");
                
                 
                  }

Note: Iam using Bloodshed DEV-C++ compiler

[Salem]

Using the stdio library, the emphasis is on having a limited set of features with maximum portability.
That said, using system() to do anything at all is exceedingly expensive.

If you want performance, and control, then you usually have to resort to platform specific code.
Here is an excellent win32 console tutorial written by one of the regulars here.
Win32 Console Applications 1

[AndrewHunter]

The flashing you are seeing is from that system("cls") call that you are using. In order to work around that you are going to need to learn about back buffering, bitblting, and the whole basic concept of console game programming. Take a look at adrian's console tutorial. Also you may find some help with our game programming links.

Edit: Too slow.