"Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler."
- Albert Einstein
I hate to quote Einstein, but here I have no option. This is the simplest version - or at least very close to it - of tracks and trains in a software based simulation. Any try to further simplify it will lead to shortcommings and failures if it comes to train like things running along track like things. It's possible, but you'll loose generallity and you will hack around forever to make your system go.
If you have a basic knowledge in C++ or a similar programming language, and be ready to start with Unreal Engine, then this book is for you.
To fully understand this book you need to have some acquaintance with calculating numbers; with trigonometry, matrix calculation and differential calculus. I do not know any good books about math for learning, albeit I do know plenty of bad ones. Hence I feel compelled to write this book. For the stuff I do not have time to explain, my recommendation list is very short, and only for those who can read german. These titles somehow shine in front of the glooming filthy rest of them:
For learning and exercising: Lehr-und Übungsbuch der Mathematik für Ingenieur- und Fachschulen, Band III; Verlag Harri Deutsch, Frankfurt 1965.
For learning : Fischer/Kaul; Mathematik für Physiker, Teubner Stuttgart 1990.
For remembering: Bronstein, Semendjajew; Taschenbuch der Mathematik, Verlag Nauka Moskau 1991 (also availabe in russian).
Sorry.
But the good news is, that there are plenty of articles in the english Wikipedia and explanationatory films on Youtube. Make use of them. We - you and me - won't slow down.
I spared myself from bothering you with exercises. With the exception where the results are needed lateron in the book and I didn't had time to actually write them down and it so should be the case that you do not believe in my results. For two reasons: first, exercises tend to be simple for the expert but difficult for the novice. After all humankind has produced these results only after thinking about them for more than some 3000 years. And it is not rewarding, because the 'correct' answere is already in my drawer. But before all, secondly, I believe that you as a programmer have your own problems to fix, and be well better off to work on them - maybe with the guidance of this book.
If you are happy with this book, tell your friends; if you have any complaints, tell me (horstmann.marc@trendverlag.de).
Marc-Michael Horstmann, Hinterzarten AD 2019