🐍 Classic Snake Adventures 🕹️

Dive into a nostalgic gaming experience with this terminal-based rendition of the timeless Snake game! Crafted with C++ and the ncurses library, this project brings the simple yet addictive fun of Snake right to your command line.

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✨ Features

• Classic Gameplay: Relive the original thrill of guiding your ever-growing snake.
• Smooth Controls: Intuitive arrow key navigation for precise movements.
• Dynamic Growth: Watch your snake get longer with every tasty morsel consumed.
• Collision Detection: Beware of the walls and your own tail – a true test of skill!
• Terminal-Powered Graphics: Retro-style visuals brought to life with the ncurses library.
• Lightweight & Fast: Runs smoothly in most terminal environments.

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🛠️ Tech Stack

• Language: C++
• UI/Graphics: ncurses library (for terminal-based interface)
• Compiler: GCC / Clang (or any standard C++ compiler)

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🚀 Getting Started

Ready to chase some food? Here's how to get the game up and running on your system.

📋 Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following installed:

1. A C++ Compiler:
   • Most Linux distributions and macOS come with g++ or clang.
2. ncurses Library: This library is essential for the terminal graphics.
   • On Debian/Ubuntu-based systems:

     sudo apt-get update
     sudo apt-get install libncurses5-dev libncursesw5-dev

   • On Fedora/RHEL/CentOS-based systems:

     sudo dnf install ncurses-devel

   • On macOS (using Homebrew):

     brew install ncurses

⚙️ Compilation & Execution

1. Clone the Repository (if applicable):

   # git clone <your-repository-url>
   # cd snake-game

   (If you just have the main.cpp file, skip this step and ensure main.cpp is in your current directory.)

2. Compile the Code: Open your terminal and use the C++ compiler to build the executable. Link against the ncurses library.

   g++ main.cpp -o snake_game -lncurses

3. Run the Game: Execute the compiled program to start playing!

   ./snake_game

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🎮 How to Play

The rules are simple, but mastery is a challenge!

• Objective: Grow your snake as long as possible by eating food.
• Controls:
  • Arrow Up: Move Up
  • Arrow Down: Move Down
  • Arrow Left: Move Left
  • Arrow Right: Move Right
• Game Over: The game ends if the snake collides with:
  • The game board boundaries (walls).
  • Its own body.

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🧠 Code Insights (from main.cpp)

A brief look at the engine under the hood:

• init_game(): Sets up the ncurses environment, initializes the game board, places the initial snake, and spawns the first piece of food.
• draw_board(): Renders the playing area boundaries.
• draw_snake() / draw_food(): Responsible for visually representing the snake and food on the terminal.
• move_snake(): Updates the snake's position based on player input and current direction. This function also handles the logic for the snake's body following its head.
• check_collision(): Detects if the snake has hit a wall or itself, triggering the game over state.
• check_food_eaten(): Checks if the snake's head has reached the food. If so, it grows the snake and repositions the food.
• game_over(): Displays the end-game message and awaits player action to close.
• main(): The heart of the game, containing the main game loop that processes input, updates game logic, and refreshes the display.

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✨ Future Enhancements & Creative Ideas

This classic can always learn new tricks! Here are some potential ideas:

• 🏆 Scoring System: Keep track of points for each food eaten.
• 🔥 Difficulty Levels: Introduce varying speeds or obstacles.
• 🎨 Color Customization: Allow players to choose colors for the snake, food, or board.
• 🚀 Power-ups: Special food items that grant temporary abilities (e.g., speed boost, invincibility, score multiplier).
• 🧱 Obstacles: Add static or moving obstacles within the game board.
• 🎵 Sound Effects: Basic beeps for eating or game over (if terminal supports).
• High Score Board: Save and display top scores.
• "Ghost Mode": Allow passing through walls to appear on the opposite side.

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🤝 Contributing

Contributions, issues, and feature requests are welcome! Feel free to check the issues page (if you plan to host this on GitHub/GitLab).

1. Fork the Project
2. Create your Feature Branch (git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature)
3. Commit your Changes (git commit -m 'Add some AmazingFeature')
4. Push to the Branch (git push origin feature/AmazingFeature)
5. Open a Pull Request

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(Optional: Add a License section here if you have one, e.g., MIT License)