C-nake

Published:

C-nake

Classic Snake game implemented in C++ for the command line

Abstract

C-nake is a minimalistic implementation of the classic Snake game (originally introduced in 1976), written entirely in C++ and running inside the command prompt.

The project focuses on logic, performance, and clean code structure rather than graphical user interfaces. It was developed as a personal learning challenge and served as my first deeper dive into both C++ and object-oriented programming.

Background

This project was created during my second semester in Hong Kong (February 2019).
At the time, my primary programming experience was limited to MATLAB, and I wanted to expand my skill set into lower-level, performance-oriented languages.

After the traditional Hello World experiment in C++, I set myself a challenge:

Build the Snake game from scratch — without any tutorial.

I deliberately avoided graphical frameworks and opted for a pure terminal-based implementation, focusing on:

  • Game logic design
  • Input handling
  • Real-time updates
  • Memory and performance control

Remarkably, a basic functional version was completed within a single day.

From Procedural to Object-Oriented Design

A few weeks later, I decided to revisit the project with a second goal:
learn and apply object-oriented programming principles properly.

Using the excellent resource
📘 learncpp.com by Alex Allain
I restructured the entire codebase into a fully object-oriented design.

This refactor introduced:

  • Encapsulated game state
  • Dedicated classes for snake, board and logic
  • Cleaner separation of responsibilities
  • Easier extendability

The transformation from procedural to OOP not only improved the codebase but significantly deepened my understanding of modern C++ design.

Features

  • Real-time keyboard input
  • Dynamic snake growth
  • Collision detection
  • Score tracking
  • Smooth terminal rendering
  • Object-oriented architecture

All implemented without external libraries.

Video Demonstration

Gameplay of the terminal-based C-nake:

C-nake in a linux terminal.

Key Takeaways

This project marked an important milestone in my programming journey:

  • First real C++ application
  • First encounter with OOP design patterns
  • Strengthened understanding of logic flow and memory handling
  • A practical reminder that simple projects can be powerful learning tools

No graphics. No gimmicks. Just pure logic.