---
parent: Example chat transcripts
---

# Build pong with aider and pygame.

In this chat transcript, the user asks to make a pong game using pygame.
After setting up a basic game, the user asks for some customization of the colors and game mechanics.

<div class="chat-transcript" markdown="1">

> $ aider  

#### can you make a simple game of pong with pygame?  

Sure, I can help you create a simple Pong game using Pygame. First, let's break down the steps needed to create the game:

1. Install Pygame library.
2. Initialize Pygame and create a game window.
3. Create Paddle and Ball classes.
4. Initialize the paddles and the ball.
5. Create the game loop.
6. Handle user input for paddle movement.
7. Update the ball position and check for collisions.
8. Draw the paddles and ball on the screen.
9. Check for scoring and update the score.
10. Display the score on the screen.

Now, let's start with the code. I'll provide you with the code changes in an *EDIT BLOCK*. Since we are creating a new file, I'll name it `pong_game.py`.

```python
pong_game.py
<<<<<<< ORIGINAL
=======
import pygame
import sys

# Initialize Pygame
pygame.init()

# Set up the game window
screen_width = 640
screen_height = 480
screen = pygame.display.set_mode((screen_width, screen_height))
pygame.display.set_caption("Pong")

# Game loop
running = True
while running:
    for event in pygame.event.get():
        if event.type == pygame.QUIT:
            running = False

    # Update game objects

    # Draw game objects

    # Update the display
    pygame.display.flip()

# Quit Pygame
pygame.quit()
sys.exit()
>>>>>>> UPDATED
```

This is the basic structure of the game. Now, let's add the Paddle and Ball classes, handle user input, update the ball position, draw the objects, and handle scoring. I'll provide the code changes in the next message.

> Allow creation of new file pong_game.py? y  
> Add pong_game.py to git? y  
> Applied edit to pong_game.py  
> Commit 14799cb aider: Added basic Pygame initialization and game loop structure to `pong_game.py`.  

</div>
<div class="chat-transcript" markdown="1">
#### go ahead  

Now, let's add the Paddle and Ball classes, handle user input, update the ball position, draw the objects, and handle scoring. I'll provide the code changes in an *EDIT BLOCK*.

```python
pong_game.py
<<<<<<< ORIGINAL
import pygame
import sys

# Initialize Pygame
pygame.init()

# Set up the game window
screen_width = 640
screen_height = 480
screen = pygame.display.set_mode((screen_width, screen_height))
pygame.display.set_caption("Pong")
=======
import pygame
import sys
import random

# Initialize Pygame
pygame.init()

# Set up the game window
screen_width = 640
screen_height = 480
screen = pygame.display.set_mode((screen_width, screen_height))
pygame.display.set_caption("Pong")

# Paddle and Ball classes
class Paddle(pygame.sprite.Sprite):
    def __init__(self, x, y):
        super().__init__()
        self.width = 10
        self.height = 60
        self.image = pygame.Surface((self.width, self.height))
        self.image.fill((255, 255, 255))
        self.rect = self.image.get_rect()
        self.rect.x = x
        self.rect.y = y

    def move(self, dy):
        if self.rect.y + dy >= 0 and self.rect.y + dy <= screen_height - self.height:
            self.rect.y += dy

class Ball(pygame.sprite.Sprite):
    def __init__(self):
        super().__init__()
        self.width = 10
        self.height = 10
        self.image = pygame.Surface((self.width, self.height))
        self.image.fill((255, 255, 255))
        self.rect = self.image.get_rect()
        self.rect.x = screen_width // 2 - self.width // 2
        self.rect.y = screen_height // 2 - self.height // 2
        self.dx = random.choice([-1, 1]) * 4
        self.dy = random.choice([-1, 1]) * 4

    def update(self):
        self.rect.x += self.dx
        self.rect.y += self.dy

        # Collision with top and bottom
        if self.rect.y <= 0 or self.rect.y >= screen_height - self.height:
            self.dy = -self.dy

        # Scoring
        if self.rect.x <= 0 or self.rect.x >= screen_width - self.width:
            self.reset()

    def reset(self):
        self.rect.x = screen_width // 2 - self.width // 2
        self.rect.y = screen_height // 2 - self.height // 2
        self.dx = random.choice([-1, 1]) * 4
        self.dy = random.choice([-1, 1]) * 4

    def collide_with(self, paddle):
        if self.rect.colliderect(paddle.rect):
            self.dx = -self.dx
>>>>>>> UPDATED
```

Now, let's initialize the paddles and the ball, handle user input, update the ball position, draw the objects, and handle scoring.

```python
pong_game.py
<<<<<<< ORIGINAL
# Game loop
running = True
while running:
    for event in pygame.event.get():
        if event.type == pygame.QUIT:
            running = False

    # Update game objects

    # Draw game objects

    # Update the display
    pygame.display.flip()
=======
# Initialize paddles and ball
left_paddle = Paddle(10, screen_height // 2 - 30)
right_paddle = Paddle(screen_width - 20, screen_height // 2 - 30)
ball = Ball()

# Game loop
running = True
while running:
    for event in pygame.event.get():
        if event.type == pygame.QUIT:
            running = False

    # Handle user input
    keys = pygame.key.get_pressed()
    if keys[pygame.K_w]:
        left_paddle.move(-5)
    if keys[pygame.K_s]:
        left_paddle.move(5)
    if keys[pygame.K_UP]:
        right_paddle.move(-5)
    if keys[pygame.K_DOWN]:
        right_paddle.move(5)

    # Update game objects
    ball.update()
    ball.collide_with(left_paddle)
    ball.collide_with(right_paddle)

    # Draw game objects
    screen.fill((0, 0, 0))
    screen.blit(left_paddle.image, left_paddle.rect)
    screen.blit(right_paddle.image, right_paddle.rect)
    screen.blit(ball.image, ball.rect)

    # Update the display
    pygame.display.flip()
    pygame.time.delay(16)
>>>>>>> UPDATED
```

Now, you should have a simple Pong game using Pygame. You can further improve the game by adding a scoring system and displaying the score on the screen.

> Applied edit to pong_game.py  
> Applied edit to pong_game.py  
> Commit b20bcee aider: Added Paddle and Ball classes, handled user input, updated ball position, drew objects, and handled scoring.  

</div>
<div class="chat-transcript" markdown="1">
#### nice, it works. but the ball moves way too fast.  

I'm glad it works! Let's slow down the ball by reducing its speed. We can do this by changing the values of `self.dx` and `self.dy` in the `Ball` class.

```python
pong_game.py
<<<<<<< ORIGINAL
        self.dx = random.choice([-1, 1]) * 4
        self.dy = random.choice([-1, 1]) * 4
=======
        self.dx = random.choice([-1, 1]) * 2
        self.dy = random.choice([-1, 1]) * 2
>>>>>>> UPDATED
```

This change will reduce the ball's speed by half. You can adjust the values further if you want the ball to move even slower.

> Applied edit to pong_game.py  
> Commit f4ceed4 aider: Reduced ball speed by half.  

</div>
<div class="chat-transcript" markdown="1">
#### can you make the paddles a bit bigger? and make one paddle red and one blue?  

Sure, let's make the paddles bigger and change their colors. We can do this by modifying the `Paddle` class in the `pong_game.py` file.

```python
pong_game.py
<<<<<<< ORIGINAL
        self.width = 10
        self.height = 60
        self.image = pygame.Surface((self.width, self.height))
        self.image.fill((255, 255, 255))
=======
        self.width = 15
        self.height = 80
        self.image = pygame.Surface((self.width, self.height))
        self.color = (255, 255, 255) if x < screen_width // 2 else (0, 0, 255)
        self.image.fill(self.color)
>>>>>>> UPDATED
```

Now, let's change the color of the left paddle to red.

```python
pong_game.py
<<<<<<< ORIGINAL
left_paddle = Paddle(10, screen_height // 2 - 30)
=======
left_paddle = Paddle(10, screen_height // 2 - 40)
left_paddle.color = (255, 0, 0)
left_paddle.image.fill(left_paddle.color)
>>>>>>> UPDATED
```

With these changes, the paddles will be larger, and the left paddle will be red while the right paddle will be blue.

> Applied edit to pong_game.py  
> Applied edit to pong_game.py  
> Commit 2c645c9 aider: Changed paddle size and color, and set left paddle to red.  

</div>
<div class="chat-transcript" markdown="1">
#### each time the ball bounces off the paddle, can you make it go 10% faster?  

Sure, let's increase the ball's speed by 10% each time it bounces off a paddle. We can do this by modifying the `collide_with` method in the `Ball` class.

```python
pong_game.py
<<<<<<< ORIGINAL
    def collide_with(self, paddle):
        if self.rect.colliderect(paddle.rect):
            self.dx = -self.dx
=======
    def collide_with(self, paddle):
        if self.rect.colliderect(paddle.rect):
            self.dx = -self.dx * 1.1
            self.dy *= 1.1
>>>>>>> UPDATED
```

With this change, the ball's speed will increase by 10% in both the x and y directions each time it bounces off a paddle.

> Applied edit to pong_game.py  
> Commit 693faf4 aider: Increased ball speed by 10% in both x and y directions each time it bounces off a paddle.  


</div>
