What are the most common C++ game development errors and bugs?

2 Logic Errors

Logic errors are errors that occur when your code does not behave as intended or expected, due to flaws in your algorithm, design, or implementation. Logic errors can be hard to spot and debug, as they might not cause any obvious errors or warnings, but rather produce incorrect or unexpected results. Logic errors can affect your game's logic, physics, AI, UI, or any other aspect that relies on your code's logic. Some examples of logic errors are off-by-one errors, infinite loops, incorrect conditional statements, wrong variable assignments, or incorrect arithmetic operations. To avoid or fix logic errors, you should use clear and consistent naming conventions, comments, and documentation, as well as test and debug your code regularly and systematically, using tools like breakpoints, watch variables, unit tests, and assert statements.

3 Syntax Errors

Syntax errors are errors that occur when your code does not follow the rules and grammar of the C++ language, causing your code to fail to compile or run. Syntax errors are usually easy to spot and fix, as they are detected by the compiler or the interpreter, and they usually show clear error messages and line numbers. Syntax errors can be caused by typos, missing or extra characters, wrong indentation, mismatched brackets, or invalid keywords. Some examples of syntax errors are missing semicolons, undeclared variables, wrong data types, or invalid operators. To avoid or fix syntax errors, you should use a code editor or an IDE (Integrated Development Environment) that has syntax highlighting, auto-completion, and error checking features, as well as follow the C++ coding standards and best practices.

4 Runtime Errors

Runtime errors are errors that occur when your code runs into an unexpected situation or condition that it cannot handle, causing your game to crash or freeze. Runtime errors are usually caused by external factors, such as user input, file or network operations, hardware or software compatibility, or system resources. Some examples of runtime errors are division by zero, null pointer dereference, stack overflow, buffer overflow, or unhandled exceptions. To avoid or fix runtime errors, you should use error handling techniques, such as try-catch blocks, error codes, or custom exceptions, as well as validate and sanitize your input, check your output, and handle edge cases and errors gracefully.

5 Performance Issues

Performance issues are not technically errors or bugs, but they can affect your game's quality and user experience significantly. Performance issues occur when your game runs too slowly, consumes too much memory or CPU, or suffers from lag, stuttering, or low frame rate. Performance issues can be caused by inefficient or complex code, memory or resource leaks, excessive or unnecessary calculations, graphics or audio settings, or platform or device limitations. Some examples of performance issues are memory fragmentation, cache misses, memory allocation and deallocation overhead, CPU or GPU bottlenecks, or network latency. To avoid or fix performance issues, you should use profiling tools, such as Visual Studio's Performance Profiler or Intel's VTune Amplifier, to identify and optimize the hotspots and bottlenecks in your code, as well as use best practices and techniques, such as object pooling, data-oriented design, multithreading, or caching, to improve your game's performance.