C Roguelike game

I've started to code a simple Roguelike game in C but shit tough. First, I'll have to learn to use fucking ncurses. Not that difficult, next step: write the fucking game engine. A shitload of algorithms ( from fucking Dungeon generation to Pathfinding through evolving AI...and worst thing is some shit requires compression algorithms as well ). After I get this shit done, a harder quests will start: class system, quest system and battle system.
I've tried to read some RL games sources but shit is either obsolete ( I've seen inline ASM snippets ) or long as fuck ( Nethack's source...and it's pretty tough to understand, as well )
Can you RL programmers tell me where to start? I feel lost.

if the nethack source is hard to understand then you shouldn't be aiming too high and trying to write a rogue-like game, try something easier first

if people who don't even code games can read nethack source just to cheat and learn nethack then you should be able to if you want to write a 'clone'