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.

>>18
The NetHack source IS hard to understand -- try deciphering their dungeon generation code, it's completely impossible!