Comments for Blah http://www.jfbillingsley.com/blog Jarrett Billingsley - drawing lines in the sand since 1987 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 03:33:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Keyboard by Peter http://www.jfbillingsley.com/blog/?p=42&cpage=1#comment-44 Peter Sun, 01 Nov 2009 03:33:12 +0000 http://www.jfbillingsley.com/blog/?p=42#comment-44 On many laptops, you cannot remove the keys easily. In this case, you can use a vacuum cleaner to remove hair and dust, then wash the surface of keys with soap and alcohol. On many laptops, you cannot remove the keys easily. In this case, you can use a vacuum cleaner to remove hair and dust, then wash the surface of keys with soap and alcohol.

]]> Comment on Try it. by Dave Wilkinson http://www.jfbillingsley.com/blog/?p=69&cpage=1#comment-43 Dave Wilkinson Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:25:23 +0000 http://www.jfbillingsley.com/blog/?p=69#comment-43 For me, I tend to do things that are extremely challenging without ever knowing that they are supposed to be extremely challenging. It is curiosity without regard to potential pain or failure. I figure, no matter what, I can learn _something_. For most programmers, I'd say they take on the opposite track of success than yourself. Most will learn by failure, and then commit themselves with this knowledge to produce something (and finish something) worthwhile. Failure helps one acknowledge that one method is better than another and to train yourself to better methods. In that respect, lack of failure is a drawback. At least, this is the alternative methodology. I think there is a point where you just cannot succeed without collaboration. And, well, that point was probably a couple of years ago. Most of my accomplishments were done by myself and haven't seen much sunlight. The more promising ones have been collaborative, even if only slightly. If people want to work with you, it supports the notion that your idea is useful. I like that. I want to be much more collaborative. It also means giving up your ideas and your work to the public. I highly support that as well for similar reasons. You cannot fear criticism, of course. You really have to be the submissive to the sadist to be a successful open source maintainer. Well, I've made a few disjoint points here... but I think there was some insight to something. Oh well. Whatev. For me, I tend to do things that are extremely challenging without ever knowing that they are supposed to be extremely challenging. It is curiosity without regard to potential pain or failure. I figure, no matter what, I can learn _something_.

For most programmers, I’d say they take on the opposite track of success than yourself. Most will learn by failure, and then commit themselves with this knowledge to produce something (and finish something) worthwhile. Failure helps one acknowledge that one method is better than another and to train yourself to better methods. In that respect, lack of failure is a drawback. At least, this is the alternative methodology.

I think there is a point where you just cannot succeed without collaboration. And, well, that point was probably a couple of years ago. Most of my accomplishments were done by myself and haven’t seen much sunlight. The more promising ones have been collaborative, even if only slightly. If people want to work with you, it supports the notion that your idea is useful. I like that. I want to be much more collaborative. It also means giving up your ideas and your work to the public. I highly support that as well for similar reasons. You cannot fear criticism, of course. You really have to be the submissive to the sadist to be a successful open source maintainer.

Well, I’ve made a few disjoint points here… but I think there was some insight to something. Oh well. Whatev.

]]> Comment on Statement of Intent by openid.steveklabnik.com/ http://www.jfbillingsley.com/blog/?p=72&cpage=1#comment-42 openid.steveklabnik.com/ Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:21:07 +0000 http://www.jfbillingsley.com/blog/?p=72#comment-42 Yes, we are... she was being uber picky about some things, and whatnot. Maybe next week will be the first, we'll see. Yes, we are… she was being uber picky about some things, and whatnot. Maybe next week will be the first, we’ll see.

]]> Comment on Statement of Intent by blog.maryloukunkle.com/ http://www.jfbillingsley.com/blog/?p=72&cpage=1#comment-41 blog.maryloukunkle.com/ Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:07:42 +0000 http://www.jfbillingsley.com/blog/?p=72#comment-41 I think the swear words add character. No reason to leave them out. ;) also, yes. Japanese group. I'm in. Tell me when and where ... except weekends are probably best for me this fall. So I seek solace in the ivory tower as well, but at the same time, it still doesn't feel right. I wish I could find my place in the world... I think the swear words add character. No reason to leave them out. ;)

also, yes. Japanese group. I’m in. Tell me when and where … except weekends are probably best for me this fall.

So I seek solace in the ivory tower as well, but at the same time, it still doesn’t feel right. I wish I could find my place in the world…

]]> Comment on Statement of Intent by Tomasz Stachowiak http://www.jfbillingsley.com/blog/?p=72&cpage=1#comment-40 Tomasz Stachowiak Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:38:23 +0000 http://www.jfbillingsley.com/blog/?p=72#comment-40 (...) No, I want to make /the/ language, the one that changes everything. I want to be a Walter. (…) No, I want to make /the/ language, the one that changes everything. I want to be a Walter.

]]> Comment on Statement of Intent by Jarrett http://www.jfbillingsley.com/blog/?p=72&cpage=1#comment-39 Jarrett Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:08:35 +0000 http://www.jfbillingsley.com/blog/?p=72#comment-39 Hey, are we gonna get this whole Japanese group thing going? Also, for Hackety Hack, I think the very first thing that needs to be done is a MIDI version of Yakety Sax playing in the background of every page. Hey, are we gonna get this whole Japanese group thing going? Also, for Hackety Hack, I think the very first thing that needs to be done is a MIDI version of Yakety Sax playing in the background of every page.

]]> Comment on Statement of Intent by openid.steveklabnik.com/ http://www.jfbillingsley.com/blog/?p=72&cpage=1#comment-38 openid.steveklabnik.com/ Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:05:09 +0000 http://www.jfbillingsley.com/blog/?p=72#comment-38 "Most importantly, I have a beard." +1 I'll never be a language designer. :( I find that our motivations are similar, yet different. I don't want to work 9-5, but I seek solace in startups, rather than in the ivory tower. I'm interested in languages, yet haven't persued that particular interest as far as you have (yet. Maria is starting her Japanese today, btw.). I, too, want to teach others, but I don't want to do it through school. If you ever have any suggestions for Hackety Hack, let me know... “Most importantly, I have a beard.” +1

I’ll never be a language designer. :(

I find that our motivations are similar, yet different. I don’t want to work 9-5, but I seek solace in startups, rather than in the ivory tower. I’m interested in languages, yet haven’t persued that particular interest as far as you have (yet. Maria is starting her Japanese today, btw.). I, too, want to teach others, but I don’t want to do it through school. If you ever have any suggestions for Hackety Hack, let me know…

]]> Comment on Try it. by Jarrett http://www.jfbillingsley.com/blog/?p=69&cpage=1#comment-37 Jarrett Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:54:24 +0000 http://www.jfbillingsley.com/blog/?p=69#comment-37 your code sounds like a recipe for paszteciki your code sounds like a recipe for paszteciki

]]> Comment on Try it. by Tomasz Stachowiak http://www.jfbillingsley.com/blog/?p=69&cpage=1#comment-36 Tomasz Stachowiak Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:40:33 +0000 http://www.jfbillingsley.com/blog/?p=69#comment-36 It would seem that my approach is exactly the opposite of what you're doing. Nothing is really interesting to me unless there's a gloom of failure hanging over it. I rarely attempt regular activities, mostly stuff I think I might not be able to pull off. This way if I fail, there's no shame in it - it was too hard, I shall retry when I have more skill or abandon it altogether because it's not feasible. But if I succeed, I surpass my own expectations and do things most have not done and will never do. For instance, when all the kids were learning Pascal, I got into C++ and x86 asm. One of my first projects in C++ was a 3d first person shooter game, though when starting I had absolutely no idea how to make one, not even how to manage a project > 1k lines. Then I decided I should create an automatic portal generator based on BSP and zone merging heuristics - folks told me it would not be feasible, but I persisted. A year and 7 rewrites later I had something I was happy with. In the end it was a failure because portal techniques and quake-like levels passed away, but I learned a whole lot about BSP and other geometric techniques, as well as managing floating point stability issues. After that came a 'C++ game engine' with ~70kloc. Then learning D was the insane option and with it came compile-time ray tracing, IMGUIs, another first-person shooter game, networked physics and a 'rule them all' rendering system, along with some minor insanities. Most of these paths had a huge risk factor and also a vague chance of paying back should I be seeking regular employment. Still, they were fun. And they were fun exactly because a sane person would not attempt these. Failure doesn't mean much when you try things considered hard or straight impossible. I say, try doing something insane. A scripting language is a good one, but mine would be more exotic. And I dare say, you *don't want* a girlfriend you'd be worrying about satisfying personally. Either she'll be a geek like you and have her own interests and no need for you to constantly fill the void, or she'll be an empty shell draining all vital powers and free time from you, only for the purpose of being worthless, satisfying primal urges and shopping for shoes (or is that a primal urge? I'm not sure). Oh, and “There is no goal in life; the journey is all that matters.” sounds like a recipe for a tramp :P It would seem that my approach is exactly the opposite of what you’re doing. Nothing is really interesting to me unless there’s a gloom of failure hanging over it. I rarely attempt regular activities, mostly stuff I think I might not be able to pull off. This way if I fail, there’s no shame in it – it was too hard, I shall retry when I have more skill or abandon it altogether because it’s not feasible. But if I succeed, I surpass my own expectations and do things most have not done and will never do. For instance, when all the kids were learning Pascal, I got into C++ and x86 asm. One of my first projects in C++ was a 3d first person shooter game, though when starting I had absolutely no idea how to make one, not even how to manage a project > 1k lines. Then I decided I should create an automatic portal generator based on BSP and zone merging heuristics – folks told me it would not be feasible, but I persisted. A year and 7 rewrites later I had something I was happy with. In the end it was a failure because portal techniques and quake-like levels passed away, but I learned a whole lot about BSP and other geometric techniques, as well as managing floating point stability issues. After that came a ‘C++ game engine’ with ~70kloc. Then learning D was the insane option and with it came compile-time ray tracing, IMGUIs, another first-person shooter game, networked physics and a ‘rule them all’ rendering system, along with some minor insanities. Most of these paths had a huge risk factor and also a vague chance of paying back should I be seeking regular employment. Still, they were fun. And they were fun exactly because a sane person would not attempt these. Failure doesn’t mean much when you try things considered hard or straight impossible.

I say, try doing something insane. A scripting language is a good one, but mine would be more exotic. And I dare say, you *don’t want* a girlfriend you’d be worrying about satisfying personally. Either she’ll be a geek like you and have her own interests and no need for you to constantly fill the void, or she’ll be an empty shell draining all vital powers and free time from you, only for the purpose of being worthless, satisfying primal urges and shopping for shoes (or is that a primal urge? I’m not sure).

Oh, and “There is no goal in life; the journey is all that matters.” sounds like a recipe for a tramp :P

]]> Comment on Try it. by blog.maryloukunkle.com/ http://www.jfbillingsley.com/blog/?p=69&cpage=1#comment-35 blog.maryloukunkle.com/ Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:33:36 +0000 http://www.jfbillingsley.com/blog/?p=69#comment-35 :) Just know you aren't alone! This defines to a T my exact problem. I don't know where it came from, either. But I like your solution. :) Just know you aren’t alone! This defines to a T my exact problem. I don’t know where it came from, either. But I like your solution.

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