5 ms·

Walk Monster (2012)

51 points by guildwriter 8y ago

Yokohiii 8y ago
An almost 2h talk which is very worth it for everyone who has an interest in minimalism, simplicity, performance or anyone who has a feeling there is something wrong in software. Casey's complaint is basicly that there are several million lines of code between an application and the hardware. This creates a large problem surface i.e. performance/security/complexity. In addition, the current hardware is so complex that an software/os (r)evolution is not possible. Casey suggests an SoC+ISA and vastly simplified interfaces for SATA/USB/NICs/etc. Which would make it feasible to ship custom OSes with just a few 10 thousands lines of ASM/code. Downside is that this would require interest from chip/hardware vendors. -- I lack technical depths regarding hardware and OSes, but I like that idea very much. Shrinking the OS parts to comprehensible sizes would vastly change the landscape. Programming computers would be so much more interesting if a single individual could grasp all of it.
- AnIdiotOnTheNet 8y ago
  I feel like you intended to link this [0]? [0] The 30 Million Line Problem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZRE7HIO3vk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZRE7HIO3vk The article is about Casey's work verifying collision geometry and movement code in Jonathan Blow's The Witness, to ensure that the player can't get stuck anywhere or fall through the ground or anything like that.
  - Yokohiii 8y ago
    Oh wow I totally ended up reading the 30m line problem story. I actually was confused about the title on HN.
- okatsu 8y ago
  Casey always makes interesting points about modern computing and I tend to agree with a lot of what he says. Unfortunately he has a bad habit of insulting people on public platforms. Windows aggravates me as much as the next person but then he'll go off on Twitter asking if Microsoft is run by babies in diapers or whatever. Pretty sure he's also called web developers incompetent idiots more than once too. It's one thing to say in that private out of frustration but in public all you'll do is just alienate the side you're trying to appeal to and they'll carry on doing what they do. Edit: typos.
  - AnIdiotOnTheNet 8y ago
    Thing is, Microsoft completely deserves it because they are insulting their users every day. They are now consistently forcing changes on their users that nobody asked for, and it takes significant amounts of complaints for them to yield in even the slightest degree. See: Metro replacing the start button, forced Windows 10 upgrades, and forced updates in Windows 10 in for starters. Users said they didn't want these things, Microsoft told them to get bent. Casey complained about some issues with VS on HMH, Microsoft reached out and made some suggestions, suggestions completely broke his build environment. That's the kind of crap we're dealing with from today's Microsoft. Calling them babies is far more polite than what I routinely call them.
    - okatsu 8y ago
      It doesn't matter if they deserve it or not. I have problems with Windows 10 every time I turn on my PC. I hate the state of modern software. But I don't go out on Twitter and call everyone an idiot. What's the aim here? You think employee #2822156 in the Visual Studio team is gonna think damn, Cassie is right, I'm an idiot and we need to turn this ship around? You think web devs are gonna sign a petition to cancel JavaScript in browsers? All this does is create is this big network of animosity from like-minded people who like to complain together. At the end of day I'd find it much healthier to spend time with someone like Stephanie Hurlburt than Casey. He could just stick to providing educational material like he does with HH. Lots of people gain insights from those. The Linus-like talk brings literally nothing to the table except bad feelings. EDIT: I should also mention that for every person like you and I (because we're on the same wavelength regarding software quality, no arguments there) there's also a crapton of people who are very happy with modern software development. I just have to look around my desk at work and I'll find people cheering for the next VS or Electron or whatever toy release. Hell, even Tommy Refenes said he liked Windows 10. These people exist, are in great numbers and are not going anywhere. So you're better off simply laying down informative facts and tips for anyone willing to listen, rather than engage in name calling.
    - bitwize 8y ago
      It doesn't matter what Microsoft did. As a programmer imparting knowledge in a public forum, you have a duty to be professional and state your case or air your grievances in a civilized way. What Casey did was unprofessional and toxic.
obituary_latte 8y ago
Casey is currently building in real-time on live stream a game: https://handmadehero.org https://handmadehero.org

Walk Monster (2012)

51 points by guildwriter 8y ago

An almost 2h talk which is very worth it for everyone who has an interest in minimalism, simplicity, performance or anyone who has a feeling there is something wrong in software. Casey's complaint is basicly that there are several million lines of code between an application and the hardware. This creates a large problem surface i.e. performance/security/complexity. In addition, the current hardware is so complex that an software/os (r)evolution is not possible. Casey suggests an SoC+ISA and vastly simplified interfaces for SATA/USB/NICs/etc. Which would make it feasible to ship custom OSes with just a few 10 thousands lines of ASM/code. Downside is that this would require interest from chip/hardware vendors. -- I lack technical depths regarding hardware and OSes, but I like that idea very much. Shrinking the OS parts to comprehensible sizes would vastly change the landscape. Programming computers would be so much more interesting if a single individual could grasp all of it.

AnIdiotOnTheNet 8y ago
I feel like you intended to link this [0]? [0] The 30 Million Line Problem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZRE7HIO3vk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZRE7HIO3vk The article is about Casey's work verifying collision geometry and movement code in Jonathan Blow's The Witness, to ensure that the player can't get stuck anywhere or fall through the ground or anything like that.
- Yokohiii 8y ago
  Oh wow I totally ended up reading the 30m line problem story. I actually was confused about the title on HN.
okatsu 8y ago
Casey always makes interesting points about modern computing and I tend to agree with a lot of what he says. Unfortunately he has a bad habit of insulting people on public platforms. Windows aggravates me as much as the next person but then he'll go off on Twitter asking if Microsoft is run by babies in diapers or whatever. Pretty sure he's also called web developers incompetent idiots more than once too. It's one thing to say in that private out of frustration but in public all you'll do is just alienate the side you're trying to appeal to and they'll carry on doing what they do. Edit: typos.
- AnIdiotOnTheNet 8y ago
  Thing is, Microsoft completely deserves it because they are insulting their users every day. They are now consistently forcing changes on their users that nobody asked for, and it takes significant amounts of complaints for them to yield in even the slightest degree. See: Metro replacing the start button, forced Windows 10 upgrades, and forced updates in Windows 10 in for starters. Users said they didn't want these things, Microsoft told them to get bent. Casey complained about some issues with VS on HMH, Microsoft reached out and made some suggestions, suggestions completely broke his build environment. That's the kind of crap we're dealing with from today's Microsoft. Calling them babies is far more polite than what I routinely call them.
  - okatsu 8y ago
    It doesn't matter if they deserve it or not. I have problems with Windows 10 every time I turn on my PC. I hate the state of modern software. But I don't go out on Twitter and call everyone an idiot. What's the aim here? You think employee #2822156 in the Visual Studio team is gonna think damn, Cassie is right, I'm an idiot and we need to turn this ship around? You think web devs are gonna sign a petition to cancel JavaScript in browsers? All this does is create is this big network of animosity from like-minded people who like to complain together. At the end of day I'd find it much healthier to spend time with someone like Stephanie Hurlburt than Casey. He could just stick to providing educational material like he does with HH. Lots of people gain insights from those. The Linus-like talk brings literally nothing to the table except bad feelings. EDIT: I should also mention that for every person like you and I (because we're on the same wavelength regarding software quality, no arguments there) there's also a crapton of people who are very happy with modern software development. I just have to look around my desk at work and I'll find people cheering for the next VS or Electron or whatever toy release. Hell, even Tommy Refenes said he liked Windows 10. These people exist, are in great numbers and are not going anywhere. So you're better off simply laying down informative facts and tips for anyone willing to listen, rather than engage in name calling.
  - bitwize 8y ago
    It doesn't matter what Microsoft did. As a programmer imparting knowledge in a public forum, you have a duty to be professional and state your case or air your grievances in a civilized way. What Casey did was unprofessional and toxic.

obituary_latte 8y ago

Casey is currently building in real-time on live stream a game: https://handmadehero.org https://handmadehero.org