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This is why I'm astonished: it also seemed to me that Carmack is that sort of guy, you know, real programmer. idealistic, stubborn. Maker, not businessman. But

by krick 13y ago

This is why I'm astonished: it also seemed to me that Carmack is that sort of guy, you know, real programmer. idealistic, stubborn. Maker, not businessman. But whatever be all that "Mark and his team share our vision for virtual reality’s potential to transform the way we"… blah blah — I cannot really imagine why he would do so if not only for the sake of business. Well, it might be easier to make stuff when company with infinite resources parents you for sure, but still… No, I definitely have to reconsider if that idealistic picture of Carmack in my brain is correct. Not that I ever knew him, anyway…

72deluxe 13y ago
What makes a "real programmer" though? Do you think he'd be programming in a hut for no money? He isn't daft.
- aeberbach 13y ago
  I'd say there are certain programmers, who after reaching a certain financial security threshold, would do exactly that. Just as there are people who would happily sail a yacht around the world indefinitely, though it would bore me silly. Is Carmack one of those? Who can say. This kind of programmer can be disguised by the fact that code hermits often make money by accident! When you love what you do, what you do tends to be good.
  - jhartmann 13y ago
    I have met Carmack before at Siggraph many years ago and I can say that he struck me as someone who was a 'Code Troll' because he loved it. That he made money was great, but I think he has such a deep love of the technology for technologies sake.
imron 13y ago
I would bet that yes your picture is correct. He posted on twitter: "I suppose I will get a FB account now, so that may lead to some writing a little longer than tweet length..." Never signing up for FB account indicates to me that he's got as much disdain for Facebook as many people here. He also tweeted: "I have a deep respect for the technical scale that FB operates at. The cyberspace we want for VR will be at this scale." Which hints to me that he's at least intrigued by the possibilities that partnering with Facebook will offer, and he sees some potential in this partnership. Carmack has earned enough of my respect over the last few decades that if it turns out he's ok with the acquisition and stays with the company, then as much as I dislike Facebook, I'm going to trust his judgement and be confident that he's hard at work on something 'game-changing'.
- samplonius 13y ago
  Why is not having a FB account "disdain"? I realize that you have some sort of anti-FB ax to grind and does most of HN. I haven't logged into FB for 6 months, but it is because of apathy, not disdain. Why would John be any different?

by krick 13y ago

72deluxe 13y ago

What makes a "real programmer" though? Do you think he'd be programming in a hut for no money? He isn't daft.

aeberbach 13y ago
I'd say there are certain programmers, who after reaching a certain financial security threshold, would do exactly that. Just as there are people who would happily sail a yacht around the world indefinitely, though it would bore me silly. Is Carmack one of those? Who can say. This kind of programmer can be disguised by the fact that code hermits often make money by accident! When you love what you do, what you do tends to be good.
- jhartmann 13y ago
  I have met Carmack before at Siggraph many years ago and I can say that he struck me as someone who was a 'Code Troll' because he loved it. That he made money was great, but I think he has such a deep love of the technology for technologies sake.

imron 13y ago

I would bet that yes your picture is correct. He posted on twitter: "I suppose I will get a FB account now, so that may lead to some writing a little longer than tweet length..." Never signing up for FB account indicates to me that he's got as much disdain for Facebook as many people here. He also tweeted: "I have a deep respect for the technical scale that FB operates at. The cyberspace we want for VR will be at this scale." Which hints to me that he's at least intrigued by the possibilities that partnering with Facebook will offer, and he sees some potential in this partnership. Carmack has earned enough of my respect over the last few decades that if it turns out he's ok with the acquisition and stays with the company, then as much as I dislike Facebook, I'm going to trust his judgement and be confident that he's hard at work on something 'game-changing'.

samplonius 13y ago
Why is not having a FB account "disdain"? I realize that you have some sort of anti-FB ax to grind and does most of HN. I haven't logged into FB for 6 months, but it is because of apathy, not disdain. Why would John be any different?