ross

ross, 2 months ago to random

The Verge article on the best printer in 2024 is just completely brilliant in so many ways.

And also kinda sad.

https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/2/24117976/best-printer-2024-home-use-office-use-labels-school-homework

ross, 3 months ago to random

Having made a perfectly good notes app as a single-page, hosted-for-free web app, I now wonder what else could be done like this and what would be a great additional enabling tech.

I still really want a personal, private, key-value store with a simple REST API.

If people could have this then all sorts of stuff would be possible with super-cheap web apps.

And I wonder if things like this exist. But it’s SO hard to find them. Because nothing is simple. Everything is made over-complicated!

ross, 4 months ago to random

I have a real issue with statements like “If [the regulation] is anything like GDPR it’s really going to stifle innovation.”

GDPR protects people!

Innovation does not require privacy-invading tracking and complete freedom to do what you want with people’s data.

It’s like saying “seatbelts stifle innovation” or “food safety standards stifle innovation”.

True innovation would be making the new things while respecting privacy so that GDPR isn’t even an issue!!

ross, 2 months ago to random

Stream of consciousness on efficient URL encoding of a Scrabble game…

The board is 15x15, so 225 spaces. We’ll need the “bag”, so 100 tiles but only actually 86 once game starts. 2 “racks” of 7 letters. And the score.

Each space can be empty, letter, blank tile with associated letter.

So all tiles/spaces can fit in 5 bits (up to 32 combos).

It would be good to represent plays as row/col/tile. But I THINK that’s harder to decode. Though row+col fits in 8 bits. Hmm…

ross, 1 year ago to random

Honestly, everyone… how on earth are you supposed to make decisions that involve spending tens of thousands of pounds/dollars?

How do you know you're doing the right thing?

Or is the trick that you don't, but you do the thing anyway?

ross, 2 months ago to random

I had this thought about static turn-by-turn game applications that exchange game data in URL parameter strings.

So you'd take your turn, and then share the new URL with the other player.

I guess tic-tac-toe is the obvious starting point. But I was wondering how efficiently you can encode Scrabble-like game data in a URL string.

I have been thinking about this FAR too much. It's a really interesting little problem.

ross, 1 year ago to random

I’m having real fun looking at EVs. Nearly went for a Renault Zoe. When I pushed a bit harder it turns out the one I was interested in had a failed charging unit. I now don’t believe the story I was told about it’s history. And zero-star NCAP rating + failing charge circuits = NO THANKS RENAULT!!!

Looking at some Hyundais and MGs on Friday. They’re older to fit in our budget but look like much better cars.

ross, 5 months ago to random

I know this is probably an ancient JAMStack thing, but is there a really simple, cheap, cloud-based database/key-value store with a simple get/put API and simple auth?

Happy to self-host (this may be preferable, in fact).

ross, 1 year ago to random

On the one hand, I feel like a total luddite with all this “AI” stuff.

On the other hand, I feel like I've so quickly absorbed the extent of the technology's application that it's become normal and boring.

There is lots of hype, but very little actually revolutionary stuff happening now. It's all just making more words and images in different contexts.

Don't get me wrong, the making words and images is very clever. Sometimes. But the applications of it are not exciting me.

ross, 1 month ago to random

Loving working on the serverless Scrabble clone. Nice, intricate logic. Fun to test!

https://words.pico.games/

Fixed some simple, but hard-to-find bugs for edge cases tonight. You can now actually play a game right to the end! 🤦‍♂️

I'm thankful for people playing and reporting bugs! 🙏

Key things to add:

• Skip/swap tiles as a feature
• Double/triple squares on the board

Then it’s kinda complete!

Nice to haves:

• Some drag-and-drop or keyboard entry
• Some instructions
• Better UI/design

ross, 8 months ago to random

This week, this introvert (actually ambivert), remote-working, nerdy software developer is being made to attend the London office with all the other UK employees. Which will, as far as I can tell, be mostly sales people.

This includes happy hour at a cocktail bar (“let’s have some fun!”) and a posh “Summer Rooftop Party”.

It’s a great company to work for. But you have to make some sacrifices, right?

(Could I sneak in some small nerdy card games perhaps? 🤔)

ross, 1 month ago to random

People with publicly visible tattoos… how do you feel about people asking about them? Is it annoying? Or do you like it … is that the point?

ross, 8 months ago to wordpress

This is - and can only be - a personal project for me only. But I think it's cool.

Given a local PHP install on MacOS (and probably Linux) this CLI tool will fast-install a disposable #WordPress site.

Uses

• SQLite database
• Symlinked core files for speed
• PHP's built-in web server

Think wp-now, but without Node/npm/Express/WASM

Or like a local version of InstaWP.

video/mp4

ross, 4 months ago to random

You know how designers get no-code solutions?

Are there any no-design solutions for coders to use?

ross, 5 months ago to random

I also (in addition to dev mid-life crisis podcast) really want, like, some chat or telegram or Discord group that's polite, friendly, supportive, no-shitposting, dad- (and mom-) jokes allowed/encouraged, creative, fun, geeky-but-tech-agnostic, worldly-wise.

Curmudgeonly-grumping allowed. But where even I get told off if it gets personal or unwelcoming.

I kinda have this, but it never quite works out as I'd hoped. I think my standards are too high.

ross, 1 year ago to random

Can any EV people (@jackmcconnell ?) tell me why I shouldn't go to the dealership and buy this used Renault Zoe right now?

Why is this so cheap? And why hasn't it sold since it snowed (see the pictures) at least as long ago as March?

https://www.fish-bros.co.uk/renault/used-cars/15382335-renault-zoe-100k-w-s-edition-r135-50k-wh-rapid-charge-5dr-auto/

ross, 5 months ago (edited 5 months ago) to random

Came up with a great analogy yesterday for how specific requirements help everyone:

I often do the grocery shopping.

My wife often lists things like “almonds”.

I arrive at the shop.

There are ground almonds, flaked almonds, blanched almonds, whole almonds. They are on the snack aisle, the baking aisle and in the produce department.

There are various packet sizes.

The actual requirement is something like:

"Ground Almonds, 150g for baking cake”

…

ross, 5 months ago to random

Help! AV advice needed.

I have an office with low-level background noise.

I’ve tried a condenser mic and they pick up EVERYTHING!!!

I’ve tried a dynamic mic and I need to really have it in my face to eliminate the noise and it’s looks stupid (but sounds awesome).

I’m currently trying a cheap(er) wired lavalier mic and this seems like a good compromise.

Should I:
a) Now I’ve proven it’s good invest in a wireless lav mic?
b) Do something else? Shotgun/directional mic? Hide under a duvet?

ross, 6 months ago to random

AI thoughts…

My wife has been writing a new CV these last few days. She has had me review it.

I suggested ChatGPT could help with editing. She says this is “wrong”.

“Why?”, I ask.

Because I don’t want to outsource the work to a machine.

So you outsourced it to me?

But you’re not a machine?

What if I told you I got ChatGPT to help rewrite your personal statement?

(I didn’t - it was just a thought experiment)

ross, 5 months ago to random

I'm starting to wonder why my podcast feed isn't now full of podcasts about surviving the mid-life developer crisis. With topics like:

• What am I going to do for the next 15 years before I retire?
• How do I work with all these young people who know more than me (but lack the wisdom of years)
• How do I stop feeling bad that I have no spare time for hacking/side-projects/gaming because I have kids who need to be taken to their swimming class and stuff.

Seriously?

And no, I won’t.

ross, 8 months ago to random

Announcement on The Tube (London metro):

“All folded and unfolded eScooters and eUnicycles are prohibited on…”

Hang in, WHAT? eUnicycles?

This can’t be what I think it is!!

ross, 9 months ago to random

Interesting. My kid gets his first piece of high-school homework. An 11-question quiz about Shakespeare.

He HAS done the homework. But I wondered: what would ChatGPT make of this?

By my reckoning, 4 of the 11 answers it gave were incorrect. And this is because some element of “interpretation” was required to answer the question.

The AI's aren't coming for us just yet!

Examples…

ross, 10 months ago to random

Is there some trait - possibly of neurodiverse minds - that’s like an intuitive, in-brain, fault tree analysis. Where, when presented with an idea, you very quickly understand the possible failure modes.

I thought maybe this was learned pessimism or catastrophising. But after a conversation with my wife at the weekend I’m wondering if it’s innate and a gift?

Also… really want to do a masters in Psychology right now.

ross, 1 year ago to random

Idea: We should connect ChatGPT to DNS so that we can actually let everyday people manage their domains without descending into ... well ... DNS?

(No, we shouldn't. Or should we?)

ross, 1 year ago to random

Eek! Tomorrow I become an electric vehicle owner!!! 😬😃🙌