Hanselminutes with Scott Hanselman Computer Science Visualizations with Sam Rose
Jul 11, 2024
Sam Rose, who creates visual introductions to computer science topics for beginners, discusses the process of making bespoke blog posts with Scott. They cover topics like load balancing, memory allocation, hashing, and the importance of clear cues for user engagement in visualization design.
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Inspiration from Mechanical Watch Visuals
- Sam Rose was inspired by Bartosz Ciechanowski's 3D mechanical watch blog to create visual programming posts.
- He started with simpler 2D animations focusing on foundational computer science topics for longevity and accessibility.
Build Lightweight, Longevity-Focused Visuals
- Sam uses PixiJS for 2D rendering but is experimenting with much smaller custom libraries for efficiency.
- He builds with raw web components and TypeScript to maximize longevity and avoid reliance on heavy frameworks.
Make Interactive Elements Obvious
- Clear signposting is critical to help users realize interactive elements in visualizations.
- Sam learned to add explicit cues like pulsing cursors and the word "click" based on user feedback.