Lex Fridman Podcast #309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
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Aug 4, 2022 
In this engaging conversation, John Carmack, the legendary programmer behind iconic games like Doom and Quake, shares his insights on video game development and virtual reality. He dives into the evolution of programming and the challenges of creating immersive gaming experiences. Carmack humorously reflects on health choices while discussing the balance between discipline and spontaneity in life. He also explores artificial general intelligence, the future of Mars colonization, and the integral role of engineers in fostering innovation.
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First Program
- John Carmack's first program was "10 print John Carmack" on a TRS-80.
- He enjoyed the magical aspect of computers doing exactly as told.
Early Game Dev Optimization
- Efficient drawing techniques, like using hardware-designed text output for graphics, were crucial in early game development.
- This optimization was necessary due to hardware limitations.
Language Preferences
- For serious programming, John Carmack prefers C++, but acknowledges Python's convenience for AI/ML.
- He finds value in functional programming principles for improving code maintainability.
