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Lex Fridman Podcast

#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets

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.
05:22:51

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • A good programmer should prioritize providing value to users by creating products that improve lives through problem-solving or entertainment.
  • Finding work-life balance is a personal journey, and what works for one person may not work for another.

Deep dives

The Importance of User Value

A good programmer should prioritize providing value to users. This means creating products or solutions that improve the lives of individuals, whether through solving problems or providing entertainment. User value should be the top priority, and programmers should focus on delivering maximum value with the least effort. While metrics and data can help assess user value, it's also important to have a holistic vision and consider the experience and satisfaction of users.

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