Lynn Zheng, a software engineer at freeCodeCamp and Salesforce, discusses her game development projects, including 'Learn to Code RPG'. She also talks about her experience as an engineer at a large tech company and being in work visa limbo. The podcast covers topics such as smart luggage cases, the Rinpy visual novel engine, adjusting to college life as an international student, creating interactive modules and AI language models, and building powerful computers for AI and game development.
Generative AI tools revolutionize game development by facilitating rapid iteration and creation of high-quality assets.
Navigating the US immigration system as an international student in the tech industry can be challenging but can be overcome with valuable internships, projects, and networking.
Generative AI tools like Stable Diffusion enable visual novel creators to generate character graphics and explore new possibilities in prototyping and refining their projects.
Deep dives
The Power of Generative AI in Game Development
Generative AI tools, such as Stable Diffusion and Chat GPT, have revolutionized game development by allowing solo developers to quickly iterate on prototypes. These tools can generate character graphics, game scripts, and even code structure, making it easier to create proof of concept games. Solo developers can leverage generative AI to create high-quality assets without requiring advanced art or programming skills. This streamlines the development process and empowers creators to focus on refining their game ideas rather than struggling with technical limitations.
Navigating the US Immigration System as an International Tech Worker
Lynn shares her personal experience navigating the US immigration system as an international student working in the tech industry. She highlights the challenges of transitioning from optional practical training (OPT) to securing an H-1B visa. Lynn discusses the competitive nature of the visa lottery system and the limited number of visas available each year. Despite the uncertainty, she remains hopeful and emphasizes the importance of valuable internships, showcasing site projects, and building a strong professional network to increase the chances of getting hired by a company willing to sponsor a work visa.
Creating a Learn-to-Code RPG: A Journey into Game Development
Lynn takes us on a journey into the creation of the Learn-to-Code RPG. She shares her ideation process, from leveraging the Hero's Journey framework to mapping out different stages in the game. Lynn reveals her art of alternating between writing the script, working on the game's mechanics, and collaborating with artists to bring the game to life. The experience of launching the game, gathering feedback, and addressing bugs has provided valuable lessons in managing an ambitious project and engaging with a growing community of game enthusiasts.
Harnessing the Power of Generative AI for Visual Novels
Lynn explores the potential of generative AI tools, such as Stable Diffusion, in the realm of visual novels. She explains how Stable Diffusion can transform text prompts or images into high-quality images, allowing visual novel creators to generate character graphics and other art assets. Lynn also touches on the exciting possibilities of singing voice conversion tools, which can be trained to emulate specific character voices. These generative AI tools provide creators with new avenues for rapidly prototyping, refining, and iterating on their visual novel projects.
Exploring the Impact of AI in Tech: The Rise of Language Models
Lynn delves into the growing influence of AI, specifically language models, in the tech industry. She reflects on the transformative power of models like GPT-2 and Chat GPT, which have sparked a surge in interest and application of AI technology. Lynn highlights the practical applications of AI in areas like code generation and character dialogue, emphasizing the convenience and time-saving benefits for developers. As AI models continue to advance, Lynn envisions even greater contributions in various fields, opening up new avenues for creativity, innovation, and problem-solving.
Today I'm joined by Lynn Zheng. She's a software engineer at freeCodeCamp and at Salesforce.
Lynn grew up in Shenzhen, China – the computer hardware capital of the world. Both of her parents were engineers. And from an early age, they encouraged Lynn to learn math and computer science. She got into the prestigious Computer Science program at University of Chicago, where she earned both Bachelors and Masters degree – all by the age of 21.
I met up with Lynn at the Redwood City Public Library in the heart of Silicon Valley. But they didn't have any study rooms available. so we climbed to a nearby rooftop and recorded there.
We talk about Lynn's many game development projects, which culminated in Learn to Code RPG, a Visual Novel game where you learn to code and get a developer job. And we talk about her experience working as an engineer at one of the largest tech companies in the world, even as she's stuck in work visa limbo.
Next week will be our 100th episode, and I've got something extra special in store for you.
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