Wookash Podcast Why Use C for UI Library? | Nic Barker
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Jun 14, 2025 Nic Barker, a self-taught programmer and creator of Clay, shares his journey from web development to crafting a UI layout library in C. He discusses the excitement and challenges of low-level programming, the complexities of UI management, and the importance of ergonomic design. Nic also reflects on his love-hate relationship with C, the potential of macro-based specifications, and the communal spirit of open-source contributions. Enjoy insights on optimizing workflows and the balance between creativity and performance metrics.
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Nic's Early Programming Journey
- Nic Barker's early programming exposure began with playful games on school Macs and progressed to Warcraft 3 map editor custom games.
- His journey included self-teaching and exploring web technologies, leading to a passionate commitment to programming.
Game Development Obsession
- Nic developed games independently in Java, spending whole days coding for months straight.
- This intense focus led him to realize programming was his destined career path early in university.
Clay’s Origins and Flexbox Inspiration
- Nic's Clay began as a subcomponent in a larger assembly language editor project focusing on structure editors.
- He built Clay entirely in C, inspired by Flexbox's elegant core layout model from CSS.