Software Engineering Daily

Simon Thommes, Lead Technical Artist at Blender Studio, shares insights on creating the game DOGWALK using open-source tools. He discusses the innovative open production model at Blender Studio, which allows full asset sharing for collaboration. Simon dives into the unique gameplay of DOGWALK, where players experience the world as a dog, and elaborates on the challenges of developing an effective Blender-to-Godot pipeline. He also compares development cultures between Blender and Godot, highlighting their different approaches to open-source contributions.

Rafael Gonzaga, a Principal Open Source Engineer at NodeSource and a key player in the Node.js Technical Steering Committee, dives into the complexities of Node.js. He shares insights on the balance between performance and stability, revealing the engineering challenges behind this vital technology. Rafael discusses the impact of V8 improvements, strategies for effective optimizations, and the importance of community contributions. He offers practical tips for building fast Node apps and highlights his journey in the open-source world.

Zach Barth, an independent game designer and founder of Zachtronics, shares his journey from Microsoft to indie game development. He discusses the essence of Zachtronics' unique puzzle games and the challenges of running a small studio. Barth explains the co-op model of his new venture, Coincidence Games, and the approachability of their latest title, Kaizen. He highlights design choices aimed at easing player entry, balancing accessibility with deep challenges, and the importance of game mechanics evolving to capture player interest.

Dan Fornace, the creative mind behind Rivals of Aether and its sequel, shares insights on developing captivating platform-fighting games. He discusses how he blends competitive mechanics with accessibility, citing wave-dashing as a key feature. The evolution from GameMaker to Unreal Engine 5 showcases the game's technical growth, while balancing character viability in competitive play remains a priority. Fornace also highlights the community's role, including crossovers with other gaming scenes, and the importance of robust internal tools for development.

Serge Christiaans, a former Dutch Air Force and commercial pilot now leading the Aviation Cyber Academy, explores critical issues in aviation cybersecurity. He discusses the aircraft as a digital attack surface and the dangers of outdated technologies like ARINC protocols. Serge emphasizes the need for better cybersecurity training for pilots, the risks of hybrid warfare, and the importance of transparency in incident reporting. With rising cyber threats looming, he advocates for a shift towards a just culture in aviation to enhance safety and resilience.

Feross Aboukhadijeh, the founder and CEO of Socket, brings his expertise in open source and package security to the discussion. He shares insights into the ever-growing risks of software supply chains, emphasizing the importance of securing dependencies. Feross recounts his journey from developing WebTorrent to tackling issues like maintainer burnout. He provides practical tips on maintaining safe code, highlights threats from AI-driven attacks, and stresses the need for robust vetting processes. Plus, he lightens up the conversation with charming tales about his kittens!

Samuel Colvin, creator of Pydantic and Pydantic AI, joins Gregor Vand to dive into the evolution of Pydantic from a simple type-safe library to a robust AI framework. They discuss the significance of type safety in AI applications, revealing how Pydantic AI enforces data validation. Samuel also shares insights on Logfire, an observability platform, and its developer-centric features. The duo emphasizes the importance of modular agent design and the interplay between AI and human expertise, showcasing the future of AI tooling in Python.

Jeff Bezos is back in the game with Project Prometheus, aiming to revolutionize AI in hardware and space. The podcast dives into the sustainability of AI investments and the burgeoning ecosystem surrounding OpenAI. Nordic startups are on the rise, reflecting innovation beyond Silicon Valley. Discussion of technology tipping points reveals key moments when breakthroughs enter the mainstream. Plus, they explore intriguing topics like moss thriving in space and the aesthetic debate over classic films versus modern formats.

Johan Peitz, a games industry veteran and PICO-8 whiz, shares his journey from early computing to creating retro-style games. He delves into the philosophy of PICO-8, discussing how its constraints foster creativity and prevent scope creep. Johan introduces innovative tools like PicoCAD and explores unique techniques for memory management. He explains the concept of multi-carting for larger data and reflects on rapid prototyping while navigating the balance between free and paid content. Exciting future plans for his studio and the broader impact of PICO-8 on game design are also highlighted.

Dimitri Mitropoulos, a developer at Vercel and founder of Michigan TypeScript, shares fascinating insights on his audacious project of running Doom in TypeScript. He delves into the technical challenges of representing Doom within three trillion lines of types, utilizing TypeScript's literal types for frame computation. Dimitri also discusses the practicalities of advanced TypeScript, advocating for safer coding practices like exact optional property types. Additionally, he reveals his musical side in recording Doom's soundtrack, blending creativity with programming.