Wookash Podcast

Dan SchmidtBlog: https://dfan.org/blog/Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/dfan.bsky.social Wookash PodcastShow links: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lukasz-scigaSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7tExkDJcI6vvmpCguX8YgdApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wookash-podcast/id1683109481Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9J9u3apteD0EuFjzRpt71wRSS: https://anchor.fm/s/dd7643a4/podcast/rssX: https://x.com/wookash_podcast

Nick Barker, an experienced systems programmer and maintainer of Clay, joins UI engineer Anton Mikhailov, known for his work on Dreams and Substance 3D Modeler, alongside Ramon Santamaria, creator of Raylib. They explore the nuances of immediate versus retained UI modes, the complexities of text editing, and the challenges of contrasting web and desktop UIs. The trio also dives into the importance of cross-disciplinary skills and share practical insights on animations and performance trade-offs, making for a rich and informative discussion.

Patrick Traynor, an innovative independent game developer, shares his journey from creating fan games to developing acclaimed puzzles like Parabox. He discusses the importance of crafting small games to enhance skills and streamline iteration. Traynor dives into the creative depth of classic puzzles like Sokoban and offers insights into designing effective puzzles, emphasizing accessibility and player experience. His collaborative project 'I Want to Try a Collab' showcases community creativity, while he reflects on balancing gameplay structure and artistic clarity.

Wassim Alhajomar, a software developer with a medical background, shares his unique journey from Syria to developing indie games. He discusses his experience balancing medical school and coding, including the creation of the game AV Racer and its innovative car physics. Wassim also dives into his work on image tooling, the challenges of debugging graphics, and switching from OpenGL to Direct3D. He reflects on the flaws in medical software and his desire to improve medtech, all while offering valuable advice for aspiring programmers.

Tim Bekkers, an indie game developer and the creative mind behind The Button Effect, shares his fascinating journey from building engineering to game design. He discusses the inspiration he drew from modern art and games like The Witness, leading to his minimalist puzzle concept focused on buttons. Tim explains his rigorous prototyping process, where he explores hundreds of designs to balance challenge and enjoyment. He also provides insights into his solo art workflow using Blender and outlines his marketing strategies for reaching wider audiences.

In this conversation, Casey Muratori, a programmer and founder of Molly Rocket, shares his insights on the Handmade Hero project. He discusses its unexpected success and the educational benefits it provided to both him and his audience. Casey reflects on the challenges of streaming programming on platforms like Twitch and the evolution of public discourse in tech communities. He also highlights the importance of building a supportive learning environment and the ongoing complexities of programming education in today's landscape.

Eskil Steenberg, a software developer and member of the C-Standard board, shares his journey from childhood dreams of programming to establishing a game studio. He discusses innovative UV unwrapping tools and the ambitious Unravel project aimed at user control over data. Eskil emphasizes simplicity in C programming, critiques modern complexities, and reveals his experiences with memory manipulation software. He balances his creative pursuits in the gaming world with family life, advocating for a proactive approach to innovation and addressing the challenges of climate change.

Ginger Bill, creator of the Odin programming language, and Ryan Fleury, an expert on the RAD debugger, dive into the evolving landscape of programming languages. They tackle the pros and cons of C versus Odin, discussing the foundational role of C while highlighting Odin's user-friendly features. The duo humorously shares personal coding journeys and insights on error handling, memory management, and the importance of clear coding standards. Their conversation also addresses misconceptions about C, making it a must-listen for both new and seasoned programmers!

TJ, a talented software developer and streamer known for his work with NeoVim and co-founder of terminal.shop, shares his insights on various topics. He discusses the challenges of mastering low-level text editors and the importance of documentation. The conversation highlights the nuances of safe software deployment in critical environments and Epic's unique in-house health tech development. TJ also reflects on navigating career transitions, balancing family life with streaming, and pursuing innovative projects like game development and selling coffee through NeoVim.

In this engaging discussion, Jimmy Lefevre, a talented programmer in the EDA industry and creator of kb_text_shape, dives into the complexities of text rendering and encoding. He shares his journey from gaming aspirations to programming, critiquing traditional computer science education. The conversation touches on bi-directional text processing, the challenges of building a text shaping library for languages like Arabic, and the cultural perceptions of work in France. Lefevre's insights on open-source versus paid software in font creation are thought-provoking!