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aroman

4,165 karma · joined September 3, 2011

`make all`, not war.

independent game developer, helping the world garden together: https://magicgarden.gg

The best way to contact me is via email: niv@ebznabss.zr (rot13, robots do not inquire please)

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aroman··on Ask HN: Who is hiring? (January 2024)
Magic Circle | Full-Stack Engineer | Full-time | ONSITE San Francisco / Oakland, CA Magic Circle (https://magiccircle.gg) is hiring a full-time, full-stack web engineer to build web-based party games! Think Jackbox/HeadsUp vibes, but no app to download, just scan the QR to play in your phone's browser. We're a team of 3, from CMU, MIT, and Google, backed by some of the best consumer gaming investors in the world.

More about the role: https://magiccircle.studio/engineer

You can email me directly at (rot13): niv@zntvppvepyr.fghqvb

aroman··on Ask HN: Who is hiring? (December 2023)
Magic Circle | Full-Stack Engineer | Full-time | In-Person | San Francisco / Oakland, CA

Magic Circle (magiccircle.gg) is hiring a full-time, full-stack web engineer to build web-based party games! Think Jackbox/HeadsUp vibes, but no app to download, just scan the QR to play in your phone's browser. We're a team of 3, from CMU, MIT, and Google, backed by some of the best consumer gaming investors in the world.

More about the role: https://magiccircle.studio/engineer

You can email me directly at (rot13): niv@zntvppvepyr.fghqvb

aroman··on 15-150: Principles of Functional Programming
150 was one of my favorite courses at CMU; each homework really made me feel like I unlocked a new level of reasoning with code.
aroman··on GPU advancements in M3 and A17 Pro [video]
How can it be a WWDC session if it's referring to hardware only announced a few weeks ago?
aroman··on Dot by New Computer
> acquisition doesn't really count as sherlocking

Yes, that's my point, that there are other paths to this being adopted by Apple with on-device processing that are mutually beneficial both to the startup and Apple.

aroman··on Dot by New Computer
Same could have been said of Workflow — which Apple acquired and rebranded as a first-party app.
aroman··on Apple unveils M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max
It objectively is a problem for Apple as a corporation though, as they are expected by their shareholders to to continue to grow and increase profits year over year.
aroman··on ChatGPT cut off date now April 2023
Suppose there is a partial rollout? There’s lots of possible explanations. I don’t think GP faked it, I’m pointing out a verbatim question/answer pair isn’t a reliable test.
aroman··on ChatGPT cut off date now April 2023
it's a nondeterministic system... just because you ask it the same exact question doesn't mean you'll necessarily get the same response
aroman··on Essence: A desktop OS built from scratch, for control and simplicity
It’s not that they didn’t understand how to run a business… their refusal to accept “business help” was not because of inexperience or incompetence but because they didn’t believe it was compatible with their strongly idealistic perspective on business/capitalism/the world.

I’m not sure they’re wrong.

aroman··on iCloud Drive silently deletes your content
surely it’s easier to just click a button and turn on e2ee in icloud than change your entire cloud storage provider…
aroman··on Purchase and manage domains directly through Bluesky
wait really? i thought "Threads" was pretty genius. it's a social network where people post threads. people already know and use the word "threads". you post tiktoks on tiktok, reels on reels, and threads on threads.
aroman··on DeviceScript: TypeScript for Tiny IoT Devices
Looks like at least the Pi Pico and ESP32 are supported: https://microsoft.github.io/devicescript/devices
aroman··on Google reverses 5M file limit in Google Drive
"Google is nowhere near this yet?" It can literally do it right now. Formatting was very nice in the UI, bulleted the key idea expressed succinctly in the first few words. It also provided a great summary of John Wick 4.

me: please list 10 points in favor of space exploration

Google Bard: here are 10 points in favor of space exploration:

1. *Space exploration can help us learn more about our own planet.* By studying other planets and moons, we can learn more about how Earth formed and evolved. This information can help us better understand the challenges facing our own planet, such as climate change and natural disasters. 2. *Space exploration can help us find new resources.* There are many resources in space that could be used to benefit humanity, such as water, minerals, and energy. Exploring space can help us find these resources and learn how to use them safely and sustainably. 3. *Space exploration can help us develop new technologies.* The challenges of space exploration have led to the development of many new technologies, such as satellites, GPS, and solar panels. These technologies have had a positive impact on our lives on Earth. 4. *Space exploration can inspire us.* The vastness and beauty of space can inspire us to dream big and to believe that anything is possible. Space exploration can also help us to appreciate our own planet and the importance of protecting it. 5. *Space exploration can help us unite as a species.* The challenges of space exploration require cooperation and collaboration between nations. This can help to build trust and understanding between people from different cultures. 6. *Space exploration can help us protect Earth from threats from space.* Asteroids and comets pose a real threat to Earth. By studying these objects and developing plans to deflect them, we can protect our planet from potential disaster. 7. *Space exploration can help us find new places to live.* As the population of Earth continues to grow, we will need to find new places to live. Space exploration can help us find new planets and moons that could be terraformed for human habitation. 8. *Space exploration can help us understand our place in the universe.* By exploring space, we can learn more about the origin and evolution of the universe. This information can help us understand our own place in the cosmos and our relationship to other life forms. 9. *Space exploration is an adventure.* Exploring space is an exciting and challenging endeavor. It is a chance to see new things and to experience the unknown. 10. *Space exploration is a human right.* The right to explore is a fundamental human right. It is a right that should be afforded to all people, regardless of their nationality or background.

me: list 10 counterpoints for each of the 10 points you listed

Google Bard:

Here are 10 counterpoints for each of the 10 points I listed in favor of space exploration:

1. *Space exploration is expensive and could be better spent on other things.* The cost of space exploration is high, and some people argue that this money could be better spent on solving problems on Earth, such as poverty and hunger. 2. *The risks of space exploration are high.* Space travel is dangerous, and astronauts have died in accidents. Some people argue that the risks of space exploration are too high, and that we should focus on more safe endeavors. 3. *We don't know what we'll find in space, and it could be dangerous.* We don't know what life forms might exist in space, and it's possible that they could be hostile to humans. Some people argue that we should avoid contact with alien life until we know more about it. 4. *Space exploration is a waste of time.* Some people argue that space exploration is a waste of time and resources, and that we should focus on solving problems on Earth. 5. *Space exploration is not necessary for our survival.* We don't need to explore space in order to survive. Some people argue that we should focus on our own planet and not worry about exploring other worlds. 6. *Space exploration is not a priority for everyone.* Not everyone is interested in space exploration. Some people argue that we should focus on things that are more important to most people, such as education and healthcare. 7. *Space exploration is not sustainable.* The resources needed for space exploration are finite, and some people argue that we should not use them up when we have so many problems on Earth. 8. *Space exploration is not equitable.* The benefits of space exploration are not evenly distributed, and some people argue that we should focus on helping people on Earth before we explore other worlds. 9. *Space exploration is not environmentally friendly.* The launch of rockets and satellites contributes to climate change, and some people argue that we should not pollute the environment in order to explore space. 10. *Space exploration is not a human right.* There is no international law that guarantees the right to explore space. Some people argue that space exploration is a privilege, not a right.

aroman··on If AI scaling is to be shut down, let it be for a coherent reason
So, you’re content with GPT-4 killing 60% of humans to create paper clips as long as the matter is hotly contested and actively debated within its matrices?
aroman··on If AI scaling is to be shut down, let it be for a coherent reason
Yeah, this is Yud’s argument, but I just don’t get it. Does the technology to end the world by sending a couple emails around already exist? If so, why hasn’t the world ended?
aroman··on Rippling raises $500M in emergency funds after SVB fails
Can you offer some specific examples? And what company size?

Currently using gusto but curious.

aroman··on Any resources for new video game programmers to become more creative?
https://schellgames.com/art-of-game-design is our go-to :)

I run a game studio[0] in Oakland -- if you're in the Bay Area, would be happy to chat about this some time!

https://magiccircle.studio/

aroman··on $3.3B of the ~$40 billion of USDC reserves remain at SVB
$250k is not the most an account holder can get back if a bank fails, it is literally the minimum.
aroman··on Show HN: "Whistleball" – A New Kind of Game
Cool! Similar project that made the rounds at GDC a couple years back: https://hellavelvet.com/press/voiceball/
aroman··on Is the Living Computer Museum dead?
Thank you for founding the MADE! I visited a few months ago and met someone there who has become a close friend of mine. And, it’s a great benefit to the east bay and gaming history more broadly.
aroman··on Ask HN: Unity or Unreal for Game Engine?
What kind of game are you making? This is a bit like asking "If you make software, do you prefer C++ or JavaScript or something else?" Obviously it depends!
aroman··on Play Counter Strike 1.6, with full multiplayer, in the browser
Does anyone know what they're doing for multiplayer? WebSockets or WebRTC?
aroman··on Google layoffs Jan 20, 2023 – California WARN public records
curious — what did it change to? i haven't worked at Google since 2021, when 7.5 GPM was very much a thing.
aroman··on Gimp 2.10.32 on Apple Silicon (2022)
Why not offer this as a universal binary? Seems like a bunch of extra work to generate two separate DMGs and try to point users to the right one...

Regardless, congrats to the team! Though, I'll note this blog post is from almost 6 weeks ago now.

aroman··on Game prototype using AI assisted graphics
The author stated early on in the article that they used MidJourney and later Stable Diffusion.
aroman··on Epochalypse
Given the history of technology investing, companies being valued in the 10s of billions is itself not a proof of anything other than investor excitement.

I agree that even today's "AI" can be used to cause massive societal harm, the same as many recent technologies that have yet to destroy humanity (weapons of mass destruction, for instance).

That said, I think a consensus view in the AI community is great skepticism that the current AI progress is actually a recipe for AGI. We've made great progress in AI over decades, often followed by long winters when it became clear the current methods would not get us to the next threshold.

Human intelligence is remarkable precisely because it needs extremely scarce data to generalize, and because it is self-aware. As far as I know, OpenAI's approaches aren't on a path to replicate those capabilities artificially.

I'd welcome links and articles from experts that might correct my POV on this.

aroman··on Ask HN: Who is hiring? (January 2023)
Magic Circle Studio | Founding Engineer | ONSITE in San Francisco / Oakland | Full-time | $100k-130k https://magiccircle.studio/

Magic Circle is pre-seed startup (I'm founder & CEO) on a mission to create more intimate games that nourish relationships.

Concretely: we're building mobile games using web-technologies that blend the best of social party board games and digital games. Think Jackbox, Codenames, Wavelength Among Us — think those vibes, but packaged to be as easily accessible as possible on the phones everyone has in their pockets.

- Our first game (Truffle Hogs) went viral on TikTok and hit #2 in the App Store. Since then, we've raised $1m pre-seed backed by General Catalyst & others.

- Our tech stack is primarily React/TypeScript (it's great for building 2D/UI-heavy games) — we're building for mobile web for max virality and distribution (think Wordle). No prior game dev experience necessary, but it's definitely helpful.

- Office is a few mins walk from 19th St BART station.

https://magiccircle.studio/engineer or email me at avi@magiccircle.studio.

aroman··on Google combines Maps and Waze teams in restructuring move
No, I don't believe I am. Can you clarify what you think I've mixed up?

Class A shares (such as TCI have) have regular voting rights. Class B shares (such as Larry and Sergey have) have 10x voting rights. Thus, as I understand it, TCI's voting voting power is at most roughly ~0.5. In practice, it's way less than that due to all the class B shares[0], reinforcing my point.

[0] https://capital.com/alphabet-shareholder-who-owns-most-googl

>GuruFocus data, as of 29 November 2022, revealed that 59.13% of Alphabet’s stock was owned by insiders, including the two founders, while 22.21% of common shares were owned by institutions including brokerage firms, hedge funds, pension funds and asset management companies.

aroman··on Google combines Maps and Waze teams in restructuring move
No, you are very incorrect here. I am sorry to say that you fell for some spicy headlines, and there is no evidence to suggest TCI's letter had anything to do with this restructing.

TCI has a trivial stake in Google — at most, less than half of one percent of the company[0]. By voting shares, Larry and Sergey alone control >50% voting power[1]. TCI has nowhere near enough influence to move the needle in any appreciable way here.

[0] $6B / $1200B market cap (edit: to clarify, this is an upper limit, in practice it's even less because of super-voting shares owned by the founders)

[1] https://capital.com/alphabet-shareholder-who-owns-most-googl

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