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stripped down doom can run in 4MB (doom on a smart toothbrush[7]). ESP32 has support for up to 4MB external PSRAM[1]. ESP32 port of doom[2]. lcd screen might provide for faster refresh / less blury images under magnifying glass.

Alternatively, adding an expansion port to be able to use 'doomchip' might make it easier hide game play while at work[8] / stay awake between screen frame refreshes. (and/or simulateously play tetris & 1d pacman; add Badgey functionality[19] )

But should one go with micropython[3], reflectionsOS[4] or not waste space and use a 2 stage 512k bootloader for dns.doom[5]?

contikiOS[6] for dns.doom[5] might be the correct fit without needing to add 4mb psram / doomchip expansion port(s).

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Misc doomchip information:

   doomchip non-tech article(2020)[11].

   doomchip developer comments[12]. Should be able to get at least 2fps!

   doomchip better expanded upon in a 'heads up, 7up' thread -> slice[9]/doomchip[10].

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Surprised there's no dns doom.wad / I.D.Software Application (IDSA) rfc "Spit.wad: A DNS string encoding using Unicode for doom.wad graphics" version of rfc3492: "Punycode: A bootstring encoding of Unicode for Internationalizaed Domain Names in Appliations" (IDNA) [13]

(IDSA) rfc might permit formally unifying things like unicode-line-stacker[14], stacked diacretics generator[15], unicodeart[16] and "awesome symbols and characters in a bash prompt"[17].

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[0] : "Can it run doom?" : https://canitrundoom.org/

[1] : https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esp-idf/en/latest/esp32/...

[2] : https://www.techeblog.com/doom-electronic-badge-emfcamp/

[3] : https://github.com/NoosaHydro/2.4inch_ESP32-2432S024/tree/ma...

      https://github.com/wojciech-graj/cydoomgeneric

[4] : https://github.com/frankcohen/ReflectionsOS

[5] : https://undercodetesting.com/dns-can-run-doom-how-2000-dns-r...

[6] : https://contiki-os.org/

      esp32 https://github.com/contiki-ng/contiki-ng/discussions/3022

[7] : doom on a smarth toothbrush : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO-Are8053g

[8] : https://hackaday.com/2020/05/13/the-doom-chip/

[9] : https://github.com/sylefeb/Silice

[10] : https://github.com/sylefeb/Silice/blob/master/projects/READM...

[11] : doomchip article : https://www.techeblog.com/doom-chip-game/

[12] : https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1258808333265514497.html

[13] : https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc3492/

[14] : https://github.com/axesilo/unicode-line-stacker

[15] : https://codepen.io/lingyloll/pen/ooMaYO

[16] : https://www.unicodeart.com/gallery/

[17] : https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/25903/awesome-symbo...

[18] : https://codeberg.org/xsawyerx/curl-doom

[19] : https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Badgey

sargstuffon A self-powered computer in actual credit-card size (~1mm thick)

Now just needs an x86 simulator port.[0]

[0] : https://86box.net/

sargstuffon Ask HN: Why can we compare Python to Go, but we can't compare apples to oranges?

Python/Go are mono-object structured.

Apples/Oranges are multi-object structured (single utf glyphs not withstanding)

?? Different base monoids, nurture [ego] / nature. But still depends on what hungry for. ??

sargstuffon Let's Take Esoteric Programming Languages Seriously (2025)

Yeah, but sub-par code golf performance may cause negative rewards/issues. (vs. sub-par standard golf tends to generate positive rewards/issues.

sargstuffon An Usable Minimal Programming Language?

Obviously general purpose programming language(s) excluded[0]. -- per 'minimal'

Does usable / minimal mean no ecosystem / integrated development environment? No ecosystem/IDE would seem to exclude command line shell & unix 'one program does one thing well'chaining/sourcing. 'Excel as a Turing-complete Functional Programming Environment' would be excluded too![8]. Do at least need the ability to abstract/store & forward to get away from 'endless tape streams'. (traditional grep vs. grep with 'state awareness')

Would seem to some what depend on the domain of discourse.

1) Esoteric Programming Languages:

    "Let's Take Esoteric Programming Languages Seriously"[1][2]. 

    Is a metaphor programming language an esoteric IDE?[3] (vs. apl/mumps)

 2) Domain Specific Languages[4]:

    Usable/minimal with a philosophical background : 'mov is turing complete'[5]
       symbolic macro application of electrical engineering concepts of NAND[6]

    APL works for some enginering backrounds.

    One can assemble a checklist of doom[7]; but BNF forms[9] for syntax highlighting[10] might be a better fit under the 'usable/minimal' category.

    Ummm... bnf forms aren't really usefull without higher order abstractions/usage with things such as ASTs and treesitter[11]

    Kinda circles back to a higher order form of of the no ecosystem/ide noted above. Nice, higher level abstraction under the NP != P category.

   Perhaps getting to the point and leaving a monad unevaluated is the simplest theoretical usable minimal programming language. Not very functional/usable though.

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[0] : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General-purpose_programming_la...

[1] "Let's Take Esoteric Programming Languages Seriously" : https://news.ycombinator.com/edit?id=48334594

[2] "The Hacker Folk Art of Esoeric Coding" : https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45371188

[3] "Esolang, the esoteric progrmaming languages wiki": https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16894676

    "homespring" vs. apl/mumps

[4] : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain-specific_language

      https://www.jetbrains.com/mps/concepts/domain-specific-languages/

[5] : https://leetarxiv.substack.com/p/mov-is-turing-complete-pape...

[6] : https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/digital-logic/what-is-nand-gat...

[7] : https://healeycodes.com/doom-rendered-via-checkboxes

[8] : "Excel as a Turing-complete Functional Programming Environment' : https://arxiv.org/abs/2309.00115

[9] : typed-bnf : https://github.com/thautwarm/typed-bnf

[10] : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syntax_highlighting

[11] : Aborium: Tree-sitter code highlighting with Native and WASM targets : https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27875333

sargstuffon Move over cassette tapes, adhesive tape has memory, too

Related published research article : https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1367-2630/ae4acc

Dynamic / reusable barcodes?

Unable to locate anything noting alternatives. aka looping tape between stick lines & using arc length refaction index / distance between tape kinks to simplify read back[0]. ak tape bubble memory[1]. Don't have to worry about dimishing returns on adhesive strength. Water activated adhesive would make for simplified erase.

Modified variation on punch tape with velcro instead of tape / re-usable velcro bumps vs. punched holes. Yet another method for visualizing labmada calculus[3]

Likely beyond scope of project but would be nice to see references/background discussion(s) bridging mechanical strain/civil engeineering trusses with lambda trees / tree weights / "data encoding"/genetic encoding. [4][5][6]

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[0] : Quipu: The Ancient Computer of the Inca Civilization https://www.peruforless.com/blog/quipu

[1] : magnetic bubble memory : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbfrsnsWmhk

[2] : magnetic bubble memory storage on a heathkit h8 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_miv4wYzvg&t=38s=

[3] : https://github.com/prathyvsh/lambda-calculus-visualizations

[4] : https://github.com/barry-jay-personal/tree-calculus/blob/mas...

[5] : https://writings.stephenwolfram.com/2025/09/the-ruliology-of...

[6] : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_barcoding

sargstuffon Atlas 1. Willow's new frontier speech-to-text model

Willow + Claude[1] + Thermin[2] = ?? Cherlindrea's wand[3] 98%-98.2% of the time ??

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[1] : Claude : http://claude.ai/

[2] : The Thermin, a short introduction to a unique instrument : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QgTF8p-284

[3] : Cherlindrea's wand : http://willowufgood.fandom.com/wiki/Cherlindrea%27s_wand

sargstuffon Show HN: Unix for the Commodore 64? Open Source

Project time/resource constraints not withstanding, wonder how this compares to other c-64 os alternatives.[0]

?? future options ?? : Unix bootable from a cassette tape drive? :-)

?? c-64 unix server with ports to hook up one or more c-64's via CaTer (Cartridge Terminal) -- perhaps best done via tcp-ip 'ports'.

?? fuse[1] for c-64 to be able to 'read' other floppies / c-64 unix swap space over tcp-ip.??

?? "modern" 5.25" for c-64 via c-64 variant of greaseweazle[2] ??

-----

[0] "The Many Operating Systems of the Commodore 64" : https://lunduke.substack.com/p/the-many-operating-systems-of...

[1] c64-fuse (perhaps over c-64 tcp-ip) : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filesystem_in_Userspace

[2] greaseweazle : https://github.com/keirf/greaseweazle

sargstuffon Ask HN: In agent/automation incidents, what slows recovery?

Is there a mirrored development server that can be used to reproduce the situation?

Is there anyone around at time of trying to fix the bug who has experience with what's generating the issue? aka database administrator, system administrator, senior developer, head of the senior project/department IS person. The CT machine generated a software error.

Are the log enteries mutually exclusive / distinct?

Do the log entries 'box'/narrow down the 'bug' possibilities?

Are the log entries misleading or incomplete? (aka system crashed/rebooted before full set of log events received/saved vs. event(s) not setup to send info to log(s))

Was it a user/OS/application/application environment issue(s)? aka one off or multiple set of circumstances pre/post bug.

Is there enough information to attempt to figure out what happened? aka level of understanding of description of what happened can be different for user, database administrator, operation system administrator, programmer, web developer, etc.

end pc user: keep pressing the foot pedel but unable to control stuff on screen. --> foot peddal in this case was a standard mouse unplugged from computer.

sargstuffon What happened to the technical drawings of old and obsolete vehicles, machines?

Conduct a patent search[1], find out who owns the rights / has used the patent rights and/or other information for tracking down technical specifications. aka Where to request technical drawings.

If initially was a research project, might be a thesis paper(s) / research documentation on what looking for.

[1] : https://www.uspto.gov/patents/search

sargstuffon Amthropic CEO claims we are 1yr away where AI can do everything SWEs

Ummm... no time line on when AI's excpected to outsource to less expensive SWEs.

sargstuffon Ask HN: Why are so many rolling out their own AI/LLM agent sandboxing solution?

Yup. Technically, just one external reference outside of the sandbox environment from within the sandbox environment ("software stargate portal address to alternate environment" / one evaluated part of the s-expression using a system() reference).

Running software is insecure the moment the electrical switch is on / start checking out shrodingers box. Although, reverse shrodingers cat might be more accurate. aka can escape the box if someone peaks from outside the box.

sargstuffon Ask HN: Resources for learning visual design as a developer?

Misc curated lists of visual design resources (depending on how interpret question aka no domain target (web, gaming, music, video, arts, robotics, etc)):

Courses to learn UI/UX Design :https://www.toools.design/learn-ui-ux-design

Design Resources for developers : https://github.com/bradtraversy/design-resources-for-develop...

Design Resources for Developers : https://github.com/manishparui/design-resources-for-develope...

Design Reosurces : https://github.com/reinaldosimoes/design-resources

Awesome Creative Coding : (beginner/intermediate) https://github.com/terkelg/awesome-creative-coding

sargstuffon Ask HN: How do you safely give LLMs SSH/DB access?

Use sql to create table views & only populate with data llm should have access to.

for 'command line' stuff: If just shell text (aka, a-z,A-Z,0-9), then crude way would have a program sit between inbound ssh and database. Would need to determine how to send back error notice if something not allow. aka in "not OK" set (rm, move, chmod, etc). May need to break-up 'single line grouped commands' aka using end of line as marker, can send multiple sequences of shell commands per "new line" aka echo "example"; ls *; etc.

awk/gawk works nicely in this role. see awk filtering standard input concept -- demo concept[0]. Perhaps use ncat[4] instead of 'pipe'.

Perhaps make default shell rsh[5] used in sshfs[6] setup and set up rsh restrictions.

More technical, would make use of ebpf -- demo concept [1]. This would be able to handle non-ascii input.

Total overkill would be making use of kernel capabilities or pseudo-kernel capabilities via ptrace related things[2].

humor ip : Should the TV program Stargate's security door covering the portal have been called 'ncat' or '/dev/null'?

-----------------------

[0] : awk/gawk : https://www.tecmint.com/read-awk-input-from-stdin-in-linux/

[1] : ebpf : https://medium.com/@yunwei356/ebpf-tutorial-by-example-4-cap...

[2] : ptrace : https://events.linuxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/1...

[4] : ncat : https://nc110.sourceforge.io/

[5] : rsh : https://www.gnu.org/software/bash/manual/html_node/The-Restr...

[6] : https://stackoverflow.com/questions/35830509/sshfs-linux-how...

sargstuffon Ask HN: I want to know how everyone solves the problem of lacking creativity?

So, perhaps figure out how to group the short videos to form a higher level composition. (or cohesive concatenation for an anthology) aka Lewis Carroll "Through the Looking Glass" ( No, sending it over fiber doesn't count) Just mind the terms of service on the short videos.

Without a study area/focus, kinda difficult to recommend "Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs"[0].

What about a trip to discipline of choice version of MIT's media lab[0]. Take the applied and deconstruct the theory. Use the theory deconstructed to build new applications. Pal Alto's 'media lab' of the day worked for inspiration for Apple.

Tuning in to the music side, research history of The Beetles. "Now and Then" theme song for checking out what was innovative then vs. now. aka studio setup/figure out how to do what want vs. today's equivalent 'iPhone pocket studio'. Suppose with the relevant background, could research the friction between a music teacher instructing students with an electrical engineering background. Was that The Beetles downfall?

[0] : https://web.mit.edu/6.001/6.037/sicp.pdf [1] : https://www.media.mit.edu/

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For less quantum mania, and more visual, go semiotics & architecture:

Semiotics as a Guide for Architectural Formation : https://www.be.unsw.edu.au/si tes/default/files/upload/UtzonSymposium/FERWATI%20.pdf

Function and Sign: The Semiotics of Architecture : https://marywoodarchtheory.wo rdpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/function-and-the-sign-the-semiotics-of-ar ch_u-eco.pdf

Architectural Semiotics Decoding the Language of Space : https://www.re-thin kingthefuture.com/architectural-community/a11019-architectural-semiotics-decodin g-the-language-of-space/

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sargstuffon Ask HN: I want to know how everyone solves the problem of lacking creativity?

Think historically that was group/team shooting the breeze. :-)

sargstuffon Ask HN: I want to know how everyone solves the problem of lacking creativity?

Practice on nonsensical/wimsy topics aka. typed, 50 page report on the contents of the inside of a ping pong ball. reiterate/refine till doesn't sound like bs/cut and paste.

Ask several people around you for a book/article. Find common way to associate aforementioned topic with article(s)/books provided. Extra credit if can present in a specific style/area.

aka Socratic method, humanities architectural style, etc. Does a corinthian ping pong ball contents vary more than a the contents of a doric ping pong ball? Iconic ping pong ball might be easier to build an ascii/utf pictorial association/representation of contents (ascimation). How many sprinkles have to covered the exterior of a ping pong ball before the interior contents change? (how long does that take?)

It'll give one some practice on techniques to approach things in different ways.

Can always go for the short variation on:

    A short story that incorporates four elements of classic literature;  Religion, Sex, Nobility, and Mystery... 
    "Oh my God" said the Princess, "I'm pregnant, and ignore who the father is!!!"[1]

versus

    "My God," said the Queen.  "I'm pregnant.  I wonder who did it?"[2]

All in how one encodes/pictures one's characterization.[3][4]

Terminal situation doesn't have to result in Doom[5]. Just use a different set of dimensional constants[6] to get a fuller process picture[6] perhaps with pi instead phi as foundational constant for more rounded picture.

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[1]: https://www.facebook.com/groups/194753281198303/posts/256575...

[2]: https://www.csun.edu/~dgw61315/creative.html

[3] : https://github.com/Sayhi-bzb/ascii-canvas

[4] : programmatic ascii art ... : https://community.wolfram.com/groups/-/m/t/181532

[5] : doom ascii : https://github.com/wojciech-graj/doom-ascii

[6] : psdoom : https://lunduke.substack.com/p/linux-process-monitoring-with...

sargstuffon One string to pull them all. [video]

Related ACM Transactions on Graphics paper:

"One String to Pull Them All: Fast Assembly of Curved Structures from Flat Auxetic Linkages"

https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3763357

sargstuffon De Bruijn Numerals

Seems like an abstract/symbolic variation related to tetration[0]

[0] : tetration : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetration

sargstuffon Art-Sci Currents. Interdisciplinarity in MOTION. (url to video series)

  "Art-Sci Currents Interview series is a social media and podcast show bringing art-scientists into the spotlight." 
   
    ...

    This series is all about curiosity, discovery and the interdisciplinarity of art and science in motion. " site intro quote(s) from 11/8/25

sargstuffon I think WASM and WebGPU is a good idea to run "What If" scenarios in browser

Aso potential for some biomedical research use cases too!

Bit easier setup / use than customized spreadsheet with query links to database.

sargstuffon I think WASM and WebGPU is a good idea to run "What If" scenarios in browser

What type of data "tests"? aka modeling, simulation, statistical regression, etc.

Wide variety of "what if" data environments/systems which have web accessible interfaces to backends (that are not just database systems).

commerical mathlab, sass

open source[0]: scilab; sagemath; numpy; gnu octave; julia; juniper

[0] : additional link references beyond "5 open source alternatives to MATHLAB" : https://opensource.com/alternatives/matlab

sargstuffon Ask HN: How to teach a 4 year old to code?

Perhaps something along lines of setting up / planning robot/activity path? aka (noted in other postings) scratch junior[0]; mblock botly dash[1]; code & go

?? program robot to fetch/push food items to bowl.

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[0] : https://www.scratchjr.org/

[1] : https://blockly.games/puzzle