Snow Captain

Game developer, app developer, and all-around nerd. Almost a BTC-maximalist, but definitely in crypto for the long haul. If you have software needs and some sats, let me know!

Public Key

npub1sywp005dkvnrlv9tkj8m0dqklnaxdqdmd6cfghz4rcqnjng6yc4sgmrzwl

NIP-57 Address

fragrantleaf46245@getalby.com

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsgz8qhh6xmxf3lkz4mfrahkst0e7nxsxakavy5t323uqfef5dzv2cyss0ev

Author Public Key

npub1sywp005dkvnrlv9tkj8m0dqklnaxdqdmd6cfghz4rcqnjng6yc4sgmrzwl

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Last Notes

2024-04-02 03:27:14

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Update: this appears to be fixed! Well done Snort.Social team!

2024-03-01 04:20:13

So it seems that snort.social no longer functions on Safari?
https://void.cat/d/W2SAXyDn2K2MXKDjFBA1Ag.webp
#snort #nostr #bugs #webtech

2024-02-22 19:20:51

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Why use automobiles when you could use a horse? Your equestrian friends think you are an elitist for driving a car. Stop cars, return to horse!
#horses #luddite #selfinterested #travel #anticar

2024-02-14 04:55:17

Hello, all! I know I’m the last person using a Mac these days, and certainly the only Metal developer you’ll ever encounter, but I just released a new app to the Mac App Store for exactly that purpose! Introducing Pixel Forge, a shader playground for Metal shading language! If you are interested in digital art, learning to use Metal, or supporting indie devs like me, please check it out!
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pixel-forge/id6473090142
#gamedev #indiedev #macos #metal

2023-12-08 20:52:20

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I'm not sure Lua fits those requirements. You can probably restrict or remove its I/O abilities, but I don't think it's designed to be computation-budgeted (if I understand what that's supposed to mean). Lua uses a byte-code virtual machine with a very clean, simple C ABI interface (and C library bindings to go with it). Indeed, I would be so bold as to equate Lua to "C script": it's small, simple, and powerful. C focuses on global/static variables, functions, and arrays. Lua focuses on global variables, functions, and tables (Lua tables are really key-value maps). Lua seems to answer the question "what if we turned C into a scripting language that could be re-executed at runtime without recompiling to machine code?" And for that purpose, Lua is great. My gripes with Lua stem from its simplicity and lack of safeguards around certain patterns, very similar to C. For embedded systems, I don't think Lua is a good idea; for games and other "non-critical" software that needs to support quick development and iteration of code and ideas, it's a very solid choice.

2023-12-07 01:33:05

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Well crap. Lume failed my media upload again….

2023-12-07 00:20:01

Updated Radar, MiniMap, and Interaction range displays to improve navigation in
the space and provide more feedback when too far away from interactable objects.
I hope to have a new build with these changes in place soon. In the new year, I
intend to invite some excited players to try the alpha versions of Seeds of
Earth once some more of the features are implemented. If you are interested in
what that road-map looks like and may be interested in testing, please reply
here. Thanks!
#gamedev #indiedev #seedsofearth #gaming
blob:tauri://localhost/745c2006-8556-40cc-baa8-4a1cc417b2de

2023-11-01 15:41:09

I've been learning the Defold game engine (and teaching it as I go) and I have
to say that I mostly like it. Godot gets most of the "small game engine"
attention, but Defold seems to be a very worthy competitor. I really like the
built-in messaging system and it provides a TON of flexibility while presenting
a simple concept. My biggest issues with it so far are poor drag-and-drop
support for the editor, and overall the bare-bones nature of the editor in
general. The Lua code completion in the editor is really good, but Lua is a bit
of an opaque language and finding the correct API to use and teaching the
concepts has been quite difficult and time-consuming. Defold has a lot of
promise, but I feel like it presents a higher-than-usual learning barrier and
the messaging concepts can lead to some seriously tangled runtime headaches.
Again, I'm still learning Defold, but I expect to use it for some small 2D
projects in the future to compare and contrast it to UE5, Godot, and of course
my own game engine, Clockwork.
#gamedev #indiedev #defold

2023-10-03 18:26:52

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I’ve heard Murder Bucks a lot too

2023-10-01 03:21:55

I moved some satoshis to a Cake wallet for easier spending (no hardware needed). Now I’m getting and error that is preventing me from sending from that wallet. Super convenient. I understand why so many non-tech people see Bitcoin as a joke: when the tech works, it’s strange and obscure; when the tech doesn’t work, there’s nothing to do but shrug and wait… https://image.nostr.build/c4c29a682cb8c555ad1b69ee16cadee71a85eb8fc867b8245408cf9018a4ac35.jpg

2023-09-30 01:27:27

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Hmm Lume decided not to post the image with this and I can’t get Snort to load. All my Nostr stuff is broken at the moment…
Here’s the image
#gamedev #indiedev #seedsofearth https://image.nostr.build/ff2d2f1bbfff9ea1c3e4c8b7f80a329fa4b7b7f49b248c675328f3170291212e.png

2023-09-30 01:23:21

After a bunch of iteration and mocks, here is a new preview of the Jump Carrier
scene in Seeds of Earth! In the Jump Carrier, Pilots can purchase Items for cryp
or antimatter, rearrange their Storage and Loadout, and Unlock more Items
through the Unlocks list. Still a TON up in the air as far as the game design
and the UI/UX flow, but it feels good to have some new progress to share.
#gamedev #indiedev #gaming #programming #seedsofearth

2023-09-21 16:01:58

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Massive Material rework to allow for completely customizable fragment function parameters. Still need to fix/implement Material.Mutable with this new workflow.
#gamedev #gameenginedev #dev #development #swift

2023-09-10 04:39:20

After some prototyping and more exploration, I was able to upgrade the Seeds of Earth project to Unreal 5.3 without needing a new project from scratch. Similarly I think I can more or less rebuild what I need in the current project. So no blank slate restart this time. Whew! I was excited but also worried, and I think this is the right choice.
#gamedev #indiedev #gaming #seedsofearth

2023-09-08 16:24:12

I'm at a crossroads for Seeds of Earth: start a fresh Unreal project and move over the stuff I like from the old project, or stick with the current project and re-build things with all of my prior work immediately available. Both have merits. A fresh project allows me to change the organizational structure and remove 5+ years of cruft, prototypes, old assets, and whatnot. However, rebuilding/migrating the things I want to use is a non-trivial process and means that the game is now unplayable, and likely will remain so for weeks while this new start is under way.
It's not clear which approach is the best to take at this time. I have run into this issue more than a few times in my career and it's always a difficult one. In the past, the other engineers and managers would try to ban suggestions to "refactor" or "rebuild" systems because the desire to do so came up frequently, and often did not result in user-facing improvements. The CTO of Backflip once said "We don't make software, we make games. I don't care if the code is messy or unfriendly or old; as long as it delivers the intended experience to the player, we don't need to prioritize "fixing" the code." This is a sentiment I have carried with me ever since, especially since I am prone to falling into this desire to "update, reorganize, and improve" existing code often.
I am still in the process of prototyping and designing the new Seeds of Earth experience, so I have a short while to decide which of these approaches works best. But I can tell that the decision either way will not be an easy one.
#gamedev #gaming #indiedev #programming

2023-09-05 15:08:26

I'd like to philosophize for just a moment:
It seems to me that much of the cryptocurrency and privacy space is terrified of "centralization" and champions things solely because they claim to "improve decentralization". I think centralization is not a de-facto "bad thing", and it can and often *is* a good thing: improving performance, improving stability, improving accountability, improving consistency, etc. Of course, we all know the pitfalls and dangers of centralization, which is why this understandable fear and avoidance has arisen. My perspective on this craze of "decentralize everything" is that the ethos of decentralization is *not* about destroying centralization and centralized services, but in designing and building in, from the ground up, the ability to *choose which centralized (or decentralized) services one wants to use and support*. Twitter is fiat centralized because I can't use *any* of their service without their cooperation. NOSTR is decentralized because I can still use it and benefit from its features by choosing different centralized relays/providers. In conclusion: centralization not "bad", decentralization is about *choosing*, not about destroying/avoiding centralization.

2023-08-31 15:22:28

Don’t break the chain! I travelled back home to celebrate my birthday, but I made sure to work on my projects every day. I’ve found that coding/designing/planning every day, even if it’s just 5 minutes, is more impactful than a normal 9-5 schedule or big binge work sessions. This keeps the concepts fresh and lets my brain work on the next steps unconsciously. It may not be for everyone, but it works for me!
#programming #gamedev #indiedev

2023-08-29 21:16:24

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Any updates on this search? Thanks!

2023-08-23 17:58:23

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Yes, Seeds of Earth is my own game. I’m using Unreal Engine 5 for Seeds of Earth, but for Simple Swaps and Ch3ss M4tch, I built and used my own game engine called Clockwork. I had worked on Seeds of Earth for several years prior, but after my studio collapsed I had to redesign it to be smaller and more focused, which is what I am designing and prototyping now.

2023-08-20 22:43:39

I've been working on the new Seeds of Earth prototype for 5 days straight, with only some small gaming breaks. I'm exhausted but it's been worth it: new Rig prototype, new Area Gen prototype, new Inventory and Loadout prototype, new Item Data prototype, and today a new approach to Attributes (still in the works, but I need a break). I always feel like I'm moving so slowly and not getting enough done, but it's good to step back and realize how much I've *actually* accomplished on occasion. More updates about Seeds of Earth soon.
#gaming #gamedev #indiedev #seedsofearth
https://void.cat/d/F72ZjzGJCnAN7mQAKjmpkR.webp

2023-08-18 21:46:48

Did you know that Unreal Engine has a Code Editor plugin?! It's....not very good, but it works well enough in a pinch when you just need to edit a line or two of native code, recompile, and crash the editor from Hot Reload. In all honesty, I use the Code Editor quite often when I am prototyping between C++ and Blueprints and I would love to see Epic put some more effort into this feature!
#gamedev #unreal #c++ #gaming
https://void.cat/d/EmLsKHuizkHDTqLgwGxpVx.webp

2023-08-18 21:14:07

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Sorry, I didn't see this reply until I changed clients! Snort has been....unreliable at best. Can you send me a DM with more information about the Fedimint UI needs? Thanks!

2023-08-18 20:30:03

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Yay, uncensorable posting in nostr means unstoppable spam. yippee

2023-08-18 20:18:53

Who else is using snort.social? It seems legit broken; I might need a new client for desktop NOSTR access. Snort often doesn't load recent notes, has no feedback for posts or other actions or ongoing tasks, and is just generally glitchy and janky. I only say as much because I hope it will improve and someone working on it will reach out to me for more detail to fix up these issues. Right now it feels like an early FOSS web-tech mess.
#snort
https://void.cat/d/SS3QbZf67r5XzXPQS9jVRm.webp

2023-08-18 20:05:34

A piece of feedback for Snort: if I attempt to highlight text in the draft box, drag too far off to the left (for instance) and release, the draft box instantly closes and I lose my typed text. RIP to my drafted posts that I did this to twice in a row...
#snort #feedback

2023-08-17 20:17:51

Seeds of Earth area generation prototype is getting White-Board Scribbles serious!
https://void.cat/d/Sy5cMuMLAy3H37ka1YrcHP.webp
#gamedev #indiedev #gaming #seedsofearth

2023-08-17 17:25:45

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GM! Working on area generation for my game, Seeds of Earth; applying to more iOS app dev jobs; coordinating with my family for a birthday party next week. How about you?

2023-08-17 01:45:16

Hmm, the new area generation prototyping for Seeds of Earth has been much more difficult than I had originally thought it would. I'm now planning on using a queue to build the space in multiple passes:
1. Put in the start node (entrance GrASP Node)
2. Enqueue primary nodes (things like asteroid fields, space stations, mega-corp vendor outposts, storage facilities, etc.)
3. Position primary nodes, rebuilding the queue when invalid conditions are found (such as unsolvable overlaps or other stuff I don't like tbd)
4. Pick some primary nodes to add secondary and/or secret nodes (like junk fields, enemy hangars, mini-bosses[?]), enqueue those
5. Position secondary/secret nodes, rebuilding or discarding invalid
6. <Redacted for spoilers>
I hope to make better progress over tonight and tomorrow, but the day is almost over already...
https://void.cat/d/47bYosVrZWDbrKveuAyerd.webp
#gamedev #indiedev #gaming #seedsofearth #devlog

2023-08-16 17:38:12

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I took a look at it, it looks like a grant application platform? So I have to build a pitch for a new Bitcoin or crypto-related product or service to apply? I don't really have much experience directly in the crypto-space so I'm a bit over my head for making innovative product ideas. That's why I was hoping to be able to join an existing product or team with a vision, execute well on the things I already know (game dev, app dev, software engineering, etc.), and make some sats while I learn the biz. Thanks for the suggestion, I'll look into it but I don't expect to have anything to pitch to OpenSats anytime soon.

2023-08-15 17:48:03

Well, no more leads on an app or game programming job. Was hoping to hear back from some positions I applied to over the last month, but so far nothing. No new messages from 2 recruiting agencies I’m working through. And the FOSS projects that claimed to need help have no funding, so I can’t commit to helping them long-term. Being a freedom-minded software engineer has been a lot more difficult than I first thought…

2023-08-12 23:59:35

I went to a café today that proudly and brazenly accepted crypto for their delicacies and brewed/steep beverages, but neglected to bring my hardware key for my main cold storage, so I was unable to take advantage of such an interesting economic opportunity. Some time later I downloaded the Cake wallet app, generated some new wallets using that app, and just sent them some fractions of BTC and LTC for easier on-the-go crypto spending. What do you all think about having "cold" hardware-locked wallet(s) and *also* using "hot" app-based wallets for easier transactions and opportunities? I see the new Cake wallets like "gift cards" that I will have to remember to refill every once in a while.
#bitcoin #litecoin #crypto

2023-08-11 17:01:05

Major systems prototyping for weapons & weapon FX/feedback is done for the new Seeds of Earth. A LOT of it was stripping things OUT and making things more streamlined and focused. Next up is area generation and encounter prototyping. I admit that I'm pretty intimidated by this part of the new design, so it will be good to see just how over-my-head I am from the prototyping process. Some more things to prototype in the future: faction progression, enemy types, non-weapon items, in-space vendors/containers, tons more multiplayer work. Stay tuned!
#gaming #gamedev #indiegame

2023-08-11 02:28:53

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Snort can indeed connect to Alby. You have to provide a link but it works

2023-08-11 01:08:33

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I made an account with Alby and connected it to Damus. Will that wallet be available for Snort as well? It doesn’t look like it…

2023-08-11 01:04:17

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Oh! Ok! I can see zaps and add a wallet in Damus but can’t zap? Thanks for the heads up

2023-08-11 00:57:52

I can “zap” and be “zapped” now? Maybe?

2023-08-10 21:10:49

Simplify, simplify, simplify. In Unreal, you don't always need a TimerHandle, or a variable, or even a function to do things like wait for some period of time. Learn your tools and reach for these super useful Blueprint nodes whenever you are tempted to make a "bIsOn" variable or "CooldownTimer" handle.
#gaming #gamedev #unreal
https://void.cat/d/XiV4LdDFA8dAQGkL1xMUjW.webp

2023-08-10 15:02:58

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Nice! I will be applying for this position!

2023-08-09 20:24:43

Some new weapon feedback effects for my latest game project *Seeds of Earth* - ejected casings, screen shake, muzzle flash, range/accuracy lines, audio feedback for heat and overheat. More weapon types and feedback layers are in the works!
#gaming #gamedev #games
https://void.cat/d/6Zw15nkqUtCqnxpYWoDy1q.mov

2023-08-09 18:11:36

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"fiat dating"? What is fiat dating? I understand both of those words, but together they don't make sense to me.

2023-08-09 15:22:52

Feature Request for Snort: it's great that I can log in using only my pub key, but there seems to be no indication of being in "read-only mode" when I do so. I have access to all features, but the "Send" button on the post dialog simply does nothing when clicked; the send button for DMs just spins; clicking on the heart icon or repost icon seems to do nothing. Displaying a more obvious "READ ONLY" prompt to the user would help to clear up this confusion and lack of feedback.

2023-08-09 14:55:28

I am very proud to announce the launch of *Simple Swaps*, Big Byte Studio's match-the-pattern block swapping game, on iOS and Android! It’s FREE to play and simple to learn! Tap the blocks on the bottom board to swap them. Swap the blocks on the bottom board to match the pattern on the top board. It’s that simple! Blitz mode creates endless randomly generated puzzles with a decreasing timer, while Daily Puzzles presents 10 shared levels per day; challenge your friends to top the leaderboards! Download *Simple Swaps* on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store today!
Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/simple-swaps/id6447003094
Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bigbytestudios.simpleswaps
I built *Simple Swaps* completely independently, in my own game engine, from scratch (because I'm crazy)! Downloading it, telling others about it, and of course playing it helps me stay independent and able to continue pursuing my dream of building my own games and game engine. Thank you!

2023-08-09 14:53:56

I am very proud to announce the launch of *Simple Swaps*, Big Byte Studio's match-the-pattern block swapping game, on iOS and Android! It’s FREE to play and simple to learn! Tap the blocks on the bottom board to swap them. Swap the blocks on the bottom board to match the pattern on the top board. It’s that simple! Blitz mode creates endless randomly generated puzzles with a decreasing timer, while Daily Puzzles presents 10 shared levels per day; challenge your friends to top the leaderboards! Download *Simple Swaps* on the Apple App Store (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/simple-swaps/id6447003094) and Google Play Store (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bigbytestudios.simpleswaps) today!
I built *Simple Swaps* completely independently, in my own game engine, from scratch (because I'm crazy)! Downloading it, telling others about it, and of course playing it helps me stay independent and able to continue pursuing my dream of building my own games and game engine. Thank you!

2023-08-08 21:10:04

There are three (3) different wallet options for Snort's wallet connection: "LND with LNC" "LNDHub" and "Nostr Wallet Connect". Which of these do you think I should use? There doesn't seem to be a clear reason to use one over another without direct guidance from the community....

2023-08-08 17:59:49

Another piece of feedback for Nostr on-boarding:
It would be nice for the "Get started" tutorial to include some Nostr-specific concepts in a sort of glossary form. I had (have?) no idea what a "zap" is; someone unfamiliar with distributed systems might need an explanation of a "relay"; a layman might need a gentle introduction to the "event kind" idea and/or the NIP process. The latter two may not be required, but they seem to come up A LOT in the Nostr community.

2023-08-08 17:56:03

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Forgot to link the "Get started" doc:
https://nostr.com/get-started

2023-08-08 17:55:24

Some feedback for on-boarding new Nostr users: in the "Get started" docs (linked below), the section titled "Understanding Keys" does an adequate job of describing what the pub/priv keys *are*, but I think it would be helpful to spell out how/where keys are *generated and stored*. I am familiar with generating SSH keys using `ssh-keygen`, but no such command is listed in this section. Perhaps adding "To generate a pub/priv key pair, many clients (such as snort.social) will generate the keys for you and allow you to retrieve the public and private keys once you have established your profile." might give a more coherent set of steps for generating and retrieving key pairs.

2023-08-08 14:40:34

Hello, Nostr-folks! I am a mobile app developer and game developer with over a decade of experience in software engineering. I recently attended Anarcon and was introduced to Nester by another attendee there. I am interested in potentially working on Nostr-related projects to pay my bills, help the community grow, and learn more. I have been reading through https://bountsr.org for bounty requests, but the remaining posts are very vague, most are not well-funded, and many seem to be focused on client adoption. Does anyone have any other ideas for me to work on and get more familiar with Nostr in the meantime? I have some ideas of my own, but I would like to start with what *you* think. Thanks!