0xSim's recent activity
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Comment on Anyone have any experience with tiny screws? I need to replace two in my body hair trimmer and I don't know where to start. in ~life.home_improvement
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
0xSim (edited )Link ParentI also bought The Witch Queen, Lightfall, and The Final Shape. I guess it's well worth the 6€. I knew it was bad, but it's somehow even worse than I thought. I kid you not, I had to look up how to...I also bought The Witch Queen, Lightfall, and The Final Shape. I guess it's well worth the 6€.
the UI is somehow even more convoluted than it was before and I've already had years to get used to it, so I can't imagine how incredibly lost a new player would be trying to find a specific menu or activity
I knew it was bad, but it's somehow even worse than I thought. I kid you not, I had to look up how to start the Witch Queen campaign. You cannot start it from the Quests menu (even though the quest is here, the button is greyed out), and you have to actually find it on the galaxy map.
And I'm sure there are dozens of activities, or character powers, or just things to do that I don't even know exist, because the onboarding experience is absolutely abysmal. The actual gameplay is good though, but goddamn. And somehow the game persists in showing me the Rebels questline in suggested activites even though I don't own it.
Are the dungeons worth it for a solo player? I didn't buy the whole Collection package because the cosmetics and other expansions don't interest me, but I'm missing out on the dungeons keys.
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Comment on Any fellow software engineers using paid GitHub copilot? in ~comp
0xSim Link ParentThanks for the info, I'll pass the word and see if we can use it.Thanks for the info, I'll pass the word and see if we can use it.
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Comment on Any fellow software engineers using paid GitHub copilot? in ~comp
0xSim Link ParentNever used Deepseek. How does that compare to Opus 4.6/4.7? Because I can probably last a month with the cheapest models, but I'm certainly not replacing my "artisanal" code with those. Anything...Never used Deepseek. How does that compare to Opus 4.6/4.7? Because I can probably last a month with the cheapest models, but I'm certainly not replacing my "artisanal" code with those. Anything older than Opus 4.6 for a remotely complex task will produce garbage and waste tokens.
(Not talking about auto-completion here, which is unlimited in our plans)
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Comment on Any fellow software engineers using paid GitHub copilot? in ~comp
0xSim LinkWe have a 20€/month allowance, which is now... useless. Claude Opus 4.6+ is now way too costly, and several colleagues were out of tokens in less than 2 days. Yesterday I heard someone say that...We have a 20€/month allowance, which is now... useless. Claude Opus 4.6+ is now way too costly, and several colleagues were out of tokens in less than 2 days. Yesterday I heard someone say that the era of artisanal code was over. Lmao yeah, good luck with that and your 20€.
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Comment on Brave Origin, a paid, premium version of Brave is now available in ~tech
0xSim Link ParentYou don't have much of a choice: if it's not Firefox, it's Chromium. I'd say that Firefox is the less bad option. I also use it on Android, or Vivaldi exclusively for the few PWAs that I want to...You don't have much of a choice: if it's not Firefox, it's Chromium. I'd say that Firefox is the less bad option. I also use it on Android, or Vivaldi exclusively for the few PWAs that I want to install.
I'm also not too keen on using forks. Your web browser is the single most critical application on your system, and even though Mozilla and Google suck, they certainly don't mess around security. I don't have that kind of trust for amateurs, as well-intentioned as they are.
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Comment on What's a game you're dying to play that doesn't exist? in ~games
0xSim Link ParentEverspace 2 is an ARPG set in space. It's not a "space game", if that makes sense.Everspace 2 is an ARPG set in space. It's not a "space game", if that makes sense.
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Comment on What do you think about Destiny 2’s imminent death and games as a service? in ~games
0xSim LinkFor what it's worth, you can buy the "Destiny 2 Collection" pack for 25€ until June 16 https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/72233/Destiny_2_The_Collection/ It's now certain it won't evolve at all...For what it's worth, you can buy the "Destiny 2 Collection" pack for 25€ until June 16
https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/72233/Destiny_2_The_Collection/It's now certain it won't evolve at all anymore, so 25€ for all the game's content looks like a nice deal.
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Comment on "Teachers are going to hate it": How social media apps hooked teens at school in ~tech
0xSim Link ParentThe problem with social media is that you're on it because your friends are on it. And if you're not on it, you're de facto excluded from the group. Now you've replaced one problem with another....I think putting technical controls in place would definitely reduce the number of kids on social media though.
The problem with social media is that you're on it because your friends are on it. And if you're not on it, you're de facto excluded from the group. Now you've replaced one problem with another.
Lots of kids would install VPNs or use fake IDs or whatever
And I'd rather not have to prove my identity everywhere on the internet, too. "Think of the children" is once again being used as an excuse for mass surveillance.
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Comment on "Teachers are going to hate it": How social media apps hooked teens at school in ~tech
0xSim Link ParentProhibiting teens to do something is never, ever going to work. While the intent may be good, these kinds of laws are utterly useless, and won't solve anything. This is not the kind of problems...Prohibiting teens to do something is never, ever going to work. While the intent may be good, these kinds of laws are utterly useless, and won't solve anything. This is not the kind of problems you solve by saying "please don't use that, thank you" and just hoping your law will be respected.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
0xSim (edited )Link2010. I'm buying a small game in alpha (or is it already beta?) called Minecraft. It's neat, it's original, and despite being pretty barebones, the infinite worlds full of mountains to climb and...2010. I'm buying a small game in alpha (or is it already beta?) called Minecraft. It's neat, it's original, and despite being pretty barebones, the infinite worlds full of mountains to climb and caves to explore are incredibly enticing. That game has potential, it might become something.
2016. I buy a Switch, and my son is born (unrelated events).
2023. My Switch is slowly becoming a Minecraft machine for my son. We sometimes play "Bedrock" (the new, locked-down, mass-consumption-friendly, multi-platform, consoles-compatible version of Minecraft. As opposed to the original "Java" version) together. I'm on the PC, he's on the console.
2024. More and more often, my son also plays on PC. It's more beefy than the aging Switch, more comfortable. "But what's that, dad? You have two versions of Minecraft? What's the Java version?"
Well I'll tell you what it is, folks. Minecraft Java is a gateway drug that will get your kids learn about computers through the download and installation of shady and buggy mods, requiring understanding mods managers, versions compatibility, filesystems, and config files. That's how your kids become comfortable and knowledgeable about technology, without you doing anything.
2026 (3 days ago, actually). My son wants his own version of Minecraft Java, on his own account. "Now we can play Java together! Me on the PC, and you on the Steam Deck."
And I answer "well, we can already play Bedrock together", but at the same time my brain is already releasing way too much dopamine, because a dumb idea just came to me. What if I installed a Java server, on my VPS, just to see how it goes? Because there is something... magical about having your own free permanent world, living in your own server, with your own rules.
And so that's how, 16 years after buying Minecraft, I'm running my own server for the first time. And I even have a full auto-generated 3D world map, accessible from my website.
Some technical info, if anyone is interested:
- I'm using PaperMC, on Docker.
- The server runs on the cheapest Hetzner VPS, the CX23.
- The first play sessions were really rough for the CPU, but now it's ok. I'll see how it goes once the world is growing.
- Me alone on the server, just building a bridge: 40% RAM (so ~800MB) and 20% CPU. I wouldn't host a 20 players party, but for 2-3 players I think it should handle the load.
- I have an auto-generated 3D map, accessible through an HTTP server, with the Bluemap plugin. It's also taxing on the CPU, but in short bursts after the first generation.
My docker file, slightly adapted from the default PaperMC:
version: "3" services: minecraft: image: marctv/minecraft-papermc-server:latest restart: always container_name: "mcserver" environment: MEMORYSIZE: "1G" PAPERMC_FLAGS: "" volumes: - ./data:/data ports: - "25565:25565" - "8100:8100" # Bluemap http server # The following allow `docker attach minecraft` to work stdin_open: true tty: true -
Comment on Humble Choice - June 2026 in ~games
0xSim LinkHell Clock is a neat game, I wrote a few thoughts about it here. It should receive a new update and a DLC in a few weeks, which should improve performances (it's currently struggling on the Steam...Hell Clock is a neat game, I wrote a few thoughts about it here. It should receive a new update and a DLC in a few weeks, which should improve performances (it's currently struggling on the Steam Deck).
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Comment on Clanker: A word for the machine in ~tech
0xSim Link ParentThat's awesome, and something I'll absolutely use tomorrow at work. Thanks for the link!That's awesome, and something I'll absolutely use tomorrow at work. Thanks for the link!
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Comment on Clanker: A word for the machine in ~tech
0xSim Link ParentThe inverse, actually, but this study was based on a single, older model. Accuracy results ranged from 80% (very polite) to 84% (mildly rude). I can't find other studies....EDIT: Weren't there studies that showed that prompting an LLM with perfect, polite English yielded the best outputs?
The inverse, actually, but this study was based on a single, older model. Accuracy results ranged from 80% (very polite) to 84% (mildly rude). I can't find other studies.
- https://arxiv.org/pdf/2510.04950
- https://c3.unu.edu/blog/the-politeness-paradox-why-being-rude-to-ai-unlocks-shockingly-better-results
The takeaway is to simply be dry and straight to the point, which could be considered "rude" when talking to a human being.
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Comment on What do you think about Destiny 2’s imminent death and games as a service? in ~games
0xSim (edited )LinkI have played Destiny 2 when it originally came out, if I remember. I think I actually bought it heavily discounted, a few months before going F2P? I don't have anything against GaaS. I actually...I have played Destiny 2 when it originally came out, if I remember. I think I actually bought it heavily discounted, a few months before going F2P?
I don't have anything against GaaS. I actually enjoy a few, and there is more than enough choice in traditional (non-GaaS) games for this to be a non-issue. As long as they're not pay-to-win, I'm fine with them.
But Destiny 2... that game is a damn piece of work. I tried playing it again a few years ago, and IMO it embodies the worst aspects of GaaS with overly complicated layers of gameplay, activities, currencies, ... I found it to be actively hostile to new or returning players. The fact that they removed paid content was also incredibly idiotic, because it means alienating new players who won't understand what is going on in the story, and casual players who might want to buy DLCs and play them at their own pace. They actively killed their playerbase, there's no other way to put it.
I said that in a previous thread, but I "want" to play Destiny 2. The game feel and loop are great, the gameplay is great, it's just an awesome shooter, but it's hidden behind layers of terrible decisions. I can't justify investing money or time in it when there are thousands of equally good games that don't want to milk me dry.
That said,
The programmers and artists suffer from low wages and job insecurity
That's unfortunately the state of the whole gaming industry; most game studios just take contractors and/or lay off staff once their game is out, because that's it, there's no more work to do. But don't GaaS offer more stable working conditions? Destiny 2 came out in 2017, so that's 10 years of (more) steady work for many people.
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Comment on What are people's experiences with using Kagi? in ~tech
0xSim Link ParentIt shouldn't, since that'd be an additional running cost for Kagi, with no benefit for anyone.But does my request go through an LLM anyway
It shouldn't, since that'd be an additional running cost for Kagi, with no benefit for anyone.
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Comment on What are people's experiences with using Kagi? in ~tech
0xSim Link ParentThere's no such thing as a free lunch. https://help.kagi.com/kagi/why-kagi/why-pay-for-search.html Note: I'm not posting this link for you specifically, you may very well understand the issues of...but searching is a basic thing that shoumd not be locked behind payment.
I think unfavourably of it like I think of any paid software in general.There's no such thing as a free lunch. https://help.kagi.com/kagi/why-kagi/why-pay-for-search.html
Note: I'm not posting this link for you specifically, you may very well understand the issues of free services, but I think it's a good resource for everyone to understand how a paid service can be better in more ways than you'd think. It's more than "I pay to not see ads".
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Comment on What are people's experiences with using Kagi? in ~tech
0xSim LinkI'm an early adopter since 04/2022 (I even have the little ribbon in my settings 😅), and I've entirely stopped using other search engines since. I think that's a good enough endorsement. I don't...I'm an early adopter since 04/2022 (I even have the little ribbon in my settings 😅), and I've entirely stopped using other search engines since. I think that's a good enough endorsement. I don't consider myself a power user, and the feature I value the most is the possibility to up/downrank and block domains.
Their AI service is good enough for me. I don't use it much (the equivalent of $0.50/month), but you can make your own specialized assistants with specific models, instructions, and lenses. I also use their translator quite often.
On the flipside, yeah their owner is kind of a dick, their ethics are debatable, but there's no ethical consumption under capitalism. When all tech CEOs are assholes at best, you gotta decide what's the less bad option for you.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
0xSim Link ParentI loved the first Shapez. Bought it, played an unhealthy amount of hours in two weeks, and uninstalled it 😅 I also own Shapez 2 but haven't really gotten into it, yet. If you're looking something...I loved the first Shapez. Bought it, played an unhealthy amount of hours in two weeks, and uninstalled it 😅 I also own Shapez 2 but haven't really gotten into it, yet.
If you're looking something like Shapez but in a more bite-sized format, Zachtronics puzzle games like Opus Magnum or SpaceChem have a very similar gameplay loop, with a focus on speed and/or efficiency. Actually, I like to see Shapez as the open world version of these games, if that makes sense.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
0xSim LinkBack to Arc Raiders! I stopped playing a few months ago because my partners in crime also stopped playing (one is kinda done with it, and the other got less time), and I wasn't interested at all...Back to Arc Raiders!
I stopped playing a few months ago because my partners in crime also stopped playing (one is kinda done with it, and the other got less time), and I wasn't interested at all in playing PvP alone. If you're not familiar with Arc Raiders, it's a PvPvE game where there are actually very few incentives in playing PvP. The game actually pushes you to collaborate to take down greater PvE threats, and PvP happens either to secure loot or just because you like it.
But there's an interesting system in this game: the "aggression based matchmaking" (ABMM). Basically, the matchmaking tries to put you in lobbies of like-minded players. PvE players living in harmony, and PvPers happily murdering each other. So depending on your playstyle, you can experience a totally different game. And since I'm not PvPing when I'm alone, I effectively end up with the carefree players that expect you to not shoot them, and would never, ever, shoot you. Not that I'm complaining because I'm having an easier time to complete quests, but you know... A liiiittle bit of tension would be welcome. I'll probably end up trying to "gently" shoot them and try to get them to retaliate.
What I'd try for this case is a can of compressed air, because I'm not sure I would be able to put the trimmer together once it's taken apart...
Anyway, the Mako kit from iFixit is probably one of my best purchases. Obviously not worth it for a trimmer alone though, but it's a little toolkit that pays for itself over the years.