Barney's recent activity
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Comment on new Date("wtf"); How well do you know JavaScript's Date class? in ~comp
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Comment on Elon Musk says SpaceX will prioritize a city on the moon instead of a colony on Mars in ~space
Barney Link ParentFor what it's worth, Musk is not a unique idealist in that regard. This is likely something inherent about humanity. For reference, Project Horizon was a project proposal by the US ABMA for a...For what it's worth, Musk is not a unique idealist in that regard. This is likely something inherent about humanity.
For reference, Project Horizon was a project proposal by the US ABMA for a military base on the moon in 1959.
The timeline was as follows:
- 1964: 40 Saturn (rocket) launches.
- January 1965: Cargo delivery to the Moon would begin.
- April 1965: The first crewed landing by two soldiers. The build-up and construction phase would continue without interruption until the outpost was ready.
- November 1966: Outpost staffed by a task force of 12 soldiers. This program would have required a total of 61 Saturn A-1 and 88 Saturn A-2 launches up to November 1966. During this period the rockets would transport some 220 tonnes of useful cargo to the Moon.
- December 1966 through 1967: First operational year of the lunar outpost, with a total of 64 launches scheduled. These would result in an additional 120 tons of useful cargo.
This was a decade prior to the first moon landing, and at least Musk gave it a generous decade! /s
As @plutonic pointed out, while this is completely laughable and quite literally impossible within the next decade, I don't really mind the optimism about space exploration. It's quite a scarcity these days.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Barney LinkIn a previous topic about Humble Choice February 2026 I picked up a few games, including StarVaders, which is a modern take on the classic retro game, Space Invaders, with a deck builder spin. So...In a previous topic about Humble Choice February 2026 I picked up a few games, including StarVaders, which is a modern take on the classic retro game, Space Invaders, with a deck builder spin.
So far I'm only 6 hours in, but this might just be one of my favourite "small" games. It's not grand, not revolutionary, but it's very well done.
The music and art style are fantastic, and there are plenty of fun deck combinations to go through. It's also very fun combo-based, a bit like Balatro. Except this is a bit easier on the brain. I have found myself enjoying this game a lot while in a voice call with friends.
The full price of 28 Swiss Francs (in my case) might be a tad too high for what it is, but if you can grab it on a sale, I really recommend it!
It's currently included in Humble Choice February for 13 euros, which is super worth it for this game in my opinion.
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Comment on Non-Logitech replacement for G502 mouse? in ~tech
Barney Link ParentWell I suppose that's true haha. As for the basilisk, I remember it feeling "off" in my hands, though that just might be me being super used to the G502 form.G502X
Well I suppose that's true haha. As for the basilisk, I remember it feeling "off" in my hands, though that just might be me being super used to the G502 form.
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Comment on Non-Logitech replacement for G502 mouse? in ~tech
Barney LinkI know you asked for an alternative, but I genuinely don't think there is one. The G502 is such an incredible mouse, especially at the price. If you had to buy a new mouse for 40$ every 6-7 years,...I know you asked for an alternative, but I genuinely don't think there is one.
The G502 is such an incredible mouse, especially at the price. If you had to buy a new mouse for 40$ every 6-7 years, I think that's a pretty solid deal.
I personally use the "lightspeed" wireless one, and couldn't be happier with it. The form factor and general feel is very good too, I like how it feels in the hand.
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Comment on Building a C compiler with a team of parallel Claudes in ~tech
Barney Link ParentIt's actually quite a bit more than a few thousand dollars :P I'm surprised how much it amounted to though. 100k lines is way too high for a bad C compiler, but even disregarding that, 5 lines /...[...] $20,000 in API costs [...]
It's actually quite a bit more than a few thousand dollars :P
I'm surprised how much it amounted to though. 100k lines is way too high for a bad C compiler, but even disregarding that, 5 lines / dollar is very expensive.
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Comment on Building a C compiler with a team of parallel Claudes in ~tech
Barney Link ParentI'm not entirely sure, though I suppose for 16 Claudes hardcoding some paths isn't really a problem. Here is an open issue about it. Most comments are similarly cynical, quite a fun read.I'm not entirely sure, though I suppose for 16 Claudes hardcoding some paths isn't really a problem.
Here is an open issue about it. Most comments are similarly cynical, quite a fun read.
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Comment on Humble Choice - February 2026 in ~games
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Comment on Humble Choice - February 2026 in ~games
Barney Link ParentHumbleBundle didn't tell me anything about it being locked, like it did for some other keys. https://steamdb.info/app/1196590/subs/ Resident Evil: Village seems to have a ridiculous number of...HumbleBundle didn't tell me anything about it being locked, like it did for some other keys.
https://steamdb.info/app/1196590/subs/
Resident Evil: Village seems to have a ridiculous number of packages for some reason, most games do not. I'm sorry :(Would you like to try another game instead?
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Comment on Building a C compiler with a team of parallel Claudes in ~tech
Barney (edited )LinkSo I was curious and gave it a go. Tested it with a Munchausen number generator. Code #include <math.h> #include <stdbool.h> #include <stdio.h> #define MAX 440000000 int cache[10]; bool...- Exemplary
So I was curious and gave it a go.
Tested it with a Munchausen number generator.
Code
#include <math.h> #include <stdbool.h> #include <stdio.h> #define MAX 440000000 int cache[10]; bool is_munchausen(const int number) { int n = number; int total = 0; while (n > 0) { int digit = n % 10; total += cache[digit]; if (total > number) { return false; } n = n / 10; } return total == number; } void set_cache() { cache[0] = 0; for (int i = 1; i <= 9; ++i) { cache[i] = pow(i, i); } } int main() { set_cache(); for (int i = 0; i < MAX; ++i) { if (is_munchausen(i)) { printf("%d\n", i); } } return 0; }First of all, it didn't compile. It made me specify the absolute paths for every single header. It didn't find
stddefandstdargthat's included instdio, so I had to manually change those as well. Here is an open issue about this.Second of all, the performance is horrendous. It is pretty much equivalent to no optimisation with
gcc.gcc -O3takes 2.89 seconds to run on my machine, this took 9.52.To answer the inevitable AI shilling "but it wrote a C compiler!!!!". Yes, however, there are numerous C compilers out there which the AI was trained on. It didn't have to do anything novel, and didn't do a great job at that.
Writing a no-optimisation C compiler isn't as glorious a feat as they make it sound, and the 100k lines of code are ridiculously high.
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Comment on Steam Hardware: Launch timing and other FAQs in ~games
Barney Link ParentThey also claim that it can run most title at 4k 60fps, but I'm guessing that's with something ridiculous, like 3x frame gen and 30% rendering resolution. With neither the GPU nor the CPU being...They also claim that it can run most title at 4k 60fps, but I'm guessing that's with something ridiculous, like 3x frame gen and 30% rendering resolution.
With neither the GPU nor the CPU being upgradable, I fail to see just who the steam machine is for.
The price has to be super competitive otherwise it's dead on arrival.
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Comment on Humble Choice - February 2026 in ~games
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Comment on Humble Choice - February 2026 in ~games
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Comment on Humble Choice - February 2026 in ~games
Barney (edited )Link ParentI actually ended up grabbing this month's bundle for Star Vaders, Big Helmet Heroes and Steam World Build. (I also gifted Core Keeper to a friend) Which leaves me with the following games that I...- Exemplary
I actually ended up grabbing this month's bundle for Star Vaders, Big Helmet Heroes and Steam World Build. (I also gifted Core Keeper to a friend)
Which leaves me with the following games that I have no need for:
Resident Evil Village (Appears to be region locked to Europe @fefellama has the code)Date EverythingSquirrel With A GunBus Simulator 21- One month of IGN+
If you'd like any of these games, leave a reply here with your chosen game and I'll DM you the redeem link. Please only choose 1 game :)
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Comment on Humble Choice - February 2026 in ~games
Barney LinkThis bundle is worth it for Core Keeper alone, incredible game that I can only recommend. It usually goes on sale for the same price as Humble Choice, so you effectively get all the other games...This bundle is worth it for Core Keeper alone, incredible game that I can only recommend.
It usually goes on sale for the same price as Humble Choice, so you effectively get all the other games for free.
From what I've seen, StarVaders seems very interesting, but I suppose that game mostly appeals to people of my particular vintage and less so the younger generation. Might pick up this bundle to try it out.
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Comment on Steam Winter Sale 2025: Hidden gems in ~games
Barney LinkAces & Adventures is currently on sale for $1.99 (581 reviews as of the time of this comment) It's a traditional story based deckbuilder with a slay the spire like mode, except the "combat" is...Aces & Adventures is currently on sale for $1.99 (581 reviews as of the time of this comment)
It's a traditional story based deckbuilder with a slay the spire like mode, except the "combat" is done mostly through poker card combinations. It has multiple classes, lots of stories through read to and even more replayability if you like deckbuilders.
It's a fantastic game, fully voice acted, with beautiful artwork that's an absolute steal for $2!
CAT & ONION is on sale for 1$, with 315 reviews.
This is a rather short game, between 30 minutes and an hour, but with a very lovely and fun story.
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Comment on EU drops 2035 combustion engine ban as global electric vehicle shift faces reset in ~transport
Barney Link ParentI appreciate your response, thank you for taking the time to write all that. My original comment made it sound like I'm panicking or have lost all hope; I'm not, just more frustrated than...I appreciate your response, thank you for taking the time to write all that.
My original comment made it sound like I'm panicking or have lost all hope; I'm not, just more frustrated than anything.
I agree with your overall assessment that we don't need negative carbon emissions (or even zero) to make Earth inhabitable long-term, but I do believe we are doing significantly less than we could or should. We should not settle for slowing down the destruction of our environment, much less accept irreversible damage to biodiversity as a result.
I am fully aware that transportation is not the main pollutor, it is, however, a relatively easy one to solve. Low hanging fruit, if you will.
From the article:
[...] to drop the EU's effective ban on new combustion-engine cars [...]
Other than lobbying from big corporations, there are 0 reasons why we should be manufacturing new ICE vehicles past 2035. I believe, and hope, that there will be little logical reason to acquire one, as EV will hopefully be the obvious choice for consumers. Nevertheless, this is just a blatant example of oil conglomerates influencing our policies for the worse, and quite frankly, I'm so tired of it.
On the electricity front, we are making excellent progress indeed. Photovoltaic LCOE is lower than what even the most optimistic models predicted a decade ago. Modern heatpumps are installed in most newly built houses etc. It's certainly not all grim, as you said, I simply find the backpedaling and constant goalpost moving unsettling. The United States withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord for the 2nd time this past decade is an excellent example of how quickly things can change for the worse as well.
An upward trending trajectory does not guarantee that it stays like that too, so the more permanent shifts we undertake - such as nuclear power plants, wind farms, PV policies or EV vehicles - the better, as they are semi-guaranteed to stay long term.
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Comment on EU drops 2035 combustion engine ban as global electric vehicle shift faces reset in ~transport
Barney Link ParentI unfortunately have to agree. A lot of people don't understand that net-zero emissions involve pulling out an incredible amount of carbon dioxide from the athmosphere on top of reducing...I unfortunately have to agree. A lot of people don't understand that net-zero emissions involve pulling out an incredible amount of carbon dioxide from the athmosphere on top of reducing emissions.
Among other things, as an example, making aluminium from the raw resources produces a formidable amount of carbon dioxide due to chemical reactions involved, and there is no way we are getting rid of aluminium.
We'd have to be doing way more, way faster, yet we can't even keep ourselves to getting rid of one of the easiest to replace parts of the carbon cycle.
This ship is sinking with a massive hole in it and we're merely pouring the water out with buckets.
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Comment on Vegans of Tildes, what are your favourite sources of protein? in ~food
Barney Link ParentTo add to the fantastic comments the others have made, it also comes down to where you live. I live in Switzerland, and meat is very expensive here. Your run of the mill "no brand" chicken breast...To add to the fantastic comments the others have made, it also comes down to where you live. I live in Switzerland, and meat is very expensive here. Your run of the mill "no brand" chicken breast on sale is around 13.50 CHF / kg, which is around 7$ / lbs. If you're not buying on sale, it's even more than that. Many meat replacements are cheaper than this, so even if you're running a fancy vegan diet, it's often cheaper just because you're not buying meat.
On the other hand, veggies, beans, tofu etc are very affordable, so spending some extra money on vitamin supplements (or vegan protein powder) doesn't stretch the budget at all
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Comment on Book writing self-hosted solutions? in ~tech
Barney LinkHave a look at Hammer Editor. It's relatively early in development, but seems to tick most of your boxes!Have a look at Hammer Editor. It's relatively early in development, but seems to tick most of your boxes!
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