jmpavlec's recent activity

  1. Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp

    jmpavlec
    Link
    Still working on https://gametje.com. I've been working on giving users the ability to add custom word packs for the Canvas Clash game. Almost done with that. Just polishing the UI. In order to...

    Still working on https://gametje.com. I've been working on giving users the ability to add custom word packs for the Canvas Clash game. Almost done with that. Just polishing the UI. In order to add and use the custom word packs, you'll need to create and log into an account. Word packs can also be made public for other players to use. This is also possible in all 9 languages.

    I've also been transitioning some of the games over so they can be hosted and played from the same device. (Right now only Canvas Clash supports that). Previously there needed to be a host screen and all players needed to see it which I found was a big barrier to entry for people trying it out. Players didn't seem to understand the purpose of the main screen. After I update all 5 games, a player will be able host + play from a single device and other players will have all the necessary context on their own screens. This opens up the ability to play at a bar or at school without the need for a main screen. Having a central host screen will still be supported for the party/screen share situation (Chromecast/Amazon Fire Stick).

    Overall making decent progress. I need to recruit a UI designer to help me with the main page though.

  2. Comment on American election mental health thread in ~health.mental

    jmpavlec
    Link Parent
    This is a fantastic take on the situation. I'm going to try to follow your lead. Thanks for sharing. Keep spreading the positivity.

    This is a fantastic take on the situation. I'm going to try to follow your lead. Thanks for sharing. Keep spreading the positivity.

    5 votes

  3. Comment on Moving my game project from C to Odin language in ~comp

    jmpavlec
    Link
    Nice post, been quite a while since I programmed in C. Were there any performance differences after building in Odin? Also you have a todo in your readme about linking to this blog post:...

    Nice post, been quite a while since I programmed in C. Were there any performance differences after building in Odin?

    Also you have a todo in your readme about linking to this blog post: https://codeberg.org/akselmo/artificial-rage

    TODO: Link here a blogpost about this whole C to Odin codebase movement

    8 votes

  4. Comment on Dr1v3n Wild in ~games

    jmpavlec
    Link Parent
    Randomly was checking my Tildes history and was reminded of your game. Any updates on the virtual game pad?

    Randomly was checking my Tildes history and was reminded of your game. Any updates on the virtual game pad?

  5. Comment on How do you deal with work-related stress? in ~health.mental

    jmpavlec
    Link
    I was in a similar position to you about 5 years ago and did burnout. The biggest lesson I took was to start saying No to things more often. Previously I just said yes to get in good graces with...

    I was in a similar position to you about 5 years ago and did burnout. The biggest lesson I took was to start saying No to things more often. Previously I just said yes to get in good graces with my boss/coworkers and that worked for a good 10+ years. I was younger, had more energy and didnt have kids yet so I could recover in my off time. That all changed with my 2nd kid, then I had no time to recover from hard work days/weeks. I also changed my work schedule and started working 4 days a week and that helped a lot.

    I think I saw you wrote you are in Europe? Which country? Any social net for something like this?

    Is there any possibility to take every other Friday off (with a reduction in pay). Just having those 3 day weekends every other week does wonders.

  6. Comment on Three years in the wild: how a fugitive father has hidden his children for so long in ~life

    jmpavlec
    Link
    I skimmed the article, I didn't see the Father's justification for taking them in the first place. Anyone know the context? It said he didn't have custody of the children so I guess that must play...

    I skimmed the article, I didn't see the Father's justification for taking them in the first place. Anyone know the context? It said he didn't have custody of the children so I guess that must play a part...

    6 votes

  7. Comment on Show Tildes - Gametje in ~games

    jmpavlec
    Link Parent
    That's a new one. I guess there are no shortages of Dutch diminutive variations.

    That's a new one. I guess there are no shortages of Dutch diminutive variations.

  8. Comment on Show Tildes - Gametje in ~games

    jmpavlec
    Link Parent
    Thanks for taking a look! You can try it out on your own with the AI players as well if you want to get a feel for it before your next party. It also works great for a remote meetup.

    Thanks for taking a look! You can try it out on your own with the AI players as well if you want to get a feel for it before your next party. It also works great for a remote meetup.

    3 votes

  9. Comment on Dr1v3n Wild in ~games

    jmpavlec
    Link
    Really well done! It's Insane to me that it is only 13kb. Very impressive.The billboards on the side were a nice touch that made me smile a few times. I have only tried it on mobile but still had...

    Really well done! It's Insane to me that it is only 13kb. Very impressive.The billboards on the side were a nice touch that made me smile a few times. I have only tried it on mobile but still had a good time. In portrait mode with one hand, I found it a bit difficult to anticipate turns. I need to try it in landscape and on a bigger screen. I saw you mentioned in another comment about a potential virtual joystick and gas button. I think that's a good suggestion but would be nice if it's also an option to keep one handed play possible.

    Keep us updated.

    1 vote

  10. Comment on Show Tildes - Gametje in ~games

    jmpavlec
    (edited )
    Link
    Hi all, I posted here about 8 months ago in the ~comp topic. I've made some decent progress since then and wanted to post again to get more feedback. I've created 3 new games since January and...

    Hi all, I posted here about 8 months ago in the ~comp topic.

    I've made some decent progress since then and wanted to post again to get more feedback. I've created 3 new games since January and some other new features. I also added the ability to add more than 1 AI player so it should be easier to try it out on your own before trying with friends (most games require >= 3 players). The newest game "Canvas Clash" is not playable with AI at the moment unfortunately.

    What is it?

    It is a set of online games (5 at the moment) which can be played in person with a central screen (like a TV) or remotely via video chat with screen sharing. In short, there is a host screen which shows most of the game’s activity. Players join via their own device like a phone/tablet/laptop and use that as a controller. It’s playable in 9 languages and doesn’t require any downloads. Most games revolve around being creative in some shape or form. None of the games require fast reflexes and can be played by just about anyone. The host screen can be a browser, a Chromecast) or an Amazon Fire Stick (Amazon app store). One of my goals was to make it easy to get started with minimal downloads/setup.

    Why did I create it?

    I've been a player of Jackbox games myself for 10+ years but I always found their support for other languages a bit lacking. I also found the fragmentation between app stores a bit frustrating and needing to buy a new pack each year. I own their games on PC and PS4 but I can’t share a “license” between them. I designed Gametje with these issues in mind. It is playable in multiple languages with more being added regularly (feel free to request one). You can play it from any device with a web browser. There is no need to install it via Steam or a game console. All games are available in one place with no “packs” to buy.

    What’s up with the name?

    I have been living in the Netherlands for some years and part of my original motivation stems from wanting to give my friends here a game to play in their native language. It's way easier to be witty/funny in your mother tongue after all! Because of that, I wanted to incorporate something Dutch into the site's name. The suffix ‘tje’ is one of the diminutive endings in Dutch and is meant to soften a word or make it "smaller". Game + tje = Gametje, or a little game. I have been informed by native Dutch speakers on Tildes that it should have been ‘Gamepje’ to be "correct" but I liked the way Gametje sounded better.

    Where can I try it?

    https://gametje.com/

    You can try it out as a guest without signing up in order to get a feel for the games. Clicking into each game gives a short explanation and a small example of the gameplay. After creating a game, you can join from another browser window or device. You can also add AI players if you want to try it out on your own or you can organize a game in the discord channel: https://discord.gg/qRVc7DaHWQ with other Tildes users (You just need to be able to share the host screen). If you sign up for an account, you can opt-in as an alpha tester and see the new games as they are developed. It’ll also keep track of all your previous games and make sure not to duplicate content.

    What am I looking for?

    I am interested in feedback about the whole concept and also the gameplay. Is it fun? What could be improved? UI design isn’t my forte so I’m aware the main site is a bit plain but the core functionality and gameplay are there.

    Happy to share the more technical details as well for those that are interested.
    Thanks!

    9 votes

  12. Comment on Recommendations for smart temperature sensors in ~life.home_improvement

    jmpavlec
    Link Parent
    Haha, I live in the Netherlands. Although I definitely use them the most for smart home devices and not bike lights. Not sure I ever changed my tamagotchi batteries back in the day so I didn't...

    Haha, I live in the Netherlands. Although I definitely use them the most for smart home devices and not bike lights.

    Not sure I ever changed my tamagotchi batteries back in the day so I didn't know it used the same.

    1 vote

  13. Comment on Recommendations for smart temperature sensors in ~life.home_improvement

    jmpavlec
    (edited )
    Link
    Definitely agree with the others that you should use home assistant. Only downside is you may get addicted to smart home stuff and spend way more than 100 euro 😅. I use a bunch of these around my...

    Definitely agree with the others that you should use home assistant. Only downside is you may get addicted to smart home stuff and spend way more than 100 euro 😅.

    I use a bunch of these around my house: https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/1005004877936490.html

    ~8-10 bucks a piece depending on the seller.

    Combined with a USB zigbee coordinator + home assistant. It works quite well for me and the battery lasts somewhere between 6 months and 1.5 years. They work on the bike light battery CR2032 so I might suggest buying a bulk pack of those as well.

    Home assistant also gives you the ability to send phone notifications via their app or just about any other service (telegram, hangouts etc)

    Here's an example of my temperature dash (via mobile): https://i.imgur.com/YFNNyNf.png

    As far as waterproofing it, could you just set up a small bit of cover on the balcony for it? I have a temp sensor in my shed, but that is covered.

    Do you actually need your own temperature sensor outside? I also use the weather Integration in Home Assistant which gives me quite an accurate reading for my area and can be combined with notifications/automations etc. That's usually quite in line with my own temperature sensor in my shed.

    1 vote

  14. Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp

    jmpavlec
    Link Parent
    Thanks for the feedback! I have a 4th game that is almost done. It just needs a bit more polishing and sound/UI tweaks before I make it public. It is available for Alpha testers at the moment...

    Thanks for the feedback! I have a 4th game that is almost done. It just needs a bit more polishing and sound/UI tweaks before I make it public. It is available for Alpha testers at the moment (mostly just friends/family at this point in time).

    I have some other ideas for games that just need some time to make. I've been trying to focus on getting the payment system and user profile in place so that delayed the "fun part" a bit. In terms of creating a new game, I have the whole framework setup for similar gameplay loops so usually I can get the basic functionality of the game done in ~2-3 weeks. I'm working on it ~2 days a week along side my "paid" job so it's mostly just a matter how much time I get in a given week. As I said in my other comment, it seems like we have quite a bit in common, would be fun to connect and talk about our projects.

    2 votes

  15. Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp

    jmpavlec
    Link Parent
    Are you working on it full time or a side passion project? The generational concept sounds awesome. Would be neat if one generation could teach another one (like a attack/defensive move or...

    Are you working on it full time or a side passion project?

    The generational concept sounds awesome. Would be neat if one generation could teach another one (like a attack/defensive move or something). So that knowledge could "passed" down.

    I definitely looked at Godot a bit when I first started my project but wanted to take advantage of knowledge I already had with React/Typescript. I may dive a bit into Godot for the next game or two to see what benefits I can get out of it. I read C# may be a better route for me since I an experience programmer (mostly in Java). Any reason you picked GDscript rather than C3?

    Seems we have quite a bit in common, I would love to exchange ideas on our projects some time if you are open to it.

    1 vote

  16. Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp

    jmpavlec
    Link Parent
    Looks fun, what languages are you using to create the game? How far along are you? Found your steam page (I think). Interesting concept for a game, combining virtual pet + rpg mechanics.

    Looks fun, what languages are you using to create the game? How far along are you?

    Found your steam page (I think). Interesting concept for a game, combining virtual pet + rpg mechanics.

    1 vote

  17. Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp

    jmpavlec
    Link Parent
    Thanks for the feedback! You are 100% correct. I struggle with the UI design so I should probably recruit someone to help me in that area. I appreciate you taking a look.

    Thanks for the feedback! You are 100% correct. I struggle with the UI design so I should probably recruit someone to help me in that area. I appreciate you taking a look.

    1 vote

  18. Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp

    jmpavlec
    Link Parent
    Just tried it again from mobile and it let me submit it again... Must have had some extra white space at the front or back earlier. Would be good to trim those if possible for the number input in...

    Just tried it again from mobile and it let me submit it again... Must have had some extra white space at the front or back earlier. Would be good to trim those if possible for the number input in case there is a copy paste error.

    Looking forward to the next version!

    4 votes

  19. Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp

    jmpavlec
    (edited )
    Link Parent
    Just gave it a go. That's some fancy font in the PDF :). I named the PI PRIME: 3141592653589793238462643383279502884197169399375105821357 Trying to submit the same one again gives me an error Your...

    Just gave it a go. That's some fancy font in the PDF :). I named the PI PRIME: 3141592653589793238462643383279502884197169399375105821357

    Trying to submit the same one again gives me an error

    Your input is invalid.

Please check that the integer you entered only consists of numbers, and the name you entered only consists of letters, numbers and spaces.

    I'd probably expect it to tell me it is taken and named "XYZ" or whatever. Would be nice to browse other primes people have already named.

    3 votes

  20. Comment on What programming/technical projects have you been working on? in ~comp

    jmpavlec
    Link
    I have been continuing to work on my "Jackbox games-esque" game platform (https://gametje.com/). Here's a link to my original "Show Tildes" post: https://tildes.net/~comp/1dss/show_tildes_gametje...

    I have been continuing to work on my "Jackbox games-esque" game platform (https://gametje.com/). Here's a link to my original "Show Tildes" post: https://tildes.net/~comp/1dss/show_tildes_gametje

    I recently got the first draft of my 4th game playable but it is only available for alpha testers. Should be available for everyone soon. I migrated from create-react-app (CRA) to vite recently and have been very happy with the speed. CRA hasn't been updated in multiple years and the vulnerabilities and overrides were starting to stack up. Ejecting a CRA is a bit of a mess and having a more modern replacement has been good. The speed is also noticeably better with vite. I also added some e2e tests for all 4 games to test out the frontend/backend together to make sure I don't introduce bugs.

    Been diving into the Amazon Fire stick docs for packaging the website as an app to make it more accessible for users on that platform. Currently you can play via the Silk browser and login with QR code from your phone but it would be nice to have a more native experience there. The docs about creating/publishing a webapp in Amazon's store are pretty poor. I think I have a few leads, but there are surprisingly few examples and people talking about developing Amazon Fire TV apps. Perhaps I should just bite the bullet and create a wrapper in Android studio. Then I can publish to both Google Play and the Amazon store. I wish the Amazon sticks had something like casting to the TV (like a chromecast) as that was quite easy to implement.

    Overall satisfied with my progress and hope to share the site more publicly soon. If anyone is interested in giving me some feedback, I would really appreciate it!

    3 votes