scarecrw's recent activity
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Comment on Help me test my chess bot in ~games
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Comment on Help me test my chess bot in ~games
scarecrw Link ParentAh, I thought the link just set the default, but it was actually setting a requirement. I changed it and it should work now.Ah, I thought the link just set the default, but it was actually setting a requirement. I changed it and it should work now.
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Comment on Help me test my chess bot in ~games
scarecrw Link ParentOh no! Thanks for letting me know, I'll have to see how that's supposed to work. I'm guessing it times out after a certain point? I just manually ended it for now. It should accept pretty much any...Oh no! Thanks for letting me know, I'll have to see how that's supposed to work. I'm guessing it times out after a certain point? I just manually ended it for now.
It should accept pretty much any game timing, so feel free to play whichever.
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Help me test my chess bot
The last couple of weeks I've been fooling around with different ideas for how to build a chess bot that's fun for beginners to play against. I don't have much real experience with chess, so I've...
The last couple of weeks I've been fooling around with different ideas for how to build a chess bot that's fun for beginners to play against. I don't have much real experience with chess, so I've mostly just been testing it against myself.
After looking into the different techniques that are used to force engines to play at a certain level, I put together my own (somewhat silly) approach and have had some fun playing against it. The problem is, as I don't really know what I'm doing when it comes to the actual game, I can't be a particularly good judge of how others will feel playing with it.
Regardless of your own skill level, I'd be super appreciative if anyone would give it a try and let me know what they think.
I'm working on a full write up of how it works, but here's the short version:
Click to view the hidden text
The inspiration came from this paper which describes a "Tutoring Search" wherein the engine attempts to find the worst move available that it predicts the opponent will not recognize as an error.
My implementation doesn't follow this exactly, but it does have the same aim. Two engines are used: one (Stockfish) as an oracle treated as a true measure of any state's quality, another (Maia) as a substitute for the opponent model. On each move the bot consults both of these to identify a move which:
- Would plausibly be played by a skilled human, judged by its probability of being played by Maia.
- Provides an advantage to the opponent, judged by Stockfish.
The idea is that, if a human would be likely to play the move, they also would be unlikely to identify it as an error. The ultimate goal is a bot which gives the player plenty of opportunities to win, but only if the mistakes are likely to go unnoticed.
There are a few other supplements to the implementation like adapting to opponent choices and some tweaks to early and end-game play, but the above is the core idea.
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Comment on Linux privilege escalation (CVE-2026-31431) in ~comp
scarecrw Link ParentNot a call-out, but just to share information if anyone doesn't know: - hyphen: shortest, the one on most keyboards, used to hyphenate words or to replace en or em dashes – en dash: shorter (width...Not a call-out, but just to share information if anyone doesn't know:
-hyphen: shortest, the one on most keyboards, used to hyphenate words or to replace en or em dashes
–en dash: shorter (width of the 'N' character), used to show ranges between numbers or dates
—em dash: longer (width of the 'M' character), used in lots of ways but mostly like a colon or as parentheses around a phraseLLMs use both en and em dashes more than most people, especially on the internet where it's commonplace to just use a hyphen instead.
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Comment on MKBHD - Glass is glass || Or how the wording "scratch resistant" and "shatter resistant" misleads customers in ~tech
scarecrw Link ParentI've felt similarly about phone bodies: so much metal and glass that's heavy, slippery, and prone to cracking. I eventually gave it up and switched, but my old Pixel 3a was the best feeling phone...I've felt similarly about phone bodies: so much metal and glass that's heavy, slippery, and prone to cracking. I eventually gave it up and switched, but my old Pixel 3a was the best feeling phone in the hand that I've ever used, and I didn't have to worry about it getting cracked or dented.
I think plastic construction gets a bad rap from its association with cheap products and all the cut corners that often comes with, but high quality plastic is a fantastic choice for electronics.
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Comment on [Release video/how to play the] オタマトーン Q（キュー） / Otamatone Q in ~music
scarecrw LinkI bought one of these for a friend of mine back in high school. Surprising amount of fun to be had making annoying music!I bought one of these for a friend of mine back in high school. Surprising amount of fun to be had making annoying music!
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Comment on Valve uploads Steam Controller unboxing video, launch imminent in ~games
scarecrw LinkI still use my original steam controller, but if this has good reviews I'd consider updating. The selling point for me on the original was the customizability: I don't recall any other...I still use my original steam controller, but if this has good reviews I'd consider updating.
The selling point for me on the original was the customizability: I don't recall any other controller/launcher at the time having such powerful customization tools. The community shared controller schemes were especially useful in quickly getting running on games where controller support wasn't a developer focus.
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Comment on What is your go-to project for learning a new language? in ~comp
scarecrw LinkNot sure how generalizable this is, but I started learning Rust by going through Ray Tracing in One Weekend and translating as I go. It looks like someone's published a version for Rust...Not sure how generalizable this is, but I started learning Rust by going through Ray Tracing in One Weekend and translating as I go. It looks like someone's published a version for Rust specifically, but I actually found a lot of value in having to translate myself.
It's a good blend of not having to worry too much about the project/structure (as it's all planned out for you) but still forcing you to identify the goals and learn what language tools to apply.
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Comment on Which covers did it better than (or put a fresh twist on) the original? in ~music
scarecrw LinkThere's some great ones in these comments, so I'll give one that's a bit more on the silly side (though still great IMO): Chance - Milkshake. The same artist also put out a cover of Prince's When...There's some great ones in these comments, so I'll give one that's a bit more on the silly side (though still great IMO): Chance - Milkshake. The same artist also put out a cover of Prince's When Doves Cry that I love, but I haven't been able to find that on the internet anywhere to share.
I'll also shout out Rick Astley's covers on youtube.
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Comment on US keyboards don't have enough keys, so I switched to Japanese - HyperJIS in ~comp
scarecrw Link ParentI learned dvorak years ago but gave up on it after realizing: Getting okay at it was one thing, but getting to the point where I was faster than I am with qwerty was going to be a lot of work. I'm...I learned dvorak years ago but gave up on it after realizing:
- Getting okay at it was one thing, but getting to the point where I was faster than I am with qwerty was going to be a lot of work.
- I'm not going to be able to escape qwerty anyways (being the default in so many places), so I'd rather not have to deal with switching between the two.
It was certainly fun to learn, though!
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Comment on US keyboards don't have enough keys, so I switched to Japanese - HyperJIS in ~comp
scarecrw LinkI've recently finished a similar swap to a custom layout and have been considering writing up all my thoughts on it. Some of the changes are just mind-blowingly obvious in retrospect (the ctrl/esc...I've recently finished a similar swap to a custom layout and have been considering writing up all my thoughts on it.
Some of the changes are just mind-blowingly obvious in retrospect (the ctrl/esc instead of caps-lock should just be the standard) and I've surprised myself with how much use I've gotten out of having a 'compose' key for accents or special characters.
That said, some habits are hard to break. I tried using a thumb positioned backspace and could not change my muscle memory for that.
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Comment on No one can force me to have a secure website!!! in ~tech
scarecrw LinkI'll grant chrome some credit for swapping the "padlock" icon for the "tune" icon they currently use. They call out specifically that they wanted to avoid implying that a site is "trustworthy"...I'll grant chrome some credit for swapping the "padlock" icon for the "tune" icon they currently use. They call out specifically that they wanted to avoid implying that a site is "trustworthy" just because they support HTTPS.
https://blog.chromium.org/2023/05/an-update-on-lock-icon.html
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Comment on NASA’s Artemis II crew flies around the moon (live broadcast) in ~space
scarecrw LinkI think my brain has been warped by the constant access to communication that we have on Earth, as it surprised me to remember that we don't have a way to maintain a connection as they pass around...I think my brain has been warped by the constant access to communication that we have on Earth, as it surprised me to remember that we don't have a way to maintain a connection as they pass around the far side of the moon.
It makes perfect sense of course (EM waves have some trouble passing through thousands of kilometers of rock), but I can't help but find it silly that NASA has to accept the equivalent of "you're breaking up, I'm going through a tunnel".
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Comment on Commonly misspelled words quiz in ~humanities.languages
scarecrw Link13/20 which, honestly, was as best as I could expect. Even that was using a few tricks like knowing rite as in "playwright" is the same as "shipwright", not "write", or that "marshmallow" comes...13/20 which, honestly, was as best as I could expect. Even that was using a few tricks like knowing rite as in "playwright" is the same as "shipwright", not "write", or that "marshmallow" comes from the "mallow" plant (pronounced as it's spelled).
I've come to view my weakness in memorization (and, by extension, spelling) as a blessing in disguise. There are plenty of ways it has frustrated me, but it also forced me to improve my skills of deduction and rederivation.
It does on occasion make me look like a fool, but most people would figure that out eventually anyways, so no harm getting that cleared up quick.
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Comment on Parseword - a delightfully complex word game from Wordle’s creator in ~games
scarecrw LinkVery neat! I've tried a few times to get into cryptic crosswords, but always felt like I was missing something and never had much fun with them. This seems like a more structured take on the idea...Very neat! I've tried a few times to get into cryptic crosswords, but always felt like I was missing something and never had much fun with them. This seems like a more structured take on the idea which I could latch on to.
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Comment on New York Times quiz: Who’s a better writer: AI or humans? in ~tech
scarecrw LinkI found the easiest tell to be that the AI writing had no "rough edges". The human writing always had a word or phrase or twist in meaning I wouldn't have expected, whereas the AI writing is...I found the easiest tell to be that the AI writing had no "rough edges". The human writing always had a word or phrase or twist in meaning I wouldn't have expected, whereas the AI writing is stylistically monotone. That momentary pause where you think to yourself "wait, what was that?" feels important, as that's when you have to shift your perspective to align with the author's; AI writing never asks that of you.
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Comment on Felicia – My System (2026) in ~music
scarecrw LinkI thought both Felicia and Greczula had better performances in the heats, but I was happy to see them at the top. My System is just such a fun song and the performance is amazing. I did love the...I thought both Felicia and Greczula had better performances in the heats, but I was happy to see them at the top. My System is just such a fun song and the performance is amazing.
I did love the little girl in the crowd during the final who had a (clearly homemade) dress made to look like Felicia.
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Comment on The average US college student is illiterate in ~life
scarecrw LinkI've appreciated the shared experiences here, so I'll add my own. I've definitely witnessed challenges with deep or long-form reading. I vividly remember a scare a while back having a group of...I've appreciated the shared experiences here, so I'll add my own.
I've definitely witnessed challenges with deep or long-form reading. I vividly remember a scare a while back having a group of highschoolers read a short passage and none of them being able to articulate what it was they just read. It made me realize I lack the language to label this phenomenon, as I was drawn towards describing them as "illiterate" the same as the post here, but I don't think that communicates the issue clearly.
One note that this article doesn't seem to acknowledge is that the weakening of long-term focus and persistence through learning challenges is not limited to poor performers. I think there's a natural association made that "poor attention" correlates with "less intelligence" within a group, thus if a whole generation is showing weaker attention than previous ones, they must be broadly less intelligent. Just based on my experience, I don't believe this to be the case at all. I've seen plenty of extraordinarily bright, hardworking students who share these challenges.
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Comment on What’s your preferred work monitor setup? in ~comp
scarecrw Link ParentI've been using an ultrawide with niri, and love the setup. I never was able to make a tiling WM work before, but the combination has sold me on it. It took me a long time to realize how nice...I've been using an ultrawide with niri, and love the setup. I never was able to make a tiling WM work before, but the combination has sold me on it.
It took me a long time to realize how nice multiple desktops/workspces can be. I just needed convenient enough bindings to convince myself to use them and I can't imagine going back.
Thanks! I think you're right. Looking through some of the human games, it does seem to collapse a bit too obviously after 10-20 moves.
There's an artificial improvement in the early game (as early mistakes felt too obvious as a player), but the shift can feel abrupt when it happens. It's programmed to be a slow transition, but needs some fine tuning.