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Show HN: Free Company Logo API

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Re: Show HN: Free Company Logo API

#151

Post by TazeTSchnitzel »

todd3834 wrote: post #132
TazeTSchnitzel wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This isn't trying to scrape the page and find something vaguely logo-like. Rather, it seems to be using iOS, OpenGraph and Twitter icons. In this case, the site has a strange OpenGraph image specified in its meta tags. If it produces a weird image it's because the site owner has specified an image which isn't their logo. It's not because the API picked a random image. For this service, if it can find an image, it's a…

I wouldn't have thought that the open graph image is a logo. Seems like that wouldn't be a reliable source for logos

Fair point. It's at least something they've chosen to represent themselves, however.

Re: Show HN: Free Company Logo API

#152

Post by oefrha »

dreamfactory2 wrote: post #112
egeozcan wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are are a lot of code generators (written by programmers) and they never seem to offend the programmers. I don't think everything can be automated with satisfying results or in a reasonable time but come on, why would an attempt be offending or degrading?

In fairness, I often see devs highly offended by automated output, including where it makes no difference whatsoever to performance and maintainability (and particularly so if it improves on any of those). There is plenty of frothing out there about hand-tuned SQL vs ORM and hand-crafted semantic HTML/CSS for example.

ESR's 17 Unix Rules [1], Rule of Generation:

> Developers should avoid writing code by hand and instead write abstract high-level programs that generate code. This rule aims to reduce human errors and save time.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unix_philosophy#Eric_Raymond.E...

Re: Show HN: Free Company Logo API

#153

Post by oefrha »

ARolek wrote: post #83

Killer work Alex! It's crazy you just rolled this out. We have been in development on something very similar but have yet to make a public push on the product. The main difference is we host the vector source file and build rasters from it. This helps maintain top quality at any size, and allows us to output to additional formats (i.e. PDF). The product is still in alpha, but it's amazing how many similarities we cam…

I'm curious about the claim "pixel perfect every time" seen on your home page. Do you employ some special algorithm to scale images, or do you just use the standard tools? As far as I know, scaling vector graphics isn't enough to guarantee pixel perfection (especially not at low resolutions), and low-res logos are usually hand-crafted by designers. Maybe you should also allow companies to upload raster logos?

Re: Show HN: Free Company Logo API

#155

Post by tripzilch »

ryanSrich wrote: post #88
jtreminio wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why in the world would this offend you?

Two reasons: 1. It degrades design as a profession. It's essentially saying that logo design can be done by an algorithm. "There's no creativity to it". Wouldn't you be offended if someone said a basic algorithm could eliminate your job? (perhaps you wouldn't) 2. It's an overly simplistic view of what a logo/brand identity is. You can't just pick out some basic shapes and text for your logo. You need color theory, co…

> Wouldn't you be offended if someone said a basic algorithm could eliminate your job?

Hey, some of my best friends are basic algorithms!

Re: Show HN: Free Company Logo API

#156

Post by tripzilch »

WhitneyLand wrote: post #125
prof_hobart wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's only degrading to your profession if it's actually true. I was a software developer for many years, and I've seen hundreds of claims for software to automate (in one guise or other) that job, replacing the need for coders. None of these claims offended me. The vast majority have been comically useless. The rest have just helped remove some dull bit of grunt work out of the job, allowing me to focus on something…

Disagree. It's not degrading even if it is true. Automation has been displacing people for how long now? I would argue it's hubris to think one brain could forever outperform the cumulative experience and information that we can automate.

And then, we'll automate hubris.

Re: Show HN: Free Company Logo API

#157

Post by prof_hobart »

WhitneyLand wrote: post #125
prof_hobart wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's only degrading to your profession if it's actually true. I was a software developer for many years, and I've seen hundreds of claims for software to automate (in one guise or other) that job, replacing the need for coders. None of these claims offended me. The vast majority have been comically useless. The rest have just helped remove some dull bit of grunt work out of the job, allowing me to focus on something…

Disagree. It's not degrading even if it is true. Automation has been displacing people for how long now? I would argue it's hubris to think one brain could forever outperform the cumulative experience and information that we can automate.

That doesn't stop it being potentially degrading though.

When people, and even entire communities, define themselves by the job they do, they often end up feeling degraded and worthless as the jobs are replaced.

Doesn't mean that the automation shouldn't happen. But that sense of degradation is real for some people.

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