John Carmack is reading and contributing to OpenBSD source code • Hacker News Board

Re: John Carmack is reading and contributing to OpenBSD source code

#51

Post by nailer » Mon, May 18, 2020, 6:04 PM UTC

mikorym wrote: post #23

Is there any more context to OP's post? I guess someone just noticed in the mailing list, but it's not clear whether maybe John Carmark does this with all code everywhere in the universe. And then probably still has some interesting coffee break conversations... On a different note. I am something of a Ubuntu fan and try to be more involved there. But then again the xBSDs where x = {Free, Open, Net, ...} are one of t…

> whether maybe John Carmark does this with all code everywhere in the universe.

A lot of people rename things and add comments as part of understanding a new code base. I do and I'm sure I'm not the only one on HN.

Re: John Carmack is reading and contributing to OpenBSD source code

#52

Post by sgt101 » Mon, May 18, 2020, 6:04 PM UTC

Also he's had a look at the Imperial COVID19 model that has attracted so much bile in the last week: https://twitter.com/id_aa_carmack/status/1254872368763277313...

I share his opinion on the code (though not his expertise!)

Re: John Carmack is reading and contributing to OpenBSD source code

#53

Post by jasoneckert » Mon, May 18, 2020, 6:05 PM UTC

I have read many posts and articles by John Carmack, as well as viewed or attended many of his talks. In short, I have nothing but respect for him as a developer, thinker and human being in general. Consequently, if he's contributing to OpenBSD, that can only be a good thing in my opinion.

Re: John Carmack is reading and contributing to OpenBSD source code

#54

Post by ilrwbwrkhv » Mon, May 18, 2020, 6:06 PM UTC

wmichelin wrote: post #20

Here is your daily reminder to read "Masters of Doom", a book about the early days at ID Software. It's an amazing look into a really cool time in gaming and software as a whole. It's a great book, mostly about John Carmack and the guys at ID! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masters_of_Doom

I love that book. It is for me the best book which shows the spirit of what "hackers" really are and stand for.

Re: John Carmack is reading and contributing to OpenBSD source code

#55

Post by usefulcat » Mon, May 18, 2020, 6:09 PM UTC

rozgo wrote: post #7

toisanji wrote: post #3

I thought he was working on AGI? Gave up already?

The road to AGI is paved with yak shavings.

That's one of the funniest things I've read on HN.

Re: John Carmack is reading and contributing to OpenBSD source code

#56

Post by fancythat » Mon, May 18, 2020, 6:10 PM UTC

cameronfraser wrote: post #21

toisanji wrote: post #3

I thought he was working on AGI? Gave up already?

Most people who actually work in AI know that AGI being possible is still an IF and IF it is possible, it is centuries or even further away (basically some indeterminate time frame because we don't even know if we're on the right path). The techniques we're using today are likely not going to be applicable to AGI. John Carmack is very smart, but I wouldn't place him on the same pedestal as any of our great historical…

I am not saying that he will solve AGI on his own (he did quit rocket science after all), but you are greatly underestimating the impact he can have in the field. He basically evolved almost on his own two multi-billion dollar markets by doing noticeable technology leaps and finishing things at the right time. That must count for something. I would bet he cannot solve AGI, but he will surely leave something inspiring behind.

Re: John Carmack is reading and contributing to OpenBSD source code

#57

Post by Scarblac » Mon, May 18, 2020, 6:11 PM UTC

solotronics wrote: post #12

rozgo wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The road to AGI is paved with yak shavings.

First I have to have a stable OS. Then I have to make kernel updates to support the kind of process management I want. Then I have to fix the other kernel bugs affecting my update. Then I have to modify the network drivers. Then I have to ... 5 years later what was I even working on in the first place?

To make AGI from scratch, first you have to create the universe.

Re: John Carmack is reading and contributing to OpenBSD source code

#58

Post by sigzero » Mon, May 18, 2020, 6:15 PM UTC

Trasmatta wrote: post #47

AdmiralAsshat wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This thread reminded me that Carmack has been a free software advocate in the past, and my citation is, quite amusingly, that book: > It was February 8, 1998, and Carmack was about to put his brain to the test: counting cards in blackjack. This had become something of a new fascination of his. “Having a reasonable grounding in statistics and probability and no belief in luck, fate, karma, or god(s), the only casino g…

Didn't he also end up getting banned for life from that casino for counting cards?

So? Counting cards is not illegal if that is what you are trying to insinuate.

Re: John Carmack is reading and contributing to OpenBSD source code

#59

Post by ridhwaan » Mon, May 18, 2020, 6:18 PM UTC

wmichelin wrote: post #20

Here is your daily reminder to read "Masters of Doom", a book about the early days at ID Software. It's an amazing look into a really cool time in gaming and software as a whole. It's a great book, mostly about John Carmack and the guys at ID! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masters_of_Doom

Lol you should have put an amazon affiliate link, I just bought it right now!

Re: John Carmack is reading and contributing to OpenBSD source code

#60

Post by jeffreyrogers » Mon, May 18, 2020, 6:19 PM UTC

I thought it was funny that the first reply comes from someone whose email address was @id.au. (Pretty sure this is unrelated to Id Software but quite a coincidence!)