Donald Knuth on how he became good at math • Hacker News Board

Re: Donald Knuth on how he became good at math

#11

Post by palish » Sun, Dec 25, 2011, 9:35 AM UTC

smallhands wrote: post #9

palish wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Absolutely. My experience was the same: my mother loved to talk to me about my intelligence and curiosity as if they were rare and therefore special. Maybe it was true, but by telling me that, she accidentally laid the foundation of the rest of my life: I started distancing myself from my classmates, and eventually my peers. The result? I now have a skillset roughly equivalent to Carmack's, but no chance to capitaliz…

Ok I can relate to that myself I am kind of curious can you list those skills

- full stack programmer. My focus is always on the quality and robustness of the final design, regardless of which specific technologies/components are used. I learn them all.

- a deep knowledge of the details. I share Robert Morris' passion for understanding precisely what is going on at every level. My insight into the low-level details of next-gen CPUs came from reading the Intel architecture manuals several times over.

- an ability to achieve high-quality results within a very short period of time, regardless of the project or goal. If you show me a problem, I'll show you a solution by the end of the day, probably with a rough prototype. By a week, I'll have discovered which solution/direction is the best long-term strategy, and will have a working production version 1.

- I have good judgement. This turns out to be rare.

Specific technologies:

- a master of C/C++. I've been coding since age 12, and I'm now 23, so that's easily 30,000+ hours I've spent practicing. I've been writing C/C++ professionally daily since my first gamedev job in 2007. Python is my language of choice; Lua a close second, primarily when performance is of concern (such as in gamedev). But a language is merely a means to an end, and I work with all of them.

- several years of hobby experience writing Rails websites/Javascript. I write Lisp interpreters for fun. I want to write an Arc compiler someday.

- extensive sysadmin knowledge, both Unix and Windows. FreeBSD is my preferred OS for server-side deployment.

- master of realtime 3D graphics; both OpenGL and D3D. Given time and freedom, I can build you a renderer of the finest quality (equal or higher than Rage).

- artistic talent and taste. Several years of 3D Studio Max and Maya modeling and animation experience. I build next-gen character art (high-poly sculpt in ZBrush, then decimate / build low-poly shell in 3D Coat; project detail; touch up textures via Photoshop -> rig in 3DSMax -> animate -> import into game).

Projects:

- in highschool, wrote a game engine roughly equivalent to Quake.

- several game engines / game ideas.

- a full game editor, using C#/.NET WinForms.

- next-gen realtime graphics experiments, including realtime skin rendering (the same technique was recently shown by Epic in their "Good Samaritan" demo).

- several Rails websites. Made a system for schools to administer tests, with the intent of surpassing Blackboard. (JavaScript-based; this was back before "Ajax" was a fancy buzzword.) Tried to apply to YC with it. pg gave valuable advice (selling to schools is like selling to government; quality doesn't always win). Was invited to Hacker School though, which was fun (seeing Anybots' Dexter robot in person walk around on two legs was just awesome).

Experience:

- Simutronics, HeroEngine. Graphics programmer (3 years)

- S2 Games, Heroes of Newerth. Engine programmer (1 year)

My thirst for knowledge is unquenchable in five lifetimes, and I strive for beauty and elegance in everything I pursue.

If anyone feels these claims seem too bold to be true, I'd love the opportunity to work with you to prove myself while serving your interests.

Re: Donald Knuth on how he became good at math

#12

Post by mitsche » Sun, Dec 25, 2011, 10:16 AM UTC

palish wrote: post #11

smallhands wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ok I can relate to that myself I am kind of curious can you list those skills

- full stack programmer. My focus is always on the quality and robustness of the final design, regardless of which specific technologies/components are used. I learn them all. - a deep knowledge of the details. I share Robert Morris' passion for understanding precisely what is going on at every level. My insight into the low-level details of next-gen CPUs came from reading the Intel architecture manuals several times…

Dude, you're only 23. When you say you have no ability with people, what exactly do you mean by that?

When I was 23 I was more or less a complete moron with people, and for years to come. But it has improved to the point where I'm content. And I'm only 29 now.

If you were more specific about your problems with social interaction you'd probably get some good advice here.

Re: Donald Knuth on how he became good at math

#13

Post by palish » Sun, Dec 25, 2011, 10:20 AM UTC

aiscott wrote: post #10

palish wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Absolutely. My experience was the same: my mother loved to talk to me about my intelligence and curiosity as if they were rare and therefore special. Maybe it was true, but by telling me that, she accidentally laid the foundation of the rest of my life: I started distancing myself from my classmates, and eventually my peers. The result? I now have a skillset roughly equivalent to Carmack's, but no chance to capitaliz…

Start your own damn company! You don't have to be best friends to hire an employee.

That's the plan, but without charisma or pedigree, I've found it quite difficult to inspire confidence.

Re: Donald Knuth on how he became good at math

#14

Post by palish » Sun, Dec 25, 2011, 10:30 AM UTC

mitsche wrote: post #12

palish wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

- full stack programmer. My focus is always on the quality and robustness of the final design, regardless of which specific technologies/components are used. I learn them all. - a deep knowledge of the details. I share Robert Morris' passion for understanding precisely what is going on at every level. My insight into the low-level details of next-gen CPUs came from reading the Intel architecture manuals several times…

Dude, you're only 23. When you say you have no ability with people, what exactly do you mean by that? When I was 23 I was more or less a complete moron with people, and for years to come. But it has improved to the point where I'm content. And I'm only 29 now. If you were more specific about your problems with social interaction you'd probably get some good advice here.

Sam Altman has what I lack. http://www.paulgraham.com/fundraising.html

> You could parachute him into an island full of cannibals and come back in 5 years and he'd be the king. If you're Sam Altman, you don't have to be profitable to convey to investors that you'll succeed with or without them. (He wasn't, and he did.)

More than that, I can't seem to inspire confidence in people. I don't know the cause, but it's proving lethal to my ambitions. As far as I can tell, it's the same situation Jobs found himself in:

> "You know, I’ve got a plan that could rescue Apple. I can’t say any more than that it’s the perfect product and the perfect strategy for Apple. But nobody there will listen to me.” [1995]

I don't know. I'm just enjoying life and pursuing my research. But it feels unsettling coasting like this. I have Carmack's technical skill; if only I could rally like-minded capable people who wanted to build the next Id or Epic, then we'd stand a fair shot at success, at influencing our industry and the world. We wouldn't be just another puppet for publishers. We'd have a shot at making an impact: the next Half-Life or Final Fantasy or World of Warcraft. The formula is good people + shared goal + time + rapid iteration + don't get distracted. It works, it's proven, and I've seen it happen firsthand at S2. We can achieve that same success.

But why should anyone take me seriously? I probably wouldn't, if I weren't me.

Re: Donald Knuth on how he became good at math

#15

Post by vidar » Sun, Dec 25, 2011, 11:58 AM UTC

fragsworth wrote: post #4

The worst thing you can do for a kid's intelligence is to let them think they are smart. I was led to believe I was smart as a child. The resulting intellectual cockiness I had... "I'm too smart for this shit." or "I don't need to study for this crap." In the end, I don't really like to think about how far it set me back.

Thinking about what could have been is a red herring your mind throws out to you. There are countless ways your life could have turned out better.

The only thing that counts is how you improve your current situation, dont let the past disturb that process.

Good luck!

Re: Donald Knuth on how he became good at math

#16

Post by anacrolix » Sun, Dec 25, 2011, 12:07 PM UTC

palish wrote: post #11

smallhands wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ok I can relate to that myself I am kind of curious can you list those skills

- full stack programmer. My focus is always on the quality and robustness of the final design, regardless of which specific technologies/components are used. I learn them all. - a deep knowledge of the details. I share Robert Morris' passion for understanding precisely what is going on at every level. My insight into the low-level details of next-gen CPUs came from reading the Intel architecture manuals several times…

Holy shit your story sounds like mine. Albeit your sounds a little more impressive. I'm 26 now, and in the last 2 years I feel like I've gradually burnt out. A few specialist skills here and there won't make a difference. They're a dime a dozen. You're probably in a situation similar to mine: You feel like you have something extra that others lack. An unclouded vision, a strive for clarity and perfection. I was going to suggest that with the skills and showcases you can provide you could work into any intermediate games programmer position with ease, but it seems you already have a few games under your belt.

Clearly like games and graphics, so that's your area. You've got all the amateur experience you need. Your next move is to target your dream jobs and start applying, or to create one yourself. I'm in a similiar position with regard to "striking out on your own". I feel it's a foreign domain, and I don't have the skills necessary to start up my own shit. So don't. Most programmers work under the wing of a company, there's no shame in that. Start applying to some kickass jobs before you burn out.

Re: Donald Knuth on how he became good at math

#17

Post by euccastro » Sun, Dec 25, 2011, 12:11 PM UTC

vidar wrote: post #15

fragsworth wrote: post #4

The worst thing you can do for a kid's intelligence is to let them think they are smart. I was led to believe I was smart as a child. The resulting intellectual cockiness I had... "I'm too smart for this shit." or "I don't need to study for this crap." In the end, I don't really like to think about how far it set me back.

Thinking about what could have been is a red herring your mind throws out to you. There are countless ways your life could have turned out better. The only thing that counts is how you improve your current situation, dont let the past disturb that process. Good luck!

There's a football (soccer) saying: "the most important play is always the next one."

Re: Donald Knuth on how he became good at math

#18

Post by _exec » Sun, Dec 25, 2011, 12:58 PM UTC

chegra wrote: post #8

This was my experience too. I just did all the questions in the textbook. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2496430 I had a book just filled with proofs. After a while, you will get an intuitive understanding of where to go next after each step.

What "Math & Statistics" book? Got an ISBN?

Re: Donald Knuth on how he became good at math

#19

Post by chegra » Sun, Dec 25, 2011, 2:12 PM UTC

_exec wrote: post #18

chegra wrote: post #8

This was my experience too. I just did all the questions in the textbook. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2496430 I had a book just filled with proofs. After a while, you will get an intuitive understanding of where to go next after each step.

What "Math & Statistics" book? Got an ISBN?

I don't remember the name of the textbook, but any with 1000+ questions would do.

Re: Donald Knuth on how he became good at math

#20

Post by esja » Sun, Dec 25, 2011, 2:13 PM UTC

palish wrote: post #14

mitsche wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dude, you're only 23. When you say you have no ability with people, what exactly do you mean by that? When I was 23 I was more or less a complete moron with people, and for years to come. But it has improved to the point where I'm content. And I'm only 29 now. If you were more specific about your problems with social interaction you'd probably get some good advice here.

Sam Altman has what I lack. http://www.paulgraham.com/fundraising.html > You could parachute him into an island full of cannibals and come back in 5 years and he'd be the king. If you're Sam Altman, you don't have to be profitable to convey to investors that you'll succeed with or without them. (He wasn't, and he did.) More than that, I can't seem to inspire confidence in people. I don't know the cause, but it's prov…

Have you thought about "putting yourself out there" a bit more? You could look at it like an experiment, just sharing your knowledge with the world, humbly and with no expectation of a return... I bet you would find all sorts of positives come from it over time. Maybe you do this already, but I only found one blog post (a good one) and no tweets.