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Ask HN: What are you working on?(Non-software projects only)

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Ask HN: What are you working on?(Non-software projects only)

#1
Recently I have built a racing sim. Now, I'm trying to complete my fence project. The fence is already built just need to stain it.

Next project I am planning is a paver patio. I will be renting the equipment and doing the work myself. Just need to draw up plans for the city.

I am wondering what projects you guys are working on outside of software.

Re: Ask HN: What are you working on?(Non-software projects only)

#3
A two-sided frame for a pair of posters my late grandfather brought back from Israel in the '60s.

I like them and they remind me of him, but Grandpa glued them to either side of a sheet of OSB. So if I want to hang them in a way that a) Doesn't look tacky and b) Won't damage them, I have to build something custom.

Re: Ask HN: What are you working on?(Non-software projects only)

#4
post #2

An illustrated book. While I still use software to make it, it's quite fun, and a refreshing change. Can't wait to get it printed and see what it looks like in paper.

That is actually quite interesting. Are you drawing by hand? What software are you using?

Re: Ask HN: What are you working on?(Non-software projects only)

#6
Trying to refurbish a carburetor for an old Japanese bike. I gotta say the long feedback cycles are challenging. With unit tests you get immediate gratification of seeing things work or not. With carbs, you gotta clean 'em, assemble them carefully get them back on the bike, connect the fuel system THEN try to start. Nothing. A multitude of things can be wrong. It's been challenging.

Re: Ask HN: What are you working on?(Non-software projects only)

#7
I'm building a half acre permaculture pond.

It's about 10 foot deep at the center. And should hold somewhere between 300k-600k gallons of water.

I dug it out with a backhoe. You wouldn't believe how scary it is driving a backhoe, it feels like you are gonna tip over at any moment.

Re: Ask HN: What are you working on?(Non-software projects only)

#9
post #6

Trying to refurbish a carburetor for an old Japanese bike. I gotta say the long feedback cycles are challenging. With unit tests you get immediate gratification of seeing things work or not. With carbs, you gotta clean 'em, assemble them carefully get them back on the bike, connect the fuel system THEN try to start. Nothing. A multitude of things can be wrong. It's been challenging.

Same, but an old Stihl chainsaw. I disagree with the feedback cycles. If we were using software tests as an analogy starting the engine would be an integration tests. There are many little bits of feedback along the way that are much more satisfying than unit tests.

But then again, I did small engine work as a job function for nearly a decade before getting into software. Usually when I reassemble something there isn't much of a question as to whether it's going to start or not.

Edit: not trying to say it's not challenging, it certainly is a lot of the time.

Re: Ask HN: What are you working on?(Non-software projects only)

#10
Woodworking. I picked it up during the pandemic and now it's an outlet when I don't want to code any more.

The current project is a beer stein made out of white oak reclaimed from an old whiskey barrel. I'm trying to retain the burnt interior, but make it less fragile and not able to flake off. I'm trying to find a way to evenly coat the walls with resin to smooth things out (it won't be used often, so I don't particularly care about it being food safe or containing BPA). I probably need to keep it spinning while the resin spreads and cures a bit, then pour the rest out.

It's nice to have a different set of rules where I need to plan my order of operations out more carefully. e.g. I can't glue the handle on before I do the resin because it'll make it much harder to spin.

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