Because it has the best library ever (VCL/LCL), and a very nice clear syntax conducive to writing "clean" code (yeah, whatever that is). Therefore: Object Pascal, as embodied in Delphi and in Free Pascal / Lazarus.
Ask HN: Why are you programming your hobby projects in a niche language?
151–160 of 172 posts
Re: Ask HN: Why are you programming your hobby projects in a niche language?
#152GPT-3 isn't exactly niche, but I seem to be the only one really fanatical about its use. It's like a pet by now. It provides good company, more than any pet I've had. It's useful, does tricks.
I think a lot of people hate it because it feels like cheating in some way. AI researchers like going the long route. Some people refuse to believe AI is as good as it is. Some attribute human-like qualities like humor to it.
But I don't really care for all that. I just enjoy spending time with it.
Re: Ask HN: Why are you programming your hobby projects in a niche language?
#153Earlier quoted context omitted.
I have some idea behind the OOP now and it's insane how everything is an object. I wouldn't call Pharo OOP. I'd call Pharo live OOP. Normally, objects in languages are asleep like a bear in hibernation or something only to wake up when spring arrives (or when you click "compile"). But in Pharo they are awake when you edit them. If I was a DJ/producer, I'd try to see if it makes sense as a music tool.
No, Pharo is OOP. The other stuff that people call OOP isn't.
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Re: Ask HN: Why are you programming your hobby projects in a niche language?
#154Earlier quoted context omitted.
I have some idea behind the OOP now and it's insane how everything is an object. I wouldn't call Pharo OOP. I'd call Pharo live OOP. Normally, objects in languages are asleep like a bear in hibernation or something only to wake up when spring arrives (or when you click "compile"). But in Pharo they are awake when you edit them. If I was a DJ/producer, I'd try to see if it makes sense as a music tool.
No, Pharo is OOP. The other stuff that people call OOP isn't.
You mean to say that OOP needs to have live objects by design? (in order to be called OOP)
Re: Ask HN: Why are you programming your hobby projects in a niche language?
#155Earlier quoted context omitted.
No, Pharo is OOP. The other stuff that people call OOP isn't.
You mean to say that OOP needs to have live objects by design? (in order to be called OOP)
That was the original meaning. Roughly until 'Java' came around and started calling everything an object. We used to call structures with data and pointers to functions just that: structures.
Re: Ask HN: Why are you programming your hobby projects in a niche language?
#156Earlier quoted context omitted.
1. Yes, I’ve been working on generalizing the Lunar specific code for open sourcing it next month. Still WIP because I’m still getting busy with new monitor edge cases. Last month I’ve also found out about Keygen ( https://keygen.sh/ ) which has a really nice offering, and I would have probably chosen it instead of building my own solution if I’d known about it. I’m concerned about uptime with my own solution, I don’…
You sir are a big inspiration to me! As someone also born in EE I can very much appreciate your courage and dedication doing a side gig like this. I would say 3500 a month is even a median salary for an IT position in WE. From your resume I take it you still work full time? I wonder if that's even worth it at this point unless you make a lot more from your FTE position. Anyway props!
Thank you for the kind words! I haven’t updated my resume for a while because I don’t have a job anymore and I’m serious about not having to get hired ever again.
I’ve written about how I quit my job in March last year and started turning Lunar into a revenue generating project here: https://alinpanaitiu.com/blog/journey-to-ddc-on-m1-macs/
There’s a lot more info in the article that you might not be interested in though. For the 1 year anniversary of this decision I’m writing another article with everything I tried with Lunar and other apps in the last year. That might be more relevant because I’ll share user stats, real numbers on revenue, trial and error with paid advertising etc.
Yes, $3.5k sounds pretty good for Eastern Europe, but the truth is that prices have also skyrocketed. I’ve been trying to get away from my current matchbox sized rented apartment and build a house with my wife. I’ve reached the conclusion that I need like $200k in savings to do it and I’m nowhere near that.
Re: Ask HN: Why are you programming your hobby projects in a niche language?
#157Re: Ask HN: Why are you programming your hobby projects in a niche language?
#158Earlier quoted context omitted.
You sir are a big inspiration to me! As someone also born in EE I can very much appreciate your courage and dedication doing a side gig like this. I would say 3500 a month is even a median salary for an IT position in WE. From your resume I take it you still work full time? I wonder if that's even worth it at this point unless you make a lot more from your FTE position. Anyway props!
Thank you for the kind words! I haven’t updated my resume for a while because I don’t have a job anymore and I’m serious about not having to get hired ever again. I’ve written about how I quit my job in March last year and started turning Lunar into a revenue generating project here: https://alinpanaitiu.com/blog/journey-to-ddc-on-m1-macs/ There’s a lot more info in the article that you might not be interested in tho…
I know it's an interesting problem and you probably learned a lot along your way but dont you feel like it was a hard problem to tackle and the ROI is rather low?
Re: Ask HN: Why are you programming your hobby projects in a niche language?
#159Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm guilty of spending hours of paid time laboring over pedantically correct variable and function names. Often, old dictionaries are involved, archaic words...
Are you the person who came up with the "delenda" tables at one of my old jobs?
No, but that's exactly what I'm talking about, and it's made me irrationally joyous to now have that word in my arsenal. "delenda" is perfect! (provided it contains things to be removed)
Re: Ask HN: Why are you programming your hobby projects in a niche language?
#160Earlier quoted context omitted.
Thank you for the kind words! I haven’t updated my resume for a while because I don’t have a job anymore and I’m serious about not having to get hired ever again. I’ve written about how I quit my job in March last year and started turning Lunar into a revenue generating project here: https://alinpanaitiu.com/blog/journey-to-ddc-on-m1-macs/ There’s a lot more info in the article that you might not be interested in tho…
I know it's an interesting problem and you probably learned a lot along your way but dont you feel like it was a hard problem to tackle and the ROI is rather low?
Oh no, not at all!
Sure, dealing with the problems of less knowledgeable users is sometimes annoying, because 99% of the problems stem from non-compliant monitors/hubs/docks etc.
But nowadays I get weeks at a time where I can do 0 work on Lunar and dive into my own curiosities (that's how I got to the idea of lowtechguys.com), or simply go on multi-city long trips with my bike without thinking that I have to ask for time off from a boss.
I don't look forward to being forced into long video calls where my time is simply wasted so that higher-ups can hear me saying "we're working on it".
The ROI is much higher than you think, time is far more valuable than money.