Category Archives: Uncategorized

This is a followup to my previous post on setting up big files on GCP. I ran into similar problems with Python as I did with static files, but my solution was a bit different. The right wayTM of running Python on GCP seems to be via a docker container. However, adding a virtual environmentContinue reading “How to set up Python on Compute Engine”

I’ve been working with some large models recently and, as a Docker beginner, shoved them all into my Docker image. This worked… sort of… until docker push started trying to upload 20GB of data. Google Cloud doesn’t seem to support service keys for docker auth (even though they claim to! not that I’m bitter), soContinue reading “How to get big files into Compute Engine”

Disclaimer: GV is an investor in Warp. Whenever I start a new Python project, I have to go look up the syntax for creating a virtual environment. Somehow it can never stick in my brain, but it seems too trivial to add a script for. I’ve been using Warp as my main shell for aContinue reading “Using Warp workflows to make the shell easier”

When I was a kid, I went to a tag sale “for kids, by kids” where kids sold their junk/toys to other kids. I was wandering around and saw a shoebox filled to the brim with marbles. I went over and there was a sign on the box that said, “25 cents/marble”. “How much forContinue reading “Why market cap is dumb”

I’ve been thinking a lot about construction. Taking a very specific part of the process, building the staircase: you find a carpenter and they build the staircase to your measurements. Generally your contractor will find someone with decent experience that they think will do a good job for whatever price you’re willing to pay andContinue reading “Shoulders of Giants”

When I’ve talked to people who’ve attempted to make meme tools, they say that search is a really hard problem. This sort of makes sense: one person might search “communism”, another “bugs bunny”, and another “we” trying to get this image template: I was thinking about it today, though, and you know what? All ofContinue reading “5-minute design: meme generator”

I’ve been using GitHub Copilot for Unity development and it is incredible. It has saved me from tons of bugs, speeded up my work by 2x, and even taught me a lot of C# (which Unity uses and I haven’t used before). How does it work? You install it as a VS Code extension andContinue reading “A review of GitHub Copilot”

Unity has a simple, easy-to-use 2D text option under UI->Legacy->Text. However, this puts a text element on the weird ethereal Canvas that UI stuff sits on, which is probably not what you want (or at least not what I want). I want my text to be nested in other sprites in my scene. To doContinue reading “Using TextMeshPro in a 2D Unity game”

Let’s say there’s a nice house, around 100 years old, on a street. It’s been well-maintained and had normal renovations done over time to keep it comfortable and practical to live in (electrics upgrades, HVAC improvements, new roof when necessary, etc.). Now, suppose an inventor buys the empty lot next door. This inventor loves theContinue reading “A YIMBY’s Modest Proposal”

Last night I was walking Domino and a woman passed us pulling a wagon of obviously-just-bought stuff from Home Depot. A guy behind her leaned down to adjust one of the items and I thought “Oh, I guess they’re together.” Then he picked it up, did a 180, and started walking away. I realized whatContinue reading “A personal anecdote: hot wheels”