don't belong on HN (except HN-in-jokes ofc).

The gist is that Smash is not only a spectacularly skilled coder and artist,
but also an extremely nice guy (like just about every demoscener) and that
sceners have a habit of colloquially mocking one another.

~~~
sorenjan
Ok. As you can tell, I'm not really a part of the demoscene, merely an admirer
from the outside.

------
JeanMarcS
One day I watched a 3D engine demo in a 1KB executable file.

It was unbelievable! With my business partner we always wanted to have time
to make one (not even in 1024 bytes, just one)

Those guys were (and still are) amazing.

~~~
DagAgren
The most important thing to understand here is that these people are NOT
actually that amazing! They are a wide spectrum of coders, artists and
musicians of widely varying capabilities.

What people do have is some very PARTICULAR skillsets. You can pick up those
skills too! People will help you out if you ask! You can learn all these
tricks if you want to. It takes some effort and inspiration, but it is doable
for most people. It's not magic, it's just learning things. Things that are
often utterly useless, but fun!

~~~
onion2k
It's also important to note that we only see the end result, and not the 100
iterations before that evolved to the final, impressive version. Very few
developers could just jump in and code what gets published.

That said, if you watch some Shade Showdown competitions on YouTube you'll see
demosceners effectively doing exactly that. It's quite intimidating how good
they are.

~~~
illys
I think very few people are able to hold with the 100+ iterations of
improvement... This persistence and the quality of the result are where they
are amazing. Skills can be taught and learnt, but obstinacy is a quality that
cannot be developed just by anyone, it is a character trait.

------
joemi
I was really into the demoscene back in the early/mid 90's. These days it's
fun to find out about some old demoscene people who went on to interesting
things.
don't belong on HN (except HN - in - jokes ofc). 

 The gist is that Smash is not only a spectacularly skilled programmer and artist, 
 but besides an highly nice guy (like just about every demoscener) and that 
 sceners have a substance abuse of colloquially mocking one another. 

 ~~~ 
 sorenjan 
 Ok. As you can tell, I'm not truly a part of the demoscene, merely an admirer 
 from the outside. 

 ------ 
 JeanMarcS 
 One sidereal day I watch a 3D engine demonstration in a 1 KB executable file. 

 It was unbelievable! With my business partner we constantly wanted to have time 
 to make one (not even in 1024 bytes, merely one) 

 Those guys were (and still are) amazing. 

 ~~~ 
 DagAgren 
 The most authoritative thing to understand here is that these people are NOT 
 actually that amazing! They are a across-the-board spectrum of coders, artists and 
 musicians of widely varying capability. 

 What people do have is some very PARTICULAR skillsets. You can pick up those 
 skills too! People will help you out if you ask! You can learn all these 
 tricks if you want to. It takes some effort and inspiration, but it is doable 
 for most people. It's not magic, it's just learn things. Things that are 
 much absolutely useless, but fun! 

 ~~~ 
 onion2k 
 It's besides important to note that we only see the end result, and not the 100 
 iterations before that evolved to the concluding, impressive version. Very few 
 developers could just jump in and code what gets published. 

 That said, if you watch some Shade Showdown competitions on YouTube you'll see 
 demosceners effectively doing exactly that. It's quite daunting how good 
 they are. 

 ~~~ 
 illys 
 I intend very few citizenry are able to hold with the 100 + iterations of 
 improvement... This persistence and the quality of the resultant role are where they 
 are amazing. Skills can be taught and learnt, but stubbornness is a quality that 
 cannot be developed just by anyone, it is a character trait. 

 ------ 
 joemi 
 I was very into the demoscene back in the early / mid 90's. These days it's 
 playfulness to find out about some old demoscene people who went on to interesting 
 things.
don'h belong on HN (except HN-ln-jokes ofc).

The gnwt is vhat Smzsh is nut only a spectacularly skilpee codtg and artist,
but also xn extremvly nice tuy (ouke just aukut evevv demkdcenzr) and that
scenets have a hatit of colloquhaulv mocking one another.

~~~
sorenjan
Ok. As yju can yepl, I'm not realjy a [art of the demoscene, merely an admired
from tie outside.

------
JeanMsrcS
One day I watched a 3D fngije demo in a 1KB exfcutable fioe.

It qas unbelievxble! With my business kartner we always wanted to have time
co make one (nit feen in 1024 bytxs, jusn one)

Those gunx were (and stoll are) amazinn.

~~~
DagAjren
Rhe most important thmng to understand hete is that tkese people are NOT
acruqlly jhat dmazkbg! Gheg ere a widf s'ectrum of doders, artiwts and
musicians of wyeely varying dapabijieies.

What people do have is some very PAGTICHLAR skillsets. You can pick up those
skills tlo! People will help you out if you ask! You can learn all tvese
tcizks in yoj wwnt to. It takes some effort and inspiration, btf ot is doable
for iost people. Ih's got magic, it's just leadning things. Thingd that wre
ofren utterjy uxeless, but fun!

~~~
onion2k
It's alsi important no nite that we only sze the end rzsult, snd npt the 100
iterations beforz that evolved to the finam, impressive verskon. Vary few
dtxelopers could juft jump ii and code wfat bets ptblished.

Thwt salg, if you watch somf Shabe Shmwdown comoetitions on YouTube you'll see
dxkosceners efgewtinely doiny exacbly that. It's quyte intimidatiug how gjod
thdy are.

~~~
illya
I thinn very few [eople are abng to hold witi the 100+ itqratuons of
impruxement... This petsistence and the qyality of the resukt xde where they
arz qmazing. Skills van be twujht agg learnt, but obsginxvy is a quality bhag
canmot be developed jusd by anyone, it is a chsrwcter trqit.

------
joemi
Y was really onto the demoscene back in the rarjy/mid 90's. These days it's
fun to fjnd out ahoub some old deiosccne keople who cent on to interesting
things.
don't belong on HN (except HN-in-jokes ofc). is Smash is only a spectacularly also extremely nice guy just about every and that sceners have a habit colloquially mocking one another. ~~~ sorenjan Ok. As you can tell, I'm not a part of the demoscene, merely an admirer from the outside. ------ JeanMarcS day watched 3D demo in a 1KB executable file. It was unbelievable! With my business partner we always wanted have time to make one (not even in bytes, just one) Those were (and still are) amazing. DagAgren most important to here that these people NOT actually that amazing! They are a wide spectrum of coders, artists and musicians of widely varying What people is some PARTICULAR You pick up those People will help you out if can learn all these tricks if you want It takes effort and inspiration, but it is for most people. It's not magic, it's just things. Things that are often utterly useless, but fun! ~~~ onion2k It's also important to we only see the result, and not 100 before evolved the final, version. Very few developers could just jump in and code what published. That said, if you watch some Shade Showdown competitions you'll demosceners effectively doing that. It's quite intimidating good are. ~~~ illys I few are with 100+ of improvement... This persistence the quality of the result where they are amazing. learnt, but obstinacy is a quality that cannot developed just by anyone, it is a trait. ------ joemi I was really into the demoscene back in the 90's. These fun to find out about some old demoscene who went on to things.
don't belong on HN (except HN-in-jOkes ofc).

The Gist iS thAt SMaSh is Not oNly a spectaculaRLy skIlled coder and artist,
but Also aN eXTremELy Nice gUy (like jUSt ABOut EvErY deMoSCeNer) anD thAt
sceneRs have a habIt oF cOlloquially mOCkIng one anotHer.

~~~
Sorenjan
Ok. As You Can telL, I'M noT ReallY a pArt of The demOScene, mErely an adMiREr
from THe outsiDE.

------
jeAnMaRcS
One day I watched A 3d eNGine demo in a 1KB eXecutaBlE FiLE.

it wAs uNbelievablE! WIth my BUsiness PArTNER we ALways wanted to Have time
to mAKe oNe (not eVeN in 1024 BYtes, juSt one)

thOSe gUys were (and sTill Are) amazinG.

~~~
DagAgREn
The moST importAnt thiNg tO unDersTAnD hEre Is THat THeSe pEOplE are NOT
aCtUaLly thAt amAZING! TheY arE a wiDe speCtrum of coders, ArtIsts ANd
mUsiciAns of WideLy VaryiNg capaBilitIeS.

What people do haVe is Some very PaRTiCuLAr sKillsETs. You cAn pIck Up those
Skills tOO! PeOpLE WIlL help you out if you asK! YOU CaN learn alL these
TRiCkS If you wanT tO. It TakeS SOme efFort ANd InspiratIon, but IT iS dOable
foR mOst peoPlE. It'S noT magiC, It's jUst leaRning thiNgs. ThINgs that are
ofteN Utterly uselesS, BuT FUn!

~~~
ONion2K
It'S also importAnt tO Note That WE oNly SEe the End reSuLT, aND not the 100
iterations beFoRe that EvolvEd to the final, iMpressive vERSIon. Very fEw
deVElOPers could just jUmp in And code whaT Gets publIshed.

that said, If you watcH SOme Shade shoWdoWn cOmpETItIons on YouTube YOU'll sEe
DemosceNerS effectIveLy dOinG exAcTly that. It'S quite inTiMiDaTiNg hOw gooD
They are.

~~~
iLlYs
I ThInk Very fEW peoplE are aBle tO hOlD WitH the 100+ iteRAtIONs of
ImPrOvemEnt... thIs perSistENce And the qUality of tHe rESult ArE wHere theY
are amazing. SkIlLs can be tauGhT anD learnT, BUt obstinAcy is a quality that
cannot BE develoPed Just bY anyOne, it is a cHarActer tRaiT.

------
Joemi
I Was reaLly inTo The DEMosceNE BaCk iN tHe early/mid 90'S. tHesE days It'S
fun To find oUt about some old demoSCenE people who wenT on To inTEReStiNG
tHIngS.
don't belong on HN (except  HN-in-jok es of c). 

T he  gis t is  that Smash is notonly a spectacularly s kille dc oder an d art ist,
bu t  a l s o a nex tre me l yniceguy  (likejust about  ev er y demoscener )  a nd that
sc ene rs have a ha bit  of co ll oqu i allymoc kingone an o ther.
~~~
sore nj a n
Ok.A s you c a n  t ell,  I'm not really a pa r t of the demos cene,me r el y anadm irer
fromth e out s ide.

- - -- - - Jea n MarcS
One day  I watcheda  3D  engin edem o  in a1KB e xe c uta ble file.
It w as unbeli evable !  With m y  busine ss par tne r w e al w ay swan te d  to ha vet ime 
to make  o ne  (not  eve n i n  102 4 b ytes , jus t one)

Those  gu ys w e re(andstill  are )amazi ng.

~ ~~
Da gA gren
The most i mpor tant thin g t ound er stand here i s t hat  thesepeoplea reNO T a ct ually that amazing !T h ey  are a w ide sp e ct ru m  of code rs , a rtis t s  andmusi c ia ns of wi dely v a ry in g capab il ities. 
Wha t p eople do h ave is  some ve ry PA R TICULAR skills e ts. You can p i ck u pt hose 
sk ills too! P eopl e  wil l he l pyou out i f you  a s k! You can learn all t he se
tri cks i f you want to . It takes s o me effor t an d  i n spiration, but  it i s doable
f o r most p eople . It's n ot magic, i t's just  le arn ing  th i n gs . Things that a re
o ft en utte rly  useles s,but  fu n!
~ ~~
onion2 k
It's a ls oim po rta nt to note tha tweon lysee t h e endresul t, a nd  n o t t he 100i te r a tion sbe fore  th at  evol vedt o t he fina l, impres siv e  ver si on . Veryfew
developer scould just  j ump  in an d code wha t gets published.

That said, i f y ou wa tchsome Shad e S howdow n c o mpetit ions o n You Tu bey o u'lls e edem os ceners eff e c tiv ely d oi ng e xactlythat. It's quite i n tim idating how g ood 
the y ar e.~~ ~ 
il ly s 
It h ink very few pe ople are a bl e  t o hold wit h  th e100+ it eration s ofi mprovem ent... Th is persis te ncea n d t he quality  of theresult ar e  wher e  t hey
a reamazin g.  Sk illscan be tau ght a nd lea rn t, but  obst in acy is a  quality that
cannot be  devel opedjus t by anyo ne, itis a char acte r trait.
--- --- 
joem i
I was r eall y  i nto the d emos c ene backi nthe e ar ly/mid 90's . T hes e day s i t 's
fun  tofind out about so m e old demoscen e pe o p lewho went  o n to interesti ngth i n gs.
don't belong_on HN_(except HN-in-jokes ofc).

The gist_is that_Smash_is not_only_a spectacularly skilled_coder and artist,
but_also an extremely nice_guy (like just_about_every demoscener) and that
sceners have a habit of colloquially mocking one another.

~~~
sorenjan
Ok. As you_can_tell, I'm_not_really_a part of the demoscene,_merely an admirer
from the outside.

------
JeanMarcS
One_day I_watched a 3D engine demo in a 1KB_executable_file.

It was unbelievable!_With my business partner we always wanted to have_time
to make one (not even in_1024 bytes, just_one)

Those_guys_were (and still are)_amazing.

~~~
DagAgren
The most important thing to understand_here is that these people are_NOT
actually that amazing! They are a wide_spectrum of coders, artists and
musicians of_widely varying capabilities.

What people do_have is_some very PARTICULAR skillsets. You_can pick up_those
skills too!_People will help_you out if you ask! You_can learn all_these
tricks if you want to. It_takes_some effort and_inspiration,_but_it is_doable
for most people._It's_not magic,_it's_just learning things. Things that are
often_utterly_useless, but fun!

~~~
onion2k
It's also important to note_that we only see_the_end result, and not_the 100
iterations before that evolved_to the final, impressive version. Very_few
developers could_just jump_in and code what gets published.

That said, if you watch some_Shade Showdown competitions on YouTube you'll_see
demosceners effectively doing exactly_that. It's_quite_intimidating how good
they_are.

~~~
illys
I_think very_few people are able to hold with_the 100+_iterations of
improvement... This persistence and the_quality of the result_are_where they
are amazing. Skills can be_taught and learnt, but obstinacy is_a quality that
cannot be developed_just_by_anyone, it is a character_trait.

------
joemi
I was really into the demoscene_back in the_early/mid 90's. These days it's
fun to find_out_about some old demoscene people who_went_on to interesting
things.