Andrew Wooldridge ⛰️I hope mastodon is big enough that I can say I'm having a blast creating all the web games I wanted to do years ago but never had time. I'm a 50+ veteran web developer who is taking all my skills as a webdev and applying them to Claude Code and making fun web games now every week.
bug // june@triptych If you have 50+ years just write the damn code? wtf?
@bug I could if I wanted to waste a whole weekend fiddling with things I already know. Instead I get to the fun. I review and carefully evaluate the code. But its just to learn about making games and becoming accustomed to working with ai to build more than just a tech demo. Ive "just wrote the code" for 24 years. It was always a means to an end.
That's what really defines the debate here. Folks who feel if you aren't typing out every function yourself you are a poser, and other who just want the outcomes like great UI or something fun. I literally wrote a book on Javascript and I love the language but if ai lets me create a full app / game in a weekend then I can use that saved time to spend with my family or work on something artistic or do chores
@triptych I see, sorry I was a bit rude. But this is really important. If you don't understand yet, AI services are harpoons used to steal all work from all of us. We need to retain the rights to our existence as artists, i.e. human beings.
It's a long fight and you can help. Don't use AI. Use a library. Here's an HTML5 2D animation API. It's got lots of examples too.
Here's an engine that has good principles.
Best of luck
@triptych "but if ai lets me create a full app / game in a weekend then I can use that saved time to spend with my family or work on something artistic or do chores"
Coding is artistic. I get that you're burned out though, so I would recommend you do something off-screen! I took up jewelry-making, it's equally logical and creative as coding. Plus it's just fun. I also did some carving or sketching but yeah. Using AI to code is like using AI to paint. Not creative. Just slop.
On a lighter note!
The relief you feel using that tool is just fine. I mean, I did the same things a few years ago. It's also a massively dangerous weapon that is, has been, and would be used for genocide. But it's not going to be anymore, since that's not true nor down to earth. And the truth is we're all human, so yeah...
I feel your relief at it. That's cool but also reading API docs might be just as healing? Reconnect! :D I'm proud of you too :) Amazing career you had!
@bug thanks for taking the time to respond, to be honest I'm taking on a more analog lifestyle. Buying real books, getting CD instead of streaming. I killed my Netflix and Spotify accounts and go for actually paying artists for their work instead of the middlemen. I think federated systems and coops are the future. I am already using an excellent game engine called Kaplay. I recommend you try it out.
I am also fervently against using frameworks like React and Tailwind - they are just artificial shortcuts to the native apis that add bloat to any website. It is Ironic I think that I can get all the effects I want with native code via using Claude Sonnet to help me so I guess I'm just going to fail one way or the other.
I appreciate your comments and I wish you well.
@triptych Thanks you too!
Also hey, I do a bit of coding and pixel art or drawing. I saw your bio says you like to write too, so maybe we could do a game jam sometime! :)
Nothing too serious, but it might be fun. Even done casually, no schedule or format, I like that sort of thing. Feels like wood-carving to me.
@bug yeah there's a lot of game jams on itch.io we should see when one comes up that looks fun
bcace@triptych @bug "That's what really defines the debate here. Folks who feel if you aren't typing out every function yourself you are a poser" I feel like this can be a bit more nuanced - I enjoy typing out things myself because i eliminated as much boilerplate as possible and what remains is mostly learning by doing