[HN Gopher] The Nature of Code (2nd Edition)
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The Nature of Code (2nd Edition)
Author : skilled
Score : 212 points
Date : 2024-05-01 09:15 UTC (2 days ago)
(HTM) web link (natureofcode.com)
(TXT) w3m dump (natureofcode.com)
| skilled wrote:
| As per this tweet[0], the 2nd edition was finished on April 20th,
| 2024. There's a GitHub repo[1], and there have been a few HN
| discussions over the years[2] (dating back to 2014 (book was
| released in 2012)), but none that had discussion above ~30
| comments.
|
| [0]: https://twitter.com/shiffman/status/1781689870466916655
|
| [1]: https://github.com/nature-of-code/noc-book-2
|
| [2]:
| https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&que...
| pvg wrote:
| A formatted list of previouslies
|
| https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35703711
| BigAlan09 wrote:
| My final year dissertation focused on Genetic Algorithms, where I
| implemented an ecosystem of herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores
| (referred to as "blobs," similar to those described in this
| book). The title of the paper was "Simulating Adaptation by
| Natural Selection Using Genetic Algorithms." It was a really fun
| project, and I learned a great deal from it. This book would have
| been handy at the time, as the only resources I had were Craig
| Reynolds's Boids. I conducted my research and simulation back in
| 2009. One day, I will attempt the simulation again, utilizing the
| knowledge from this book, particularly the neural networks to
| give the blobs a "brain," and the experience I have gained since
| then. You've got yourself a buyer!
| jasonb05 wrote:
| Love it!
|
| I built a similar alife simulation but as a Quake 2 mod using
| the monsters as the agents and plants and stuff with neural
| nets and genetic algorithms. My piece was titled "Ecosystem:
| Constructing a simple self-perpetuating society of adaptable
| agents" [1].
|
| This was 2003, not for school but for fun. I submitted it for
| an ai writing comp on ai-depot.com but the comp failed for lack
| of entries. I have some pics on a repo backup of the project
| [2].
|
| Agreed, "nature of code" looks like fun!
|
| [1]:
| https://web.archive.org/web/20080624004102/http://www.ict.sw...
|
| [2]:
| https://github.com/Jason2Brownlee/HumanDebrisArchive?tab=rea...
| sweetheart wrote:
| The first edition of this book played such a huge role in me
| learning to program, and thus set the stage for (likely) the rest
| of my life. Daniel Shiffman has probably had that influence on
| many, many, many people. To this day, I recommend p5.js as a
| starting place for learning programming, and then picking up The
| Nature of Code once all the basics make sense and the newly-
| minted programmer is ready for some bigger challenges.
|
| Very excited to own a physical copy of this new edition to always
| warmly look back on! :)
| alabhyajindal wrote:
| Any thoughts on what role creative coding plays in the overall
| software engineering field? Is it done for recreation and art?
| Do people use it to create and sell products as well?
|
| I love watching and working through The Coding Train videos!
| One reason why I haven't gone deep into creative coding is I
| don't know where I'll use it.
| simulo wrote:
| I guess mainly recreation and, particularly, teaching.
| ingenieros wrote:
| Google has a Creative Lab which employs a handful of creative
| coders who primarily work with emerging tech on experimental
| projects. They also offer a one year paid fellowship to young
| grads to join their labs in either NY or London:
| https://www.creativelab5.com/
|
| Creative coding is everywhere these days. From the parametric
| architecture of Zaha Hadid and MAD architects to procedurally
| generated furniture designs and jewelry. https://n-e-r-v-o-
| u-s.com/projects/
| sweetheart wrote:
| I use it for making art! Specifically static, 2D "paintings"
| relaxing wrote:
| Designing and building effective data visualizations is a
| pretty large practical application.
| doctorhandshake wrote:
| While I don't use the term, it's applicable to what I do as a
| career. I like to say I make installations, objects, and
| experiences with complex inner lives. Sometimes I add the
| word 'digital' in there. Many who do what I do describe
| themselves as 'creative technologists' because code is but
| one part alongside experience design, art direction,
| fabrication, systems design, and electrical engineering.
| simulo wrote:
| I read his "learning processing" many years ago. It was the
| book that made programming made sense to me. The explanations
| are excellent, the outcomes interesting and it helped me to see
| why object orientation makes sense after fruitless attempts of
| understanding it using examples of different types of cars that
| print "wrooom wroom" to the terminal.
| polytely wrote:
| Loved the first edition of this book and am also a big fan of the
| youtube channel of the author, the Coding Train.
|
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7IGZTjC008
| Nekorosu wrote:
| The second edition of one of the best books at the crossroads of
| art-making and coding!
| liendolucas wrote:
| The challenges videos from The Coding Train are super
| entertaining to watch. It all feels like a joke, having Daniel
| Shiffman performing all sorts of hilarius acts and explanations.
| By the end of a video you have not only laughed all along but
| most importantly you have learnt something interesting in a
| simple and entertaining way. I would love to purchase the CHOO-
| CHOO flute that Mr. Shiffman sounds from time to time (if
| engraved with the coding train logo, better) but unfortunately is
| not available for purchase in their online store.
| deigan wrote:
| Glad to see it's done.
|
| As a philosopher with only a bit of programming background (and
| previously no javascript), this was very helpful for getting some
| simulations online in a format easy for my students and others to
| play around with:
|
| https://mikedeigan.com/the-cursor/posts/2022/skyrmsian-signa...
| j0hnyl wrote:
| What is new in the 2nd edition?
| philomathdan wrote:
| Just glancing through it, it looks like the 2nd edition uses
| p5.js instead of Processing, and there's an additional chapter
| entitled "Neuroevolution."
| rancevent wrote:
| I read this book when I was in high school and it played a major
| role in shaping my interests in programming and math. Highly
| recommend it.
| who-shot-jr wrote:
| Daniel Shiffman is a legend! love his teaching style.
| surajama wrote:
| The first edition was absolutely critical in helping me
| understand how to program anything more than simple scripts. I
| got hooked into the physics simulation portion and created a
| pretty fun Asteroids-inspired game.
|
| Although OOP is going out of style, I think learning it is super
| important to understand how you can use layers of abstraction to
| build increasingly complex programs.
| atum47 wrote:
| I've learned so much from watching Daniel's videos on YouTube.
| They are also very entertaining. Always featuring a cool
| algorithm that you usually don't know exists. Great work!
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