Some years ago I asked myself: what if we could somehow statically compile Ruby? The first idea that came up was to type methods as use you them. I prototyped something and then gave a small talk about it at Manas. Juan and Brian really liked it but the code wasn’t very good so we started almost from scratch (just reusing the lexer and parser) and then began the fun process of creating a new language.
I recently had a baby so I have less time to code in and for Crystal, but my passion is still the same
In my free time I enjoy playing video games (hence my nickname), many times with my wife, mainly puzzle games (like The Witness, Talos Principle, Antichamber, Braid, etc.), platformers, rogue-likes, metroidvanias and many other genres. I’m currently playing Stephen’s Sausage Roll, The Messenger and Undertale. I also used to play a bit more the guitar and piano but now I’m rusted.
Really interested in how you got involved in programming and the computer field. Did you just grow up around computers since you were little and slowly learned stuff yourself, or did you major in something specific at a university? If so for how long? Also kind of interested in Juan and Brian’s background as well.
So, when I was little I played video games too, I think I had a Sega Master System and also a Commodore. I don’t think I programmed back then.
A bit forward my uncle gave me an Amiga (can’t remember which one) and apart from all the games and tools there was a program called “Div” with which you could create games. It was really nice, you could create the sprites right there and I think each entity had a logic associated to it, probably similar to Unity right now but much more primitive. I think that was the first time I programmed, without realizing it was programming. I just did some clones of known games, but I had one original game called “fruits” which my father eventually deleted by accident :-(
Eventually I decided to learn Computer Science at university, I almost majored (it’s funny to know that “Language Theory” was almost the only subject missing for me to end it, besides the master thesis). At the same time I was studying I joined some work companies, eventually landing in Manas and staying there for about 10 years, and I still go there from time to time to visit, it’s such a wonderful place.
I recently tried going back to creating games using Love (Lua), trying to re-create “fruits” but for some reason I always get distracted with other stuff.
Oh, I forgot to mention that I also enjoy learning human languages, I’m currently learning Japanese but I also know Esperanto and French.
