Tech Blog

Building Game Client Simulators: Lessons from Steam-like Interface Design

January 2025

Creating a game client simulator that mimics popular platforms like Steam involves several architectural challenges:

• Core Components: Game library management and metadata storage
• Launch parameter handling: Process management and user customization
• UI state management: Different views (grid, list, details)

Dragon Quest Style RPGs: Modern Takes on Classic Mechanics

July 2025

Working on Wyrm Warrior has taught me about balancing nostalgia with modern game design expectations:

• Turn-based combat: Quality-of-life improvements while maintaining classic feel
• Classic progression: Transparent mechanics that players can understand
• State machines: Battle flow and character progression management

Game Maker Language: Advanced Patterns and Performance

Ongoing

After building multiple games in GML, here are some patterns I've developed for better performance and maintainability:

• Performance Optimizations: Efficient draw calls and memory management
• State Management: Clean patterns for complex game state handling
• Code Organization: Modular approaches for larger projects

Evolving PyMusicGen: From Desktop to Web

June 2025

The journey from PyMusicGen v1 to v3 represents a complete architectural evolution:

• Version 1 (2021): Desktop Python script with basic MIDI generation
• Version 2 (2021): Qt interface with improved algorithms
• Version 3 (2025): Web-based interface with real-time generation

Audio Fidelity Manipulation: Building DeFidelity

November 2024

DeFidelity processes WAV files recursively to create lo-fi versions. The technical challenge was maintaining audio quality while systematically reducing fidelity.

• Batch processing: Directory recursion and automated processing
• Quality parameters: Configurable reduction settings
• Performance: Efficient processing of large audio libraries

Xbox Controller + SNES Audio: The Orchestroller Project

December 2024

Orchestroller bridges modern gaming hardware with retro audio samples, mapping Xbox controller inputs to classic SNES sounds.

• Input handling: GameMaker controller integration
• Audio management: Sample organization and triggering
• Latency optimization: Real-time audio responsiveness

Flask Web Applications: Image Directory Browsing

June 2025

Building a Flask-based image viewer for local directory browsing presented interesting challenges:

• Directory traversal: Recursive navigation and file filtering
• Thumbnail generation: Caching and performance optimization
• Lazy loading: Efficient handling of large image collections

Advanced String Processing: Puncreator's Phonetic Analysis

November 2021

Puncreator generates puns by analyzing both literal letter patterns and phonetic pronunciation:

• Phonetic decomposition: Advanced language processing
• Letter intersection: Pattern matching algorithms
• Pun generation: Quality scoring and ranking systems

PyRPG Mini: CSV-Driven Game Design

Maintained since 2022

One of my most popular projects (65⭐) demonstrates data-driven game development:

• CSV architecture: Game content completely customizable via CSV files
• Non-programmer friendly: Easy content modification without coding
• Localization: Easy translation and content variation

Swift Teleprompter: TextGoUp Insights

May 2025

Building TextGoUp taught me about iOS text handling and display optimization:

• Text rendering: Performance optimization for smooth scrolling
• Interface design: Clean, distraction-free user experience
• Memory management: Efficient handling of large text documents

Google Cloud Insights: From Certification to Practice

Based on ACE certification and cloud experience

My GCP certification and cloud experience provided insights into:

• Architecture patterns: Microservices deployment strategies
• Cost optimization: Efficient resource management
• Migration strategies: On-premise to cloud transitions
• Best practices: Security implementation and monitoring

PNG Processing Automation

July 2025

PNGPaletteSwap automates color palette modifications with batch processing capabilities for efficient image workflow management.

Git Workflow Optimization

December 2022

Created a personal Git cheat sheet after navigating complex workflows with advanced patterns and conflict resolution strategies.

Learning Through Building

Every project teaches something new. My approach:

• Start with a problem: Real needs drive better solutions
• Prototype quickly: Get something working, then iterate
• Document learnings: Knowledge sharing benefits everyone
• Open source when possible: Community improvement

Edge Case Expertise

I'm an "edge-case person" who encounters unusual problems. This perspective helps me:

• Robust error handling: Building for unexpected scenarios
• Unusual use cases: Considering non-standard applications
• Niche solutions: Creating tools for problems others haven't solved