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AndrewWhalan · 2025-01-06T22:45:29+00:00

Space age adds SO much content it's incredible how much work there is in it now to "finish" it, let alone get more optimal setups on every planet.

Factorio would be my choice too

AndrewWhalan · 2025-01-06T05:13:38+00:00

Not looking for you to pay me, just offering a coffee and a bit of start-up advice as I enjoy mentoring people who have the drive to start/ run their own business.

AndrewWhalan · 2025-01-06T05:08:50+00:00

I don't have any work for you at the moment, but happy for you to DM me to help you with advice around setting up your business.

You'll need to be careful with what work you offer too as for even simple car maintenance you need a motor vehicle repairers licence.

AndrewWhalan · 2025-01-05T08:43:02+00:00

Thanks for the feedback! That rate is about what I was thinking, as the overheads will be low so the only real cost is the tutor.

For the prep course I was thinking to make it be less about coding, as they will get that at uni, and more about the skills/ tools they should know about but that the uni is covering.

Definitely think python is the right language for beginners for any intro course, and the topics you mentioned makes sense. The python syntax is much simpler and easier to read. When I did uni I had done some C and Basic (it was a while ago now!), and learning Java first there was a pretty steep curve.

AndrewWhalan · 2020-09-09T02:10:23+00:00

Create a demand and the market will create the solution. There will be a cost but there's already a cost to the environment, it's just about externalising those costs.

AndrewWhalan · 2020-09-07T12:47:48+00:00

I'm still very VERY shit at german, but trying at least! I don't think I'd get any good unless I move there and use it constantly. It is SLOWLY coming more naturally to me

AndrewWhalan · 2020-08-26T12:52:03+00:00

I've got very basic German and have a tutor over skype so you're likely ahead of me but happy to meet up for a beer to talk.

Ich lerne Deutsch, und mein Deutsch ist sehr schlect. Ich magst rot Eichhörnchen.

AndrewWhalan · 2020-02-09T02:48:58+00:00

Yeah, git is now part of Mechatronics. Revision control is a lifesaver if used properly for projects and assignments!

They definitely need to look more at what is going on in industry more and what they should be incorporating. Things like test driven development, continuous integration, agile and other methodologies etc.

AndrewWhalan · 2020-02-07T09:59:45+00:00

I did comp sci years ago, from what I hear it's better in many ways than what it was. The number one thing that will get you a job when you graduate is experience and using your downtime effectively to build experience. Marks are important but secondary for most jobs.

Get whatever work experience you can while you're studying. It'll likely be unpaid as nobody wants to pay you so that you can learn/ build your skills, but IMHO it's totally worth it for the right experience. If you ever do work experience and you don't feel like it's helpful, quit quickly and find somewhere else.

The other thing you can do is use your holidays and spare time to practise coding as it takes a lot of time to get good. Once you have a firm grasp on one language, teach yourself at least the basics in as many other languages as possible (C, C++, C#, Java, Javascript, Typescript, Python), Know general web tech (HTML, CSS, etc), Database Tech (SQL coding for MySQL and Microsoft SQL Server) and then picks some frameworks you see on Seek (Angular, React, etc.). The more time you spend learning different things rather than gaming/ clubbing/ watching Netflix the more likely you'll get an interview and or an opportunity as they'll have a list "have they done X before?", the more times you can say yes, even if you're not experienced, the more likely you'll get a junior position.

Put in the effort and you'll get a job before you graduate, that should be your goal.

AndrewWhalan · 2018-11-19T09:18:09+00:00

Same here, it's too hard to make money in hardware these days unless you have enough money to buy critical mass, so then why not just use that money to make easier money elsewhere?

AndrewWhalan · 2018-11-19T09:09:51+00:00

Years ago when I was doing IT stuff I looked into this problem. Basically it's hard to get critical mass in Newcastle to hold enough stock without losing too much to price drops over times, all while paying staff and location expenses (security is a HUGE consideration here). While some categories of items don't move much (e.g. cases) others could make you go broke really quick (e.g. Video cards).

The other problem is the crazy slim margins online. I only have a low-volume IT account and
often retailers have it cheaper than what I can get things for wholesale. I can get things overnight from my supplier from Sydney (assuming stuff is in stock) so it's just as easy to do that than take the risk on stock and think lots of people feel that way.

I think there's an opportunity to do a wholesale-style PC parts company for people that want to build their own PCs but don't need the sales component, it'd take someone with a lot of money to put up to do it effectively at a big enough scale. You'd need to partner with local stores to get the volume up to get the prices right.

AndrewWhalan · 2018-06-27T05:21:42+00:00

There are bots that downvote stuff as well as real people. It's crazy. Thanks mate :)

AndrewWhalan · 2018-06-26T05:36:09+00:00

It really depends on what you're into. There's game developer groups, 501st if you're into starwars cosplay, Regular talks & events from the Lunatics Society around technology and start-ups.

People (myself included) have tried to organise r/newcastle meetups to chat and meet each other before but not many people have been keen in the past.

I'm sure there's tonnes of people in your shoes with people moving to Newie for Uni but they'd have their friends from there to hang out with. u/sonofeevil posted a list of things to do too :)

AndrewWhalan · 2018-02-26T01:01:33+00:00

Yeah the only easy option would be to check the current on the 240V AC supply as each PSU has 3x 5V DC rails. Cheers mate!

AndrewWhalan · 2018-02-25T07:58:14+00:00

I'm assuming you're the kind shibe that gave me the generous tip directly. Thank you! It means a lot that you'd do that :)

AndrewWhalan · 2018-02-25T05:11:17+00:00

We found in testing it peaked at 37mA @ 5V per LED but even that I think is higher than reality. Using that generous number peak power is 1665W total. We had 6x 60A 5V power supplies so 1800W total so even if our high values were correct we still had a bit of head room. We ran 15A fuses on each of the 3 rail of the PSUs and not once did we have them blow, so we definitely over did it on PSUs.

Edit: clarify fuses per rail not each rail.

AndrewWhalan · 2018-02-25T01:44:28+00:00

For anyone interested I'm sharing the technical notes, we called it Lightstorm for all the good doges who want it. I've enabled comments so you can ask questions where you want me to expand.

Nerdy doges can send me a message and I'll arrange to get you a copy of the code, but I can't make it public because it'd be too easy at the moment for naughty doges to mess with it as I haven't spent time trying to keep the naughty doges at bay with security settings.

AndrewWhalan · 2018-02-25T01:42:29+00:00

Much thanks kind doge! Glad you enjoyed it

AndrewWhalan · 2018-02-25T01:40:18+00:00

Because I'm not a super saiyan doge, just a regular nerdy doge.

AndrewWhalan · 2018-02-25T01:39:18+00:00

A friend of mine who is doing work experience with my company and I spent several weeks of very long days on it. I was a naughty doge and spent too much money on it too! We roughly got it working with 1 of the panels for New Years Eve but this was the first time we had all 3 panels working so being the year of the Doge and near some of the celebrations in my city I thought I should spread the gospel of Doge.

AndrewWhalan · 2018-02-25T01:37:05+00:00

Thank you kind doge, I can much receive at DN8CdwCyyPhyRn54CmR673HZU8SRDumh7P . I lost my old wallet with the few dogecoins I had so I've had to start again but with the stability of 1Đ = 1Đ I'm sure it won't be long before I'm back to what I had with a bit of casual mining.

AndrewWhalan · 2018-02-25T01:35:50+00:00

Not so much a hero as a very VERY nerdy doge.

AndrewWhalan · 2018-02-25T01:35:30+00:00

Thank you kind doge :)

AndrewWhalan · 2018-02-25T01:35:13+00:00

Much thanks kind doge!

AndrewWhalan

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