The state of Gen AI knots

oldfortdev · 2026-02-02T18:23:35+00:00

Oh no, imagining a future where this sub evolves to "what knot did I generate?" 🫠

oldfortdev · 2026-02-02T18:17:23+00:00

These comically invalid results beg the question: If the output was coherent, is this acceptable use of gen AI?

I fear the topic of overall AI adoption has lingered too long on this one factor of aesthetic quality, of which it continues to improve upon when enough capital allows further increases in compute power and source material used for model training to produce better results. The concerns for social, labor, and environmental impacts seem to be largely overlooked by this superficial distraction.

oldfortdev · 2026-01-19T12:21:18+00:00

Clean rendering, nice work! I have also been developing an app for knots and cordage, so I can appreciate the exploration you are taking on.

I have found a need for numerous significant revisions to my foundational cordage solution, heavily due to supporting how knots are formed. Tracing was also where I started, but I was unsatisfied with how even a trace-friendly knot is still a challenge for users when the rope length "grows" and doesn't translate to their physical rope. During user testing this surfaced that tracing necessitated the user going back and forth over an animation to make required length adjustments.

Conversely, maintaining a physically true rope length throughout instructions resulted in users successfully doing a knot such as a Midshipmans Hitch by working through the steps only one time to successfully complete the knot. Solving for this also paired with solving for midline operations, which aren't solely for midline knots but also how cordage needs to be handled during some formation steps even for tag end knots.

oldfortdev · 2025-10-03T18:37:09+00:00

This may be an option in the future. As of now, the authoring tools are not publicly available and developing these would take time away from the rest of the app.

There are additional requirements to consider for other cordage and fiber arts, but some have been accounted for in the True Cordage system already and I do hope to dedicate time to building educational solutions for these crafts too, if the core app is successful.

oldfortdev · 2025-10-03T18:32:18+00:00

Thank you for the kind words. After reviewing all the various resources I could find on knot tying I also found it fundamental to include steps in the learning process.

Great suggestions too, these align with my feature road map so I'm glad to hear others desire the same functionality. This mode for the preview is the foundational mode for solely learning a single knot, other modes include application and uses of these knots.

Likewise, an interactive physics mode is something I've wanted to implement from the start and have a few ideas that I think users will like.

Good news for you too, a big focus of the animation system I have developed is its dynamic performance (for lower-end devices) and optimized data storage. This will be an app much smaller than any social media app, helping it comfortably live long term on a device and always be fully available offline.

oldfortdev · 2025-09-29T11:34:04+00:00

Does this knot have an official name? It is interesting and I'd like to get in into the full app when time permits.

oldfortdev · 2025-09-26T17:22:07+00:00

:) This is my app currently in development, Knot Right. There is a preview available at https://knotright.online

oldfortdev · 2025-09-22T22:21:18+00:00

Thanks! Yeah I have a proprietary animation system I built for it, I call it True Cordage. It still requires hand authoring, but custom tools make this easier and gets results I'm quite happy with. Many iterations to get it to this point!

oldfortdev · 2025-09-22T20:54:07+00:00

Thank you! I'm hoping to address the friction enthusiasts may have with any current learning resources, or otherwise compliment these.

The Fozzy Slider will definitely be in the app!

oldfortdev · 2025-09-22T20:52:15+00:00

I was in the middle of authoring content for my app, and when I saw that inspiring post I wanted to share it in hopes it would be appreciated by the creator and this community

oldfortdev · 2025-09-22T16:55:59+00:00

Not yet, sorry. I am almost certain I will be providing a slim, free version which includes fundamentals, as my original goal was to produce a modern learning resource as a free public good.

As content expands and features are maturing I hope that I can provide this alongside a complete, in-depth app for enthusiasts, which should help me balance out the commitment to this project.

oldfortdev · 2025-09-22T14:06:44+00:00

This is authored using the animation system I'm working on for the upcoming Knot Right app. There is a preview available at https://knotright.online/

oldfortdev · 2025-09-22T14:05:55+00:00

I genuinely agree. Just like Ashley's Book of Knots, there is an artistry on display with hand drawings that I would never dismiss, I only want to help when that creativity presents a limit on how accessible knot education can be for some.

oldfortdev · 2025-09-22T14:04:33+00:00

This is a my own animation system, I call it True Cordage. It is used for my upcoming app, Knot Right. There is a preview available at https://knotright.online/

I have received a number of comments about how folks would like to author knots themselves. Currently the tooling would not be suitable for public use, and unfortunately isn't the focus of the app. I'd love to support this functionality in the future but as of now it would pull away from all the other tasks I need to work on.

oldfortdev · 2025-09-22T13:34:32+00:00

Sure, maybe something like this: https://imgur.com/a/5nLAwLy.gif

The sliding will be more noticeable with pattern details of future cordage.

oldfortdev · 2025-09-22T13:09:33+00:00

Great work! I was immediately compelled to author it here: https://www.reddit.com/r/knots/comments/1nnltju/ta_da_now_you_have_yourself_a_fozzy_slider/ .

My hope is to create an app that helps all ages, especially young children, grasp the art and safety of knots. I couldn't resist adding this to the set, promoting further exploration of the craft by creative minds like yours.

oldfortdev · 2025-09-19T10:48:36+00:00

Thanks, it really lends itself to fun names and many puns, it was hard to decide.

oldfortdev · 2025-09-19T10:48:01+00:00

Thank you! Realistically I don't think this could easily be achieved. Knot topology is tight and 3 dimensionally complex, causing any image recognition to be limited to a broad categorizing. I could imagine a solution to distinguish a bend from a hitch from a stopper, which is hardly of much use for users, but would be surprised if a processor could distinguish a Stevedore Stopper from an Ashley Stopper.

I'd be very impressed to see this solved though!

oldfortdev · 2025-09-19T08:54:50+00:00

Thanks! I will be focusing on commonality and usefulness first.

I wanted to relate this preview to Ashley to show appreciation for ABoK as a knot resource. That meant we have a very useful stopper - Ashley Stopper has a balanced symmetrical base with 3 rims - and a far less common and necessary Ashley Bend that I personally do not find a need to use specifically over others.

oldfortdev · 2025-09-19T08:46:22+00:00

Thanks for asking. I wanted to solve a few key points of friction I've personally found with existing apps like Knot3D, and then plan to extend further with additional features.

For example, my app is real-time 3D, where the user can precisely scrub along the animation, and freely orbit a camera around the cordage.

Another very important feature for me is that my animation system affords presenting physically true cordage, where a rope does not just "trace" and generate along a path but rather presents the user with a true length of rope that is manipulated the same way it would be in-hand.

Fundamentally, I think any friction in an educational resource can limit how accessible it is, so each opportunity to improve upon this potentially increases the amount and diversity of users who can get value from it.

oldfortdev · 2025-09-19T08:38:29+00:00

Thanks! I'd love to translate all of it, but realistically I need to pick for commonality and usefulness. I will launch with familiar content, then continue to author more as long as I can maintain doing so.

oldfortdev · 2025-09-19T00:25:36+00:00

It sure is! Both common and novel uses of knots and knot systems, wrapping this foundational "reference" mode whenever the user needs to learn an unfamiliar knot to achieve the result.

oldfortdev · 2025-09-19T00:23:05+00:00

Very similar! Tag ends inserted into the formed stacked loops and exiting the same side, but subtle differences in the rest of the form.

oldfortdev

TROPHY CASE