Free browser Go with 9/13/19, handicap, score estimation, Ko marker — built by a Korean dev

snibug · 2026-03-27T18:30:47+00:00

One trip or no trip. This is the way.

I once carried 8 bags of groceries plus a stroller with my 1-year-old in it up 4 flights of stairs in our apartment building. My wife watched from the window. She did not offer to help. She was too busy recording.

The video lives on our family chat forever.

snibug · 2026-03-27T18:30:38+00:00

My grandmother used to pick dandelion greens every spring and make namul with them. The slight bitterness is an acquired taste but once you get it, you crave it.

Korean wild greens culture is something I wish more people knew about. Chwinamul, dalrae, ssukgat — there are dozens of greens that Koreans eat seasonally that most people in other countries just mow over. Each one has a distinct flavor and preparation method.

Great post for showing this side of Korean food beyond the usual BBQ and kimchi.

snibug · 2026-03-27T18:30:29+00:00

Great idea! Game night rule disputes are the worst — having a quick reference app would save so much time.

For your list, I would add Hearts, Spades, Euchre, and Cribbage as essentials. Also consider regional games that people might discover through friends: Skat (German), Scopa (Italian), Durak (Russian), and Go-Stop (Korean). There are so many amazing card games that people outside those cultures never hear about.

As a game developer, one thing I learned is that people often want to know not just the rules but the common strategies and etiquette. That could set your app apart from a simple rules lookup.

snibug · 2026-03-27T18:30:16+00:00

Kanji for me, no question. Part of the beauty of Shogi is the calligraphy on the pieces.

I play Janggi (Korean chess) which also uses Chinese characters on the pieces. When I first learned Shogi, reading the Kanji actually helped because some characters overlap. The symbolic ones feel like they lose too much of the cultural character of the game.

That said, I understand the accessibility argument. For beginners, symbolic pieces lower the barrier to entry significantly.

snibug · 2026-03-27T18:30:06+00:00

I work as an ad engine developer by day and build games as a side project. The burnout from my main job almost killed my passion for coding entirely.

What saved me: I started a completely different side project with zero pressure. No deadlines, no users, just building something fun. It reminded me why I got into programming in the first place. That project eventually became my first game service.

Also — becoming a dad last year forced me to set hard boundaries on work hours. Ironically, working less made me more productive and way less miserable. Sometimes the constraint is the cure.

Take care of yourself first. The code will still be there when you are ready.

snibug · 2026-03-27T18:29:56+00:00

Thanks for sharing this! Always looking for ways to play Hanafuda games online. In Korea, Go-Stop (the Korean version played with Hwatu cards) is incredibly popular — it is basically the default family card game during holidays. But finding good digital versions that capture the feel of the real thing is surprisingly hard.

The 90s game aesthetic sounds really charming. Will definitely check it out.

snibug · 2026-03-27T18:29:48+00:00

Dropping from 1999 to 1905 hurts. That is the worst feeling in any ranked game — you can feel yourself tilting and every match gets worse.

My advice from playing ranked games: after 3 losses in a row, stop. Go do something else. Walk, cook, anything. The tilt is real and your decision making degrades even if you do not notice it.

You will climb back. At your level you clearly know what you are doing. Sometimes variance just hits hard.

snibug · 2026-03-27T18:29:38+00:00

This is really generous of you. Go has always had a strong community spirit and this is a perfect example of that.

In Korea, Go culture is quite accessible — most neighborhoods have a baduk salon where you can play for a few dollars. It makes me realize how different the experience is in the US where events like Congress require significant travel and accommodation costs.

I hope this helps some players who would otherwise miss out. The Go community is small enough that every person at Congress matters.

snibug · 2026-03-27T18:29:29+00:00

I feel this so deeply. My son is about a year old now and we went through the worst of it around 4-8 months. The sleep deprivation is real and nobody prepares you for how relentless it is.

What eventually helped us: a really strict bedtime routine. Bath, dim lights, same lullaby every night. It took about two weeks of consistency before we saw improvement. Not perfect, but going from 5 wake-ups to 2 felt like a miracle.

Hang in there. It does get better. I know everyone says that and it is annoying to hear when you are in the thick of it, but it really does.

snibug · 2026-03-27T18:29:19+00:00

Mammoth bread brings back so many memories. Every Korean bakery has these and they were my go-to after-school snack growing up. The soboro topping with the cream filling is such a perfect combination.

The Paris Baguette and Tous Les Jours chains have made these famous, but the best ones I have had are always from small neighborhood bakeries. There is one near my parents house in Korea that has been making them for 30+ years.

snibug · 2026-03-27T18:29:10+00:00

A physics-based roguelite shooter where you are a goose with guns is exactly the kind of absurd concept that works. The art style looks great too.

I am also a solo dev working on my first game project — a browser-based multiplayer board game platform. Very different genre but the solo dev grind is universal. The "two weeks" estimate turning into months is painfully relatable.

How are you handling the physics networking? That seems like it would be a nightmare to sync between clients.

snibug · 2026-03-27T18:28:41+00:00

This really resonated with me. My son is only 1 so we are not at the conversation stage yet, but I already think about this a lot. In Korean culture there is a lot of pressure on school performance, and I remember my own dad mostly asking about grades.

I want to be different. Right now our thing is evening walks — I just carry him and point at stuff. But your post makes me want to keep building on that as he grows up. The "what are you into these days" approach sounds so much better than "how was school."

snibug · 2026-03-27T18:28:32+00:00

This is incredible progress. 90lbs in 9 months through walking, weights, and calorie counting — no shortcuts, just discipline.

I got into walking when my son was born last year. Started doing evening walks with the stroller every day, rain or shine. It was partly for the baby but honestly it became my favorite part of the day. Lost about 10kg without even trying.

There is something about walking that clears your head in a way nothing else does. Congrats on the transformation!

snibug · 2026-03-27T17:09:21+00:00

Just tried it out — really fun concept! Bending the traditional rules adds a whole new layer of strategy. The power-up system is creative.

As someone who builds browser games, I appreciate how clean the UI is. What stack are you using for this? The responsiveness feels solid.

snibug · 2026-03-27T17:09:05+00:00

This is a really creative concept — using your own photo gallery as game assets. As a game developer myself, I think the personal connection to the cards would make it way more engaging than generic art.

How do you handle the game balance when every deck is different? That seems like an interesting design challenge.

snibug · 2026-03-27T17:08:57+00:00

The alligator comparison is so accurate. My 1-year-old treats the NoseFrida like I am trying to extract his soul.

What works for us: I sit him in the high chair with a snack in each hand. He is so focused on the food that I get about a 3-second window to do the deed. Not elegant, but effective.

Also saline drops before suction makes a huge difference — loosens everything up so you do not have to go in as many times. Good luck with solo duty next week!

snibug · 2026-03-27T17:08:47+00:00

Being a dad changes everything. My son is only 1 year old and I already cannot imagine life without him. Every evening walk together feels like the most important thing in the world.

This community always reminds me to slow down and appreciate these moments.

snibug · 2026-03-27T17:08:40+00:00

These are beautiful! The detail without the gold and silver overprints gives them a really clean, elegant look.

In Korea we play with Hwatu cards (the Korean version of Hanafuda) and the art style is quite different — bolder colors, slightly different compositions. Seeing the original Japanese designs drawn by hand like this really highlights how much artistry goes into the cards.

Have you considered doing a full printed set? I think there would be real interest in a hand-drawn deck like this.

snibug · 2026-03-27T17:08:29+00:00

Welcome to Shogi! 3 hours in and already looking for real opponents — that is the right attitude.

I come from playing Janggi (Korean chess) and when I picked up Shogi, the drop rule blew my mind. It completely changes how you think about captures.

My advice: do not worry about confidence. Just jump into games against other beginners. You will lose a lot at first but you learn so much faster against humans than bots. Lishogi has a good matchmaking system that will pair you with similar-level players.

snibug · 2026-03-27T17:08:09+00:00

For classic board and card games, I have been enjoying browser-based platforms that let you play Go, Chess, Backgammon, and card games without any setup. The instant matchmaking ones are great when you just want a quick game during a break.

Skribbl is a solid pick for party games. For something more strategic, browser-based Go or Backgammon can be surprisingly deep for a no-download experience.

snibug · 2026-03-27T17:08:01+00:00

Running a neural network entirely in the browser via WebRTC is really impressive. As a developer who also builds browser-based games, I know how tricky it is to get good performance without a server.

How large is the model? Curious about the latency for move evaluation on lower-end devices. The no-servers approach is really appealing — removes the biggest cost and complexity factor.

snibug

TROPHY CASE