I ditched Docker for Podman (codesmash.dev)

This article was such a cool trip down memory lane, and as an old-timer that hasn’t looked at this stuff since the early 90s (mode13h anyone?) I am so happy to see how strong the scene is today.

ErneX · 4h ago

His live set demo is pretty neat

https://youtu.be/3lOptjAeA2w

Repo: https://github.com/0b5vr/0mix

skrebbel · 4h ago

Just to clarify for readers who didn't read the interview, not a live set, it’s a 64kb demo that looks and feels like a recording of a livecoding competition. So “live set demo” is technically correct because it’s a “live set” themed demo. But it’s not actually a live set :-)

genezeta · 40s ago

I don't know why the sibling comment was so harshly downvoted. I mean, it is a valid concern, if one doesn't know.

So, for slickytail and anyone who has the same question:

The code is actually compressed into a binary blob. You can see it if you just look at the source of https://0b5vr.com/0mix/0mix.html

A small script loads the blob and uncompresses it before running it through eval:

  fetch("#").then(t=>t.blob()).then(t=>new Response(t.slice(156).stream().pipeThrough(new DecompressionStream("deflate"))).text()).then(eval)

This is a common approach in browser demos and is counted as "less than 64Kb" is that final html. A similar technique compresses it into a PNG.

slickytail · 1h ago

In what sense is this 64KB? Clearly there's more than 64KB of code in the repo. And since it's typescript it's not like there's a binary that could be 64KB.

carra · 3h ago

Mode 13H was pretty nice. But mode 13X, hacked to have square pixels, was the coolest!

thibaut_barrere · 2h ago

Mode X allowed pretty cool stuff, like fake true color with interlaced lines (R,G,B), double buffering etc!

Fond memories.

Here is a YouTube rendition of a demo I implemented in 96, showing those techniques https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=t8o-uuq73UU&pp=ygUQTmlra2kgaml...

Prime_Axiom · 4h ago

I really enjoyed the interview, and I definitely resonate with the art being free from so called “value” as an asset, truly a pure from of artistic creation and expression. I am curious to know more about the scene and it sounds like they would be welcoming to n00bs, you guys recommend any upcoming live events to keep track of?

GuB-42 · 1h ago

https://www.demoparty.net/

The biggest pure demoscene event is Revision in Saarbrücken, Germany. The 2026 edition has yet to be announced, but it is always during the Easter week-end. They have a dedicated newbie corner if you are interested https://2025.revision-party.net/about/newcomers/

velo_aprx · 2h ago

Nice to see Setsukos blog here on hackernews! She has done a lot of great interviews with sceners over the years you should check out.

I met her once at Tokyo Demofest, and I still feel bad about making her try the Swedish licorice I had brought... :)

ChrisArchitect · 4h ago

Warms my heart when they mention his 'discography' and it's a link to pouet.net, one of the various scene.org sites been around forever and still going. Having any kind of documentation/archives of a subculture's history, especially from around that time when digital things just disappear, is great to see.

fnord77 · 1h ago

I always found Demoscene to be a curious phenomena. A combination of fascination and not understanding the point.

Seems to be mostly a European thing, too.

badpun · 1h ago

They're talented hobbyists who are not interested in monetizing their passion. Such people exist in US too, although perhaps are more rare.