Nathan Hoobler
@nathanhoobler.bsky.social
Pixel Pusher and Digital Illusionist
@ Nvidia
All opinions my own
@ Nvidia
All opinions my own
Reposted by Nathan Hoobler
While working on spark.js, I realized that common normal map compression formats weren’t supported in popular frameworks like three.js. I added the necessary support to three.js and wrote an article to shed some light on the topic:
ludicon.com/castano/blog...
#webgpu #webgl #threejs #sparkjs
ludicon.com/castano/blog...
#webgpu #webgl #threejs #sparkjs
Normal Map Compression Revisited – Ignacio Castaño
www.ludicon.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:04 AM
While working on spark.js, I realized that common normal map compression formats weren’t supported in popular frameworks like three.js. I added the necessary support to three.js and wrote an article to shed some light on the topic:
ludicon.com/castano/blog...
#webgpu #webgl #threejs #sparkjs
ludicon.com/castano/blog...
#webgpu #webgl #threejs #sparkjs
Reposted by Nathan Hoobler
This feels like the texturing version of spinning around my model.
Playing with carve groups in @marmoset3d.bsky.social to get grey metalness values through intermediate oxidation.
Playing with carve groups in @marmoset3d.bsky.social to get grey metalness values through intermediate oxidation.
February 4, 2026 at 12:14 AM
This feels like the texturing version of spinning around my model.
Playing with carve groups in @marmoset3d.bsky.social to get grey metalness values through intermediate oxidation.
Playing with carve groups in @marmoset3d.bsky.social to get grey metalness values through intermediate oxidation.
Reposted by Nathan Hoobler
Just got everything lined up to release `ed3d-plugins`, the Claude Code harness I use in my day-to-day. While they're yelling about gas towns, I present an e-bike, just don't drive it on the sidewalk.
I'm biased, but I think it's good. I've tried a few similar, and I keep going back.
I'm biased, but I think it's good. I've tried a few similar, and I keep going back.
GitHub - ed3dai/ed3d-plugins
Contribute to ed3dai/ed3d-plugins development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
January 15, 2026 at 12:27 AM
Just got everything lined up to release `ed3d-plugins`, the Claude Code harness I use in my day-to-day. While they're yelling about gas towns, I present an e-bike, just don't drive it on the sidewalk.
I'm biased, but I think it's good. I've tried a few similar, and I keep going back.
I'm biased, but I think it's good. I've tried a few similar, and I keep going back.
Reposted by Nathan Hoobler
This is the BEST explanation I have seen so far.
January 28, 2026 at 3:12 AM
This is the BEST explanation I have seen so far.
Reposted by Nathan Hoobler
Terence Tao gets it:
"AI is teaching us...our idea of what intelligence is is not really accurate"
"we were looking for some elusive intelligent way of of thinking and we don't see it in the tools that actually solve our goals...maybe it's actually because intelligence is not what we think it is"
"AI is teaching us...our idea of what intelligence is is not really accurate"
"we were looking for some elusive intelligent way of of thinking and we don't see it in the tools that actually solve our goals...maybe it's actually because intelligence is not what we think it is"
Can AI Prove It? Terence Tao on “Big Math” and Our Theoretical Future | The Futurology Podcast
YouTube video by Berggruen Institute
youtu.be
January 26, 2026 at 11:18 PM
Terence Tao gets it:
"AI is teaching us...our idea of what intelligence is is not really accurate"
"we were looking for some elusive intelligent way of of thinking and we don't see it in the tools that actually solve our goals...maybe it's actually because intelligence is not what we think it is"
"AI is teaching us...our idea of what intelligence is is not really accurate"
"we were looking for some elusive intelligent way of of thinking and we don't see it in the tools that actually solve our goals...maybe it's actually because intelligence is not what we think it is"
Reposted by Nathan Hoobler
‘It’s the underground Met Gala of concrete murderzone design’: welcome to the Quake Brutalist Game Jam
‘It’s the underground Met Gala of concrete murderzone design’: welcome to the Quake Brutalist Game Jam
Quake Brutalist Jam began as a celebration of old-fashioned shooter level design, but its latest version is one step away from being a game in its own right
www.theguardian.com
January 22, 2026 at 12:37 PM
‘It’s the underground Met Gala of concrete murderzone design’: welcome to the Quake Brutalist Game Jam
Reposted by Nathan Hoobler
really digging this for a light config UI
January 9, 2026 at 9:43 AM
really digging this for a light config UI
Reposted by Nathan Hoobler
This is true and I was the only one on set excited about it (and playing the song on my phone to blank stares)
Just watched the new Knives Out and I think it's really important you know that the scene in the Seminary's Gym is filmed in the same place Rick Astley filmed the music video for Never Gonna Give You Up.
I saw the window tracery and immediately made my friends pause the film so I could tell them.
I saw the window tracery and immediately made my friends pause the film so I could tell them.
December 30, 2025 at 4:21 AM
This is true and I was the only one on set excited about it (and playing the song on my phone to blank stares)
Reposted by Nathan Hoobler
Marvelling the red brick reflections in the leather glove material from the sun hitting the red brick house next to me.
December 26, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Marvelling the red brick reflections in the leather glove material from the sun hitting the red brick house next to me.
Reposted by Nathan Hoobler
Amazingly, reaction times using screens while driving are worse than being drunk or high—no wonder 90 percent of drivers hate using touchscreens in cars. Finally the auto industry is coming to its senses.
Rejoice! Carmakers Are Embracing Physical Buttons Again
Amazingly, reaction times using screens while driving are worse than being drunk or high—no wonder 90 percent of drivers hate using touchscreens in cars. Finally the auto industry is coming to its…
wrd.cm
December 27, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Amazingly, reaction times using screens while driving are worse than being drunk or high—no wonder 90 percent of drivers hate using touchscreens in cars. Finally the auto industry is coming to its senses.
Reposted by Nathan Hoobler
I am willing to accept "this is one of the greatest marvels I have ever seen and we must destroy it for XYZ reason" as a valid argument but if you can't say the first part, I don't know what do with you
December 19, 2025 at 5:45 AM
I am willing to accept "this is one of the greatest marvels I have ever seen and we must destroy it for XYZ reason" as a valid argument but if you can't say the first part, I don't know what do with you
Reposted by Nathan Hoobler
My "No Graphics API" blog post is live! Please repost :)
www.sebastianaaltonen.com/blog/no-grap...
I spend 1.5 years doing this. Full rewrite last summer and another partial rewrite last month. As Hemingway said: "First draft of everything is always shit".
www.sebastianaaltonen.com/blog/no-grap...
I spend 1.5 years doing this. Full rewrite last summer and another partial rewrite last month. As Hemingway said: "First draft of everything is always shit".
No Graphics API — Sebastian Aaltonen
Graphics APIs and shader languages have significantly increased in complexity over the past decade. It’s time to start discussing how to strip down the abstractions to simplify development, improve pe...
www.sebastianaaltonen.com
December 16, 2025 at 6:52 PM
My "No Graphics API" blog post is live! Please repost :)
www.sebastianaaltonen.com/blog/no-grap...
I spend 1.5 years doing this. Full rewrite last summer and another partial rewrite last month. As Hemingway said: "First draft of everything is always shit".
www.sebastianaaltonen.com/blog/no-grap...
I spend 1.5 years doing this. Full rewrite last summer and another partial rewrite last month. As Hemingway said: "First draft of everything is always shit".
Reposted by Nathan Hoobler
One of the biggest moments of my career:
USCIS canceled my client’s naturalization oath ceremony. We filed a lawsuit, went to trial, and the judge swore him in right there in the courtroom!
USCIS canceled my client’s naturalization oath ceremony. We filed a lawsuit, went to trial, and the judge swore him in right there in the courtroom!
December 16, 2025 at 3:21 PM
One of the biggest moments of my career:
USCIS canceled my client’s naturalization oath ceremony. We filed a lawsuit, went to trial, and the judge swore him in right there in the courtroom!
USCIS canceled my client’s naturalization oath ceremony. We filed a lawsuit, went to trial, and the judge swore him in right there in the courtroom!
Reposted by Nathan Hoobler
You don't need to understand the problem or the proofs to get at the interesting part: mathematicians working in communities and using LLMs mostly to generate "workhorse" proofs of key elements of the problem (augmentation), rather than just dumping the problem in and letting the LLM do everything
The best description you'll read anywhere of how cutting-edge quick-turnaround mathematical research looks like today. It's
1. Not what the Altmans of the world are selling.
2. Not how it was done even a few years ago.
3. Reasonably mind-blowing. 1/
From/partially by @teorth.bsky.social
1. Not what the Altmans of the world are selling.
2. Not how it was done even a few years ago.
3. Reasonably mind-blowing. 1/
From/partially by @teorth.bsky.social
The story of Erdős problem #1026
https://terrytao.wordpress.com/2025/12/08/the-story-of-erdos-problem-126/
#math #mathematics
https://terrytao.wordpress.com/2025/12/08/the-story-of-erdos-problem-126/
#math #mathematics
December 11, 2025 at 1:25 AM
You don't need to understand the problem or the proofs to get at the interesting part: mathematicians working in communities and using LLMs mostly to generate "workhorse" proofs of key elements of the problem (augmentation), rather than just dumping the problem in and letting the LLM do everything
Reposted by Nathan Hoobler
After nine years of development, meshoptimizer has reached its first major version, 1.0!
This release focuses on improvements in clusterization and simplification as well as stabilization. Here's a release announcement with more details on past, present and future; please RT!
meshoptimizer.org/v1
This release focuses on improvements in clusterization and simplification as well as stabilization. Here's a release announcement with more details on past, present and future; please RT!
meshoptimizer.org/v1
🐇 meshoptimizer v1.0
Mesh optimization library that makes meshes smaller and faster to render
meshoptimizer.org
December 8, 2025 at 4:56 PM
After nine years of development, meshoptimizer has reached its first major version, 1.0!
This release focuses on improvements in clusterization and simplification as well as stabilization. Here's a release announcement with more details on past, present and future; please RT!
meshoptimizer.org/v1
This release focuses on improvements in clusterization and simplification as well as stabilization. Here's a release announcement with more details on past, present and future; please RT!
meshoptimizer.org/v1
Reposted by Nathan Hoobler
ImPlot 0.17 + ImPlot3D 0.30 released:
- github.com/epezent/impl...
- github.com/brenocq/impl...
brenocq (Breno Cunha Queiroz) main author of ImPlot3D took over maintenance of ImPlot, you can sponsor him at: github.com/sponsors/bre...
- github.com/epezent/impl...
- github.com/brenocq/impl...
brenocq (Breno Cunha Queiroz) main author of ImPlot3D took over maintenance of ImPlot, you can sponsor him at: github.com/sponsors/bre...
December 1, 2025 at 11:03 AM
ImPlot 0.17 + ImPlot3D 0.30 released:
- github.com/epezent/impl...
- github.com/brenocq/impl...
brenocq (Breno Cunha Queiroz) main author of ImPlot3D took over maintenance of ImPlot, you can sponsor him at: github.com/sponsors/bre...
- github.com/epezent/impl...
- github.com/brenocq/impl...
brenocq (Breno Cunha Queiroz) main author of ImPlot3D took over maintenance of ImPlot, you can sponsor him at: github.com/sponsors/bre...
Reposted by Nathan Hoobler
Ah, nice, yet another "wrote a huge chunk of the bloody engine" credit gets marked up as "additional programming." As a contractor/consultant you have much better financial control over your future but don't ever expect to be part of the team. If you want legitimate credit: put it in your contract.
November 24, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Ah, nice, yet another "wrote a huge chunk of the bloody engine" credit gets marked up as "additional programming." As a contractor/consultant you have much better financial control over your future but don't ever expect to be part of the team. If you want legitimate credit: put it in your contract.
Reposted by Nathan Hoobler
the economic success of the U.S. is significantly built on the land grant universities and in particular their excellent agricultural science tradition.
Really important to stress that the Crown Jewels of the US higher education system were never the Ivies or elite SLACs (other countries have equivalents of these) but the well-funded, large, cheap, and excellently staffed public state university systems bringing high quality education to the masses.
November 23, 2025 at 5:26 PM
the economic success of the U.S. is significantly built on the land grant universities and in particular their excellent agricultural science tradition.
Reposted by Nathan Hoobler
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
November 20, 2025 at 5:32 PM
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
Reposted by Nathan Hoobler
other people's intuitions about the composition of thought are very different than my own. this paragraph treats as absolutely ridiculous something i would say is self-evidently true.
November 18, 2025 at 12:16 AM
other people's intuitions about the composition of thought are very different than my own. this paragraph treats as absolutely ridiculous something i would say is self-evidently true.
Reposted by Nathan Hoobler
thanks to a colleague I just learned about isaac rosenberg's haunting "break of day in the trenches" and I think you should learn about it, too, on this remembrance day www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazi...
November 11, 2025 at 1:27 PM
thanks to a colleague I just learned about isaac rosenberg's haunting "break of day in the trenches" and I think you should learn about it, too, on this remembrance day www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazi...
It's kind of fascinating to me that two of the prime obsessions of the 21st century science are "meat without mind" and "mind without meat"
If people want to do this, we need to learn how to make a bunch of enzymes at scale and it may actually not be possible for cheaper than real meat for a long time
I think what is going to happen is that lab-grown meat will gradually catch up with real animals and when that happens we will all quietly admit that the vegans were right about factory farming
November 11, 2025 at 6:19 AM
It's kind of fascinating to me that two of the prime obsessions of the 21st century science are "meat without mind" and "mind without meat"
Reposted by Nathan Hoobler
Impressive as that sounds, thermal engineering has lagged behind transistor density improvements.
Thermal envelopes significantly cap current chip performance.
Any "breakthrough" in cooling technology (think microfluidics) will have disproportionally large effects on human progress.
Thermal envelopes significantly cap current chip performance.
Any "breakthrough" in cooling technology (think microfluidics) will have disproportionally large effects on human progress.
October 27, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Impressive as that sounds, thermal engineering has lagged behind transistor density improvements.
Thermal envelopes significantly cap current chip performance.
Any "breakthrough" in cooling technology (think microfluidics) will have disproportionally large effects on human progress.
Thermal envelopes significantly cap current chip performance.
Any "breakthrough" in cooling technology (think microfluidics) will have disproportionally large effects on human progress.
Reposted by Nathan Hoobler
From a crewmember on yesterday's Teal 74 mission into now-Category 5 Hurricane #Melissa. As clear of an eye as you will see in the Atlantic basin.
October 27, 2025 at 4:11 PM
From a crewmember on yesterday's Teal 74 mission into now-Category 5 Hurricane #Melissa. As clear of an eye as you will see in the Atlantic basin.