Ultimate geek bucket list

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#2159892 13-Jan-2019 00:04

1. Set up a Raspberry Pi (or other single board computer). no

2. Crimped / punched down an ethernet plug or jack. yes

3. Know at least one programming language. yes

4. Own a custom domain name. yes

5. Built a website. yes

6. Used a multimeter and soldering iron. yes

7. Rooted/jailbroken/flashed custom firmware on to some device (bonus points if you've broken that device in the process but managed to recover it). yes

8. Comfortable with Bash/another CLI. no

9. Been asked by a family member to fix something technological (bonus points if you've later been accused of causing other, entirely unrelated, technological issues by helping out that one time). yes & yes

10. Member of Geekzone. yes

11. Built a smartphone app. yes

12. Founded/actively considered founding a tech startup. no

13. Played Dungeons + Dragons (tabletop or computer game). More bonus points if you own dice with something other than six sides. if a game on a Atari 2000 called the same name yes but the board game no

14. Consciously used open source software. yes all the time

15. Contributed to open source software (code or donations). yes fixed a bug once

16. Read Dune, Foundation, and the Hobbit + Lord of the Rings (potentially fraught trinity there). no

17. Watched Star Wars, Star Trek and Doctor Who (again, potentially fraught trinity). yes

18. Have tried a non-Qwerty keyboard. no

19. Built your own PC. yes

20. Have something IOT in your house. no

21. Worn a t-shirt or hoodie displaying a computer game or science-fiction character. yes

my score 15 +1 out of 21

frankv

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#2159904 13-Jan-2019 07:16

17/21 + assembler + 3D printer.

floydbloke

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#2159911 13-Jan-2019 08:14

floydbloke:

13/21 for me. Most of the rest don't really interest me though.

One addition:

22. Understands binary logic.

I've decided to give myself two bonus points by expanding no.6

6. Used a multimeter and soldering iron. Bonus points for used an oscilloscope and a logic probe.

I also think we need another one for having used/programmed an arduino.

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#2159983 13-Jan-2019 09:58

floydbloke:
floydbloke:

13/21 for me. Most of the rest don't really interest me though.

One addition:

22. Understands binary logic.

I've decided to give myself two bonus points by expanding no.6

6. Used a multimeter and soldering iron. Bonus points for used an oscilloscope and a logic probe.

I also think we need another one for having used/programmed an arduino.

An extra point for having the slightest idea what an Arduino actually is....

mdf

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#2160249 13-Jan-2019 15:28

Thanks for the contributions everyone!

@michaelmurfy seems to be our first (and only) TrueUltimateMegaHyperGeek by ticking off everything in the initial list. Which means we just need to add something that he hasn't done yet otherwise @freitasm will be asked for a badge.

Since quite a few used the original numbers as reference, I don't want to re-order or edit things, but definitely the t-shirt one needs to be expanded. Reproducing the original list for ease of reference, with additions/modifications (so far) in bold:

1. Set up a Raspberry Pi, Arduino or other single board computer.
2. Crimped / punched down an ethernet plug or jack.
3. Know at least one programming language.
4. Own a custom domain name.
5. Built a website.
6. Used a multimeter and soldering iron.
7. Rooted/jailbroken/flashed custom firmware on to some device (bonus points if you've broken that device in the process but managed to recover it).
8. Comfortable with Bash/another CLI.
9. Been asked by a family member to fix something technological (bonus points if you've later been accused of causing other, entirely unrelated, technological issues by helping out that one time).
10. Member of Geekzone.
11. Built a smartphone app.
12. Founded/actively considered founding a tech startup.
13. Played Dungeons + Dragons (tabletop or computer game). More bonus points if you own dice with something other than six sides.
14. Consciously used open source software.
15. Contributed to open source software (code or donations).
16. Read Dune, Foundation, and the Hobbit + Lord of the Rings (potentially fraught trinity there).
17. Watched the Matrix, Star Wars, Star Trek and Doctor Who (again, potentially fraught [strike]trinity[/strike] quarternity). I'll offer more bonus points for (a) knowing the Machete Order and (b) not really having a clue what the Matrix Sequels were about.
18. Have tried a non-Qwerty keyboard.
19. Built your own PC.
20. Have something IOT in your house.
21. Worn a t-shirt or hoodie displaying a computer games, cience-fiction character, comic book character, maths problem, or anything else that can properly be described as "geek chic".

22. Done something really geeky with Lego (I struggled with this one. Built your own design? Own a 1000+ piece set? Have complained about new technic being worse than old technic?)

23. Have used 5th form/year 9/school certificate/NCEA 1/O-level maths (or higher) in real life.

24. Own/made/resurrected some kind of retro technology, purely for nostalgia reasons.

25. Have attended either a technology, electronics or pop culture show or expo.

26. Participated in a hackathon.

27. Have something 3D printed in your home or office (or perhaps have a practical need for something 3D printed in your home).

28. Have a figurine/model/poster of a beloved pop culture icon from your childhood within sight of your computer desk.

29. Visited a geek mecca while on holiday (bonus points if your family members or travel companions rolled their eyes when you insisted that you go. Double bonus points if a family member/travel companion fall asleep from boredom while inside that geek mecca. <Cough> Mrs MDF <cough>).

30. Cosplayed or Larped.

Keep any additional suggestions coming (particularly something we can trip @michaelmurfy on).

michaelmurfy

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#2160386 13-Jan-2019 17:31

Right - now you've got me...

mdf:

22. Done something really geeky with Lego (I struggled with this one. Built your own design? Own a 1000+ piece set? Have complained about new technic being worse than old technic?)

We can expand on this further - if we count K'NEX then yes, I've done some really geeky things when I was younger (and still have a K'NEX collection at my parents house) but never experiemented with Lego.

23. Have used 5th form/year 9/school certificate/NCEA 1/O-level maths (or higher) in real life.

And, this is where you've got me. Technically, working at a bank I have, but I don't really think I can count it due to the fact everything around us has a calculator on it. I haven't had to do proper maths in my head / on paper in forever. I was however 2 years ahead of my class in maths in school and used to get bored because of it - I remember I used to code in basic to automate many of my maths tests on my calculator.

24. Own/made/resurrected some kind of retro technology, purely for nostalgia reasons.

I recently bought an Xbox 360 + all the Guitar Hero / Rockband games mainly for nostalgia reasons. I still own an original Playstation along with a large collection of games and if I had the space, would have built "an ultimate DOS PC" for retro gaming.

25. Have attended either a technology, electronics or pop culture show or expo.

26. Participated in a hackathon.

27. Have something 3D printed in your home or office (or perhaps have a practical need for something 3D printed in your home).

28. Have a figurine/model/poster of a beloved pop culture icon from your childhood within sight of your computer desk.

29. Visited a geek mecca while on holiday (bonus points if your family members or travel companions rolled their eyes when you insisted that you go. Double bonus points if a family member/travel companion fall asleep from boredom while inside that geek mecca. <Cough> Mrs MDF <cough>).

30. Cosplayed or Larped.

Big yes to all of these. I have Pokèmon around the place including at both my home, and work computers. I've Cosplayed at Armageddon multiple times, annoyed my parents multiple times by visiting "Geek mecca's" while on family holidays, have a 3D printed Charmander on my desk (again - with the pop culture icon), attended + participated multiple Hackathons, have attended CES etc.

Keep any additional suggestions coming (particularly something we can trip @michaelmurfy on).

Keep trying! You'll get there.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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Behodar

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#2160389 13-Jan-2019 17:33

michaelmurfy: I still own an original Playstation along with a large collection of games

I actually fixed mine the other day; the slightest bump (like someone walking in the same room) would cause it to "lose its place" and stall for 10-15 seconds. Replacing the laser assembly sorted that out :)

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michaelmurfy

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#2160390 13-Jan-2019 17:34

Behodar:

michaelmurfy: I still own an original Playstation along with a large collection of games

I actually fixed mine the other day; the slightest bump (like someone walking in the same room) would cause it to "lose its place" and stall for 10-15 seconds. Replacing the laser assembly sorted that out :)

I've had that before with mine and repaired it (as a kid) multiple times to keep it running. I have it in an original box at my room at the parents and often take it out to play when I am there.

pdh

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Ultimate Geek

#2160557 13-Jan-2019 20:37

Well - here's a few other Geek milestones...

Wire-wrap a circuit board (using a proper manual wire-wrap tool).

Design and have etched a small run of circuit boards for a hobby project (eg: bike computer).

Program something useful directly in 'machine code' - ie: without benefit of an 'assembler' or interpreter or compiler.
Bonus point for successfully maintaining a two-person 'memory map' on a large sheet of paper, passed back & forth.

Debug running code using a logic analyzer.

Bootstrap a computer from a cold start - flipping console switches to load the initial instruction words.

Write a program on a hand-held calculator (eg: TI's SR-52) - extra point for saving & re-using the program from a magnetic strip.

Use the Sinclair printer for the Sinclair ZX-81.

Master CAD software and use it to make something (eg: a house or machine part).

And a personal high - summer job after 2nd year engineering...
Program a Cincinnati 5-axis skin-mill (think fighter wings cut from solid billets of aluminum, with 98% going to chips).
As this was a while ago, big decks of punch cards and large rolls of polyester punch-tape were involved.

Geektastic

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#2160574 13-Jan-2019 20:55

Am I the only one somewhat worried about @michaelmurfy?!

jonherries

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#2160681 13-Jan-2019 22:33

jonherries: 17 + Bletchley Park and National Computer museum - both very cool and next door to each other.

Wasnt a fan of D&D - give me some Wing Commander or C&C any day... Of course it was much more fun playing games in DOS with all the extended memory problems than on a tabletop - ugh - actually talking to people.

Haven’t seen anything about Lego...

Jon

Add Kennedy Space Center to the list of “geek holiday destinations” - hat tip for the rocket launch suggestion - I remembers that some of those rockets were BIG.

Places still to go (my wife thinks I am mad):

Boeing factory - Seattle
Tesla factory - Fremont, California
Apple Park

Jon

michaelmurfy

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#2160686 13-Jan-2019 23:07

Now you're just trying to throw me out!

pdh:

Well - here's a few other Geek milestones...

Wire-wrap a circuit board (using a proper manual wire-wrap tool).

Actually did this once for the hell of it - was a simple voltage monitor that hooked up to a parrallel port of a PC running DOS.

Design and have etched a small run of circuit boards for a hobby project (eg: bike computer).

A friend and myself worked to make a drop in replacement board for the Thinkgeek Portal Plushie - this was using a STM32F4 micro along with an audio amplifier, accelerometer and ran ChibiOS. The goal was to make the plushie "more cute" by making it say things like "Please put me down" when picked up, screaming if thrown, and saying "I see you" if you walk close to it and going back into "searching" mode if you walked away (using the light sensor). It was proven to be highly successful and the build, eagle files etc were all documented on the Aeroquad forums (however, this is now offline I see). I've also done many other things like this however not recently (it is something I want to get into again).

Program something useful directly in 'machine code' - ie: without benefit of an 'assembler' or interpreter or compiler.
Bonus point for successfully maintaining a two-person 'memory map' on a large sheet of paper, passed back & forth.

Damn... You've got me.

Debug running code using a logic analyzer.

Done!

Bootstrap a computer from a cold start - flipping console switches to load the initial instruction words.

I play around with retro hardware too many times. If programming using the front panel of an Imsai 8080 counts then yes - I've done this.

Write a program on a hand-held calculator (eg: TI's SR-52) - extra point for saving & re-using the program from a magnetic strip.

See my last post - I used to do this in maths class due to boredom. I also taught myself basic by doing this.

Use the Sinclair printer for the Sinclair ZX-81.

While I never owned a ZX-81, my neighbor did when I was growing up and yes, he had the printer too. I remember in 2008 I tried buying it off him with no success.

Master CAD software and use it to make something (eg: a house or machine part).

I have used CAD for 3D printing custom parts for a quadcopter before.

And a personal high - summer job after 2nd year engineering...
Program a Cincinnati 5-axis skin-mill (think fighter wings cut from solid billets of aluminum, with 98% going to chips).
As this was a while ago, big decks of punch cards and large rolls of polyester punch-tape were involved.

Now you're scraping the barrel! That is impressive.

Geektastic: Am I the only one somewhat worried about @michaelmurfy?!

I get around and take each day as it comes. But, this thread has somewhat surprised me with everything I have either tried, or done.

michaelmurfy

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#2160693 13-Jan-2019 23:15

Also, I showed this to my SO and she is somewhat concerned about me.

Geektastic

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#2160695 13-Jan-2019 23:20

I genuinely have not the slightest idea what quite a lot of those things are, but consider me duly impressed.

frankv

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#2160709 14-Jan-2019 07:24

pdh:

Program something useful directly in 'machine code'

Debug running code using a logic analyzer.

Bootstrap a computer from a cold start - flipping console switches to load the initial instruction words.

Master CAD software and use it to make something (eg: a house or machine part).

Tick all these too, plus:

Debug a program with nothing but an LED.

Burn a ROM.

Build a robot.

Own a selection of RS232 cables and a breakout box

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