Brian Knapp’s Newsletter

Brian Knapp's Newsletter explores a diverse range of subjects, focusing on personal development, motivation, and creativity across various fields such as coding, music, and life philosophy, infused with elements of spirituality and practical advice. It emphasizes learning, building habits, and passion-driven work alongside reflections on technology, finance, and personal experiences.

Personal Development Creativity and Innovation Coding and Software Engineering Music and Audio Production Financial Wisdom Life Philosophy Habit Building Content Creation Technology Trends Book Reviews

The hottest Substack posts of Brian Knapp’s Newsletter

And their main takeaways

First Person Shooter Raycaster Game Demo w/DragonRuby

19 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Game Development Demo YouTube
  1. The project involved creating a 3D raycaster game demo in DragonRuby, resembling the style of Wolfenstein 3D.
  2. There were challenges with the coordinate systems and math that needed adjustments, like inverting the coordinate system to match the DragonRuby platform.
  3. Despite some hurdles, the project demonstrated the potential to create a cool demo with minimal code in a game development project.

Removing The Metrics

235 implied HN points • 06 Jul 22
  1. Creating things is great and achieving things is great, but mixing the two can be problematic.
  2. Metrics can lead to chasing numbers rather than creating something you're proud of.
  3. Removing metrics from creative projects can lead to a healthier and more inspired way of creating.

How do I learn Python at home?

176 implied HN points • 11 Sep 22
  1. To learn Python at home effectively, acquire a quality Python course.
  2. Write Python code every day to improve your skills.
  3. Type out and run every tutorial/exercise/example to enhance your learning.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

The Simple Path To Wealth by JL Collins Book Review

157 implied HN points • 09 Oct 22
  1. Spend less than you earn, invest the surplus, and avoid debt to build wealth.
  2. Having 'F-You Money' means buying your freedom by following a simple path.
  3. Generosity can make you wealthier over time, alongside disciplined saving and investing.

Waking Up At 5:30 AM Sucks

157 implied HN points • 24 Sep 22
  1. Building the habit of waking up early can be difficult but has long-term benefits for health and life.
  2. Consistency is key when trying to establish a habit like daily exercise.
  3. Adjusting the workout routine to fit personal energy levels and schedule is crucial for sustainability.

Do Stuff (The Secret To Success)

157 implied HN points • 22 Aug 22
  1. Success is simple: just do stuff.
  2. Success can involve taking action and being still.
  3. Define your own success in life.

A Lesson In Zen

78 implied HN points • 02 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Wellness
  1. Living spontaneously is like an improv skit - just go with the flow.
  2. Having too much mental weight can hinder progress - lighten the load for peace of mind.
  3. Sometimes it's okay to let go of original plans and just wing it - it might even be more fun.

Quora Monetization: The Real Numbers

176 implied HN points • 29 Apr 22
  1. Quora monetization for authors is not good.
  2. Quora's past and current monetization programs have not been financially rewarding.
  3. Direct monetization on Quora may not be the best use of time for content creators.

What do the top 1% of software engineers do that the other 99% do not?

117 implied HN points • 31 Aug 22
  1. Top 1% of software engineers are always building something, at work and outside of work.
  2. Obsession with creating and making things is a common trait among top software engineers.
  3. Their work is their life's work; they are driven by passion and dedication.

Halo: Fall of Reach Book Review

39 implied HN points • 17 Jul 23
📚 Literature Sci-fi Review Action
  1. The book 'Halo: The Fall Of Reach' provides a great backstory on Master Chief and the UNSC military outpost planet Reach.
  2. The story reveals the disturbing history of Master Chief, including abduction from family, scientific experiments, and military training.
  3. Reading the book reminded the reviewer of the original 'Halo' vibes and was a fun, nostalgic experience.

Zero Resistance Living Audiobook Review

58 implied HN points • 09 Jan 23
  1. Psycho-Cybernetics is about our internal guidance that leads us towards our goals.
  2. Zero Resistance Living helps in taking control of our self image and internal guidance.
  3. Creative living involves visualizing and creating new paths while considering the impact on others.

My friend invited me on his podcast

19 implied HN points • 04 Oct 23
🎙 Podcasts Wrestling
  1. Brian was a guest on his friend's podcast
  2. They covered various topics like wrestling, video games, and personal feud
  3. The episode was recorded at a local radio station, giving Brian a new experience

Is it too late to become a software engineer?

98 implied HN points • 17 Aug 22
  1. It's not too late to become a software engineer if you love programming.
  2. Find out if programming is something you enjoy through experimentation.
  3. Programming can be a fun hobby, not just a job, and it's okay for it to just be fun.

Bringing Back Code Career Genius

98 implied HN points • 16 Aug 22
  1. The author is reviving old content from their 'Code Career Genius' project in a new unbranded format.
  2. They are focusing on re-editing and repurposing old articles and videos to make them more streamlined and relevant.
  3. The project aims to salvage valuable content from the past with a long-term goal in mind.

How Difficult Is It To Learn Python?

78 implied HN points • 15 Oct 22
  1. Start with an impossibly simple tutorial to build momentum.
  2. Be excited to do the tutorial to stay engaged and learn effectively.
  3. Write every line of code yourself to truly understand and learn.

Walrus Audio ACS1 First Impressions

78 implied HN points • 02 Oct 22
  1. The Walrus Audio ACS1 is a guitar amp and cabinet simulator in a pedal.
  2. It provides easy, high-quality guitar sound without the need for mic placement or room dynamics.
  3. Features like headphone output and room knob enhance the playing experience.

You Got To See This!

19 implied HN points • 20 Sep 23
🎾 Sports Wrestling
  1. Virtual Championship Rasslin is hosting Gold Rush 2023, a virtual wrestling tournament.
  2. In Gold Rush, wrestlers must win three matches in one night with damage retention turned on.
  3. Famous wrestlers like Ric Flair and John Cena are part of the tournament.

The Joy Of Remastering

58 implied HN points • 28 Oct 22
  1. Rediscovering old work can bring a mix of emotions, with both positives and negatives.
  2. Old projects have hidden gems that can be refined with care and skill.
  3. Everyone has the potential to improve and grow, making revisiting past projects a humbling and enlightening experience.

Would You Do It For Free?

78 implied HN points • 25 Jul 22
  1. Ask yourself if you would do a project for free to gauge your intrinsic motivation.
  2. Intrinsic motivation is key for seeing a project through to the end.
  3. Consider pursuing projects that you would do for free to align with your passions.

Thoughts On Distrokid

78 implied HN points • 18 Jul 22
  1. Using a service like Distrokid can help get your music on major online stores and streaming services for a reasonable cost.
  2. It's amazing how technology now allows artists to share their music with a global audience, even from their homes.
  3. The main goal of sharing music is often about spreading art and inspiration, rather than seeking fortune or fame.

Why is ReactJS so popular?

58 implied HN points • 20 Sep 22
  1. ReactJS popularity is attributed to being developed by Facebook.
  2. ReactJS provided solutions for Single Page Applications.
  3. ReactJS popularity is self-reinforcing due to its existing popularity.

Desktop vs. Laptop - Which Is Better For Programming?

58 implied HN points • 16 Sep 22
  1. The best computer for programming is the one you have with you.
  2. Laptops offer portability and flexibility for coding anywhere.
  3. Laptops can still be used as a desktop with additional accessories like external monitors.

Merry Christmas!!!

39 implied HN points • 25 Dec 22
  1. Wishing a Merry Christmas with blessings for the upcoming year.
  2. Sharing a Christmas song for spreading joy and cheer.
  3. Expressing gratitude for readers of the newsletter.

I Got Bees!

78 implied HN points • 03 May 22
  1. The journey into beekeeping started unexpectedly after moving to the countryside and watching bees in the area.
  2. Researching and preparing for beekeeping led to discovering the innovative Flow Hive for easy honey harvesting.
  3. Despite challenges with delayed equipment, successful installation of bees into a new hive marked the start of the beekeeping journey.

3 Lessons From Finishing Morning Worship 1

58 implied HN points • 07 Aug 22
  1. Finishing a project is worth it, even if it feels difficult at times.
  2. Taking a DIY approach can help you grow and learn along the way.
  3. Be yourself, trust yourself, and share your creations authentically.

One Project At A Time

58 implied HN points • 03 Aug 22
  1. Work on one project at a time to focus your energy and have a clear completion point.
  2. Running one project at a time can lead to benefits like empty space for creativity and the satisfaction of completing work.
  3. Projects can vary in size, but the key is to focus on one at a time to maintain a productive rhythm.

MrBeast's Success Secret

78 implied HN points • 23 Apr 22
  1. MrBeast's focus on making better videos leads to success on YouTube.
  2. Key metrics for YouTube success include average percentage viewed and thumbnail click through rate.
  3. In programming, focusing on making the best software possible is key to success.

God Emperor Of Dune Book Review

39 implied HN points • 11 Nov 22
  1. The Dune series has drama, action, and big ideas mixed in with political intrigue and human/spiritual themes.
  2. God Emperor Of Dune jumps 3,500 years ahead and focuses on Leto II, who sacrifices humanity for survival.
  3. The book explores the concept of whether the ends justify the means, questioning the value of survival if it means a less vibrant life.

How Long Does It Take To Learn Python?

39 implied HN points • 22 Oct 22
  1. Learning Python depends on how much you practice.
  2. It takes about 200-500 hours to get an entry-level job with Python.
  3. The key to learning is practice, curiosity, and experimentation.

Coding Music For Deep Concentration

39 implied HN points • 10 Oct 22
  1. Listen to coding music for deep concentration to enter a flow state while programming.
  2. Utilize background music to enhance focus during coding sessions.
  3. Enjoy the feeling of flow with music to boost your productivity.

How To Convert A Hash To Struct In Ruby

19 implied HN points • 21 May 23
🕹 Technology Programming
  1. Consider using Struct in Ruby as an alternative to OpenStruct for converting a hash into a structured object.
  2. The code provided demonstrates how to create a Struct with the same key/value pairs as a given Hash.
  3. This approach works well for simple data structures but may not handle nested structures effectively.

The Hyper Creativity Experiment Month 1 Review

39 implied HN points • 28 Aug 22
  1. Being productive by creating something every day is great.
  2. Engaging in creative side projects is beneficial for mental health.
  3. Creating is more enjoyable than just consuming.