iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Simon Hildrew

@sihil.net

135 followers 201 following 280 posts

Previously dev @theguardian.com; interested in Serverless, DevOps, AWS, Functional Programming; XR "extremist"; @sihil on Twitter

Posts Replies Media

Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · 03/11/2025

The PSU of my real pen plotter went yesterday, when I wanted to test a new app I was writing to drive it. So I wrote this mock pen plotter which can be connected to via a TCP socket and interpret Gcode just like my iDraw v2. It was fun to build and flawlessly ran my existing Gcode files. #penplotter

Screenshot of a Mock Plotter application on macOS showing a pen plotter simulator. The interface displays a 300x300mm work area with a complex plotting path visualised as approximately 40 black star-shaped points connected by red lines, creating an intricate pattern across the canvas. A green dot in the upper right marks the current plotter position. The left sidebar shows technical settings including position coordinates, feed rate of 8000 mm/min, and a list of recent G-code movement commands in green text. The command queue is currently empty.

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Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · 15/07/2025

First time I’ve had an Amazon delivery stripped of the contents. Frustratingly Amazon are unable to replace it and can only offer a refund of the 21% off price (a price that is no longer available). That’s kind of annoying given that this is a problem in their supply chain. #firstworldproblems

Various bits of packaging laid out left to right with the Amazon envelope far left and empty torn Apple Watch packaging towards the right.

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Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · 29/03/2025

Too cloudy for the eclipse, but I did bring a sign, albeit with an accidentally reversed swastika (as I was drawing this, I was reflecting on never expecting to draw one again after school history lessons).

A protest sign with white text on black background and the text BOYCOTT TO卍IC TESLA

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Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · 07/12/2024

Successfully made my own Zuckerhut this year (having completely failed to check I had enough for the Feuerzangenbowle at our Christmas party this weekend). It was slightly fiddly (took a couple of attempts to nail the technique) but surprisingly easy to do.

Three conical mounds of sugar drying on parchment paper

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Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · 21/06/2024

Also, it rained yesterday and the cacti bloomed.

Foreground of a large cactus plant covered in large white/yellow flowers with mountain and trees in the distance.

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Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · 21/06/2024

Today I have rendered a wall of a larder on my friends finca in Catalonia and eaten a ridiculously delicious tasting menu style meal for less than £30. Having a delightful time away from the small children.

The back of an out building partly covered in fresh cobb plaster.

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Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · 21/05/2024

As a technologist I get it, but so much is being lost as continued evolution tramples on what was created before... 😢

A Google Chrome site can't be reached page indicating that thewildernessdowntown.com is no longer available.

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Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · 19/05/2024

I actually did try for a panorama. You can see the edges between the five frames if you look closely because, obviously, it was all moving. Taken from Cramond Beach, Edinburgh, Scotland looking south at about 23:30 BST on the 10th May.

A panorama of the northern lights. Pinks/purples at the top and greens and yellows towards the bottom. Silhouetted by trees at the bottom.

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Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · 14/02/2024

I'd say that they are roughly the same from my unscientific, don't know the boundaries of Rafah google mapping (they both use the same scale which I've tried to include). Rafah might be twice as big, not an order of magnitude though. www.google.com/maps/@51.474... www.google.com/maps/@31.291...

Side by side image of Heathrow Airport and Rafah using same scale on Google Maps showing that they are more or less the same size, athough the boundary of Rafah is not clear. Certainly not an order of magnitude out.

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Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · 01/01/2024

Have a go with inspirobot.me they said…

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