Episode
#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
5:22:50
Published: Thu Aug 04 2022
Description
John Carmack is a legendary programmer, co-founder of id Software, and lead programmer of many revolutionary video games including Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, Quake, and the Commander Keen series. He is also the founder of Armadillo Aerospace, and for many years the CTO of Oculus VR. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - InsideTracker: https://insidetracker.com/lex to get 20% off - Indeed: https://indeed.com/lex to get $75 credit - Blinkist: https://blinkist.com/lex and use code LEX to get 25% off premium - Eight Sleep: https://www.eightsleep.com/lex and use code LEX to get special savings - Athletic Greens: https://athleticgreens.com/lex and use code LEX to get 1 month of fish oil EPISODE LINKS: John's Twitter: https://twitter.com/ID_AA_Carmack Books mentioned: Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution: https://amzn.to/3SkNZER Game Engine Black Book Wolfenstein 3D: https://amzn.to/3QlOqg8 PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips SUPPORT & CONNECT: - Check out the sponsors above, it's the best way to support this podcast - Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman - Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman - Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman OUTLINE: Here's the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time. (00:00) - Introduction (09:49) - Programming languages (40:53) - Modern programming (50:55) - Day in the life (58:45) - Hard work (1:01:58) - Pizza and Diet Coke (1:04:43) - Setup (1:30:01) - id Software (2:02:50) - Commander Keen (2:09:36) - Hacker ethic (2:17:16) - Wolfenstein 3D (2:37:14) - Doom (2:51:34) - Quake (3:15:55) - John Romero (3:23:42) - Metaverse (3:52:04) - Elon Musk (3:57:59) - Mars (4:07:01) - Nuclear energy (4:10:39) - AGI (4:57:51) - Andrej Karpathy (5:00:50) - Martial arts (5:09:49) - Advice for young people (5:18:49) - Meaning of life
Chapters
The concept of a smart body that can control every aspect of our lives is gaining popularity but some individuals do not desire to over control their lives with spreadsheets and tracking every aspect of life.
00:00 - 04:39 (04:39)
Summary
The concept of a smart body that can control every aspect of our lives is gaining popularity but some individuals do not desire to over control their lives with spreadsheets and tracking every aspect of life.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Reading nonfiction books allows one to travel through time, imagine oneself in different situations and experience some of the greatest events in history, often leaving one feeling refreshed and renewed.
04:39 - 12:08 (07:28)
Summary
Reading nonfiction books allows one to travel through time, imagine oneself in different situations and experience some of the greatest events in history, often leaving one feeling refreshed and renewed. Some of the greatest nonfiction books are listed with summaries that allow readers to decide on future reads or to remind themselves of key insights of books they've read previously.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The guest talks about their early interest in computers and remembers their technical hacks on the Apple II computer, specifically in the low resolution graphics mode.
12:08 - 17:34 (05:26)
Summary
The guest talks about their early interest in computers and remembers their technical hacks on the Apple II computer, specifically in the low resolution graphics mode.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The speaker shares their insights on the value of programming abstractions and continuous maintenance, as well as the challenges that come with supporting long-term projects with lots of contributors.
17:34 - 27:29 (09:54)
Summary
The speaker shares their insights on the value of programming abstractions and continuous maintenance, as well as the challenges that come with supporting long-term projects with lots of contributors. They also touch on the historical Lisp work and how the language's malleability allows for flexibility in creating unique structures for a program.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The focus on energy efficiency in various appliances and electronics has led to trade-offs in engineering in terms of robustness and higher costs.
27:29 - 35:25 (07:56)
Summary
The focus on energy efficiency in various appliances and electronics has led to trade-offs in engineering in terms of robustness and higher costs. JavaScript, despite its limitations, can bring together creativity and good software engineering practices to build real-world systems.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The success and relevance of a code, architecture or technology is determined based on its value to people while being reliable, efficient and effective, rather than being fixated on building a specific strategy or algorithm.
35:25 - 50:50 (15:24)
Summary
The success and relevance of a code, architecture or technology is determined based on its value to people while being reliable, efficient and effective, rather than being fixated on building a specific strategy or algorithm. It is necessary to let teams independently come up with ideas that might not have been expected, in order to build a free market economy.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Rather than pushing himself to work longer hours, the speaker believes in working hard while also prioritizing rest and taking breaks.
50:50 - 1:01:04 (10:14)
Summary
Rather than pushing himself to work longer hours, the speaker believes in working hard while also prioritizing rest and taking breaks. He also shares how he recently adjusted his schedule to improve productivity.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The podcast speaker makes the case for allowing oneself to pursue their work obsession at the cost of work-life balance, while also emphasizing the importance of implementing personal rituals to empower the programming experience.
1:01:04 - 1:05:03 (03:58)
Summary
The podcast speaker makes the case for allowing oneself to pursue their work obsession at the cost of work-life balance, while also emphasizing the importance of implementing personal rituals to empower the programming experience.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The most common problem in code is something in a printf format string that was the wrong data type that could cause crashes, and the long tail of all the different little things that could go wrong there.
1:05:03 - 1:14:48 (09:44)
Summary
The most common problem in code is something in a printf format string that was the wrong data type that could cause crashes, and the long tail of all the different little things that could go wrong there. Despite having good programmers, the code can still have errors, and developers should use static analyzers to avoid issues.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
This podcast discusses tips for developing efficient code, including using static array size declarations and setting limits for certain actions.
1:14:48 - 1:20:03 (05:14)
Summary
This podcast discusses tips for developing efficient code, including using static array size declarations and setting limits for certain actions. The hosts also discuss the increasing popularity of Visual Studio code in the JavaScript ecosystem.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The speaker talks about their personal experience in developing games, including the challenges and improvements they have gone through, as well as the emergence of blogging culture in gaming.
1:20:03 - 1:29:40 (09:37)
Summary
The speaker talks about their personal experience in developing games, including the challenges and improvements they have gone through, as well as the emergence of blogging culture in gaming.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
In this episode, the speaker talks about the early days of game development and how John Romero influenced his career.
1:29:40 - 1:35:55 (06:15)
Summary
In this episode, the speaker talks about the early days of game development and how John Romero influenced his career.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
In this episode, John Romero and John Carmack of id Software discuss their earliest experiences with coding and gaming, and how those experiences led to the founding of id Software.
1:35:56 - 1:50:29 (14:33)
Summary
In this episode, John Romero and John Carmack of id Software discuss their earliest experiences with coding and gaming, and how those experiences led to the founding of id Software.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Discussing the early days of making video games and the advancements in technologies like scrolling that allowed for cooler experiences, with a focus on a game called Dangerous Dave.
1:50:29 - 2:00:30 (10:00)
Summary
Discussing the early days of making video games and the advancements in technologies like scrolling that allowed for cooler experiences, with a focus on a game called Dangerous Dave.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
John Romero and Tom Hall were the main creative forces behind the early design of Commander Keen, with Tom responsible for the backstory and design of the game's characters and world.
2:00:30 - 2:05:02 (04:32)
Summary
John Romero and Tom Hall were the main creative forces behind the early design of Commander Keen, with Tom responsible for the backstory and design of the game's characters and world. Despite this, design for the game was primarily focused on creating an enjoyable gameplay experience, resulting in the creation of a beloved game series.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The podcast discusses the art of scrolling and how it can be complicated, with examples of different approaches to the technique on early computers.
2:05:02 - 2:10:27 (05:24)
Summary
The podcast discusses the art of scrolling and how it can be complicated, with examples of different approaches to the technique on early computers.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The process of programming for games is seen as an art form by many game programmers.
2:10:27 - 2:16:03 (05:36)
Summary
The process of programming for games is seen as an art form by many game programmers. However, the broader game industry is less receptive to embracing this mindset.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
John Romero discusses how Catacombs 3D, Hover Tank, and Wolfenstein used the same code for character behavior as a 2D game he made earlier called Catacombs, which allowed for detailed accounts of technology solutions and design choices.
2:16:03 - 2:22:04 (06:01)
Summary
John Romero discusses how Catacombs 3D, Hover Tank, and Wolfenstein used the same code for character behavior as a 2D game he made earlier called Catacombs, which allowed for detailed accounts of technology solutions and design choices. These early games took the same basic enemy logic from the God's eye view on top and applied it to being inside and moving within the environment.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The ray casting approach used in Wolfenstein has been used by other developers for creating similar games, and the compiled scalars system was inspired by classic arcade games such as Space Harrier.
2:22:04 - 2:31:27 (09:22)
Summary
The ray casting approach used in Wolfenstein has been used by other developers for creating similar games, and the compiled scalars system was inspired by classic arcade games such as Space Harrier.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The human brain is a vast collection of thoughts and memories, and being a programmer with a wide range of tools and techniques can aid in accessing those memories and refining them into solutions for current tasks.
2:31:27 - 2:42:15 (10:48)
Summary
The human brain is a vast collection of thoughts and memories, and being a programmer with a wide range of tools and techniques can aid in accessing those memories and refining them into solutions for current tasks.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The concept of angled lines in grid-based games, such as drawing slopes or intersecting sloped lines, can lead to the use of rational numbers instead of even, fixed integers.
2:42:15 - 2:49:40 (07:25)
Summary
The concept of angled lines in grid-based games, such as drawing slopes or intersecting sloped lines, can lead to the use of rational numbers instead of even, fixed integers. To make these games more efficient, players must separate their drawing into vertical and horizontal lines, creating finite orderings to improve gameplay with techniques like BSP trees.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Quake was the first game designed to be modified by the user community with tools to create WAD files and PWADs.
2:49:40 - 2:54:41 (05:01)
Summary
Quake was the first game designed to be modified by the user community with tools to create WAD files and PWADs. It was also the first time John Carmack, co-founder of id Software, came up against his limitations.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The speaker reminisces about their favorite childhood hobbies such as playing arcade games, reading comic books, and playing Dungeons and Dragons.
2:54:41 - 3:01:35 (06:53)
Summary
The speaker reminisces about their favorite childhood hobbies such as playing arcade games, reading comic books, and playing Dungeons and Dragons. They believe that these hobbies contributed to their mindset of always pushing through tough times to make progress in life.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
This podcast episode features a discussion on the creativity and innovation required to improve gaming experiences, including the role of assembly code, graphics, and new technologies.
3:01:35 - 3:08:48 (07:12)
Summary
This podcast episode features a discussion on the creativity and innovation required to improve gaming experiences, including the role of assembly code, graphics, and new technologies.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
To be able to understand the complexity of systems like game development, aerospace, nuclear energy, AI, VR or artificial general intelligence, it is crucial to have knowledge of the hardware, software, design decisions, and the whole stack of it.
3:08:48 - 3:16:51 (08:03)
Summary
To be able to understand the complexity of systems like game development, aerospace, nuclear energy, AI, VR or artificial general intelligence, it is crucial to have knowledge of the hardware, software, design decisions, and the whole stack of it. Success is often found in trading off something that's perceived as important but is not actually necessary, and finding an angle through which it can be achieved.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
John Romero reflects on his anger towards co-designer, Tom Hall, for not carrying his load on Quake and ultimately leading to Romero's departure from the company.
3:16:51 - 3:24:46 (07:54)
Summary
John Romero reflects on his anger towards co-designer, Tom Hall, for not carrying his load on Quake and ultimately leading to Romero's departure from the company. However, he is now at peace with the situation and his former colleague's success.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The idea of a Metaverse is not new, but the ways in which it can be created has vastly changed over the years.
3:24:46 - 3:31:58 (07:11)
Summary
The idea of a Metaverse is not new, but the ways in which it can be created has vastly changed over the years. While platforms like Fortnite have shifted the idea of the Metaverse, companies like Meta are still trying to develop ways of bridging the gap between new technological capabilities and traditional gaming perspectives.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The world of virtual reality gaming offers a positive escape from reality - where those living in tiny apartments can enjoy a palatial estate in virtual reality.
3:31:58 - 3:36:53 (04:55)
Summary
The world of virtual reality gaming offers a positive escape from reality - where those living in tiny apartments can enjoy a palatial estate in virtual reality. Despite the potential dystopian implications of this, it is ultimately a fun and innocent way to escape reality and enjoy immersive gaming experiences.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Facebook Reality Labs' VP discusses the importance of continuously improving VR headsets, rather than solely relying on high-end, expensive options, to increase overall accessibility and interest in VR.
3:36:53 - 3:42:46 (05:52)
Summary
Facebook Reality Labs' VP discusses the importance of continuously improving VR headsets, rather than solely relying on high-end, expensive options, to increase overall accessibility and interest in VR.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The VR and AR technologies still face challenges in terms of latency, user interface, and ubiquity of headsets.
3:42:46 - 3:53:19 (10:33)
Summary
The VR and AR technologies still face challenges in terms of latency, user interface, and ubiquity of headsets. Despite being committed to the development of VR and AR, Meta still has to improve its user-friendly interface as the company grows bigger.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The podcast discusses Elon Musk's involvement in big world level things such as space exploration, electrification of transportation, and solar city type things, along with his involvement in other ventures such as Boring Company, Neuralink, and Twitter.
3:53:19 - 3:59:37 (06:17)
Summary
The podcast discusses Elon Musk's involvement in big world level things such as space exploration, electrification of transportation, and solar city type things, along with his involvement in other ventures such as Boring Company, Neuralink, and Twitter. The speaker expresses concern that Musk may be stretched too thin and unable to effectively manage all his ventures.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Experts predict that we could have self-driving cars eleven years from now, a technology that has the potential to drastically reduce car accidents and save thousands of lives a year.
3:59:37 - 4:08:26 (08:49)
Summary
Experts predict that we could have self-driving cars eleven years from now, a technology that has the potential to drastically reduce car accidents and save thousands of lives a year. The experts suggest that self-driving cars will not replace traditional cars, but will instead take over some driving responsibilities, enabling people to get from their homes to their destinations with ease.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
In this episode, the need for creating artificial general intelligence and the more feasible option of investing in economical nuclear fission are discussed.
4:08:26 - 4:16:23 (07:57)
Summary
In this episode, the need for creating artificial general intelligence and the more feasible option of investing in economical nuclear fission are discussed.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The intersection between animal intelligence and AI development may be closer than people think, with cognitive scientists, developmental education personnel and engineers working together to discover edge cases and increase the number of tasks.
4:16:23 - 4:22:02 (05:39)
Summary
The intersection between animal intelligence and AI development may be closer than people think, with cognitive scientists, developmental education personnel and engineers working together to discover edge cases and increase the number of tasks. As such, it's possible that AI may eventually be able to deploy non-human voices to make important decisions.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Free markets and entrepreneurs lead to the willingness to try new things, as well as a potential solution to the problem of remote workers and consultants using AIs.
4:22:02 - 4:31:19 (09:16)
Summary
Free markets and entrepreneurs lead to the willingness to try new things, as well as a potential solution to the problem of remote workers and consultants using AIs. Although there are some issues, such as organizations that pay more attention to smoke and mirrors than valuable work, entrepreneurship can still produce a lot of value.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The potential applications of AI-powered companions range from entertainment to business strategy, but the cost of powering such interactions with GPUs may limit its accessibility to only industries which see strategic gains from the data gathered.
4:31:19 - 4:39:46 (08:27)
Summary
The potential applications of AI-powered companions range from entertainment to business strategy, but the cost of powering such interactions with GPUs may limit its accessibility to only industries which see strategic gains from the data gathered.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The debate over the ethical implications of immortality is ongoing, and will likely continue as the technology progresses slowly over time, allowing for a deeper understanding of the shape of what is being debated.
4:39:46 - 4:48:47 (09:00)
Summary
The debate over the ethical implications of immortality is ongoing, and will likely continue as the technology progresses slowly over time, allowing for a deeper understanding of the shape of what is being debated.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Former employee of Meta, Tom Jensen discusses his passion for space exploration and his journey to becoming a serious entrepreneur in the field.
4:48:47 - 4:56:18 (07:31)
Summary
Former employee of Meta, Tom Jensen discusses his passion for space exploration and his journey to becoming a serious entrepreneur in the field. He believes his unique background in systems engineering and technical know-how can offer new perspectives and solutions in the exploration industry.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The speaker and the interviewer discuss building up intuitions and sharing code or ideas or systems that give inklings of AGI but are also useful to people in some way.
4:56:18 - 5:02:01 (05:43)
Summary
The speaker and the interviewer discuss building up intuitions and sharing code or ideas or systems that give inklings of AGI but are also useful to people in some way.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
This podcast episode touches upon the subject of diving deeper and learning more about life, finding your passion and purpose, and embracing the grind in order to push yourself further.
5:02:01 - 5:16:11 (14:09)
Summary
This podcast episode touches upon the subject of diving deeper and learning more about life, finding your passion and purpose, and embracing the grind in order to push yourself further.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The decades of looking at the smartest people in the world has taught that significant things have complexity and opportunities hidden in them.
5:16:11 - 5:22:25 (06:14)
Summary
The decades of looking at the smartest people in the world has taught that significant things have complexity and opportunities hidden in them. An old man coding recreationally or gardening in the code worlds can find interest in the little things in life that gradually lead to the best answers.
Episode#309 – John Carmack: Doom, Quake, VR, AGI, Programming, Video Games, and Rockets
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
John Carmack discusses the importance of focused hard work in finding success and following wherever the gradient descent takes you in this conversation on the podcast.
5:22:24 - 5:23:39 (01:14)
Summary
John Carmack discusses the importance of focused hard work in finding success and following wherever the gradient descent takes you in this conversation on the podcast. The transcript also includes a quote from Carmack about working towards your goals even if you're unsure which approach to take.