HackerTrans
TopNewTrendsCommentsPastAskShowJobs

dicroce

959 karmajoined 15 лет назад

Submissions

Show HN: Wyrm – Solve algebra by touch, built on an open-source soundness engine

github.com
77 points·by dicroce·позавчера·21 comments

comments

dicroce
·2 часа назад·discuss
It uses https://capacitorjs.com/ and I'm super happy with this choice. I think it feels fast simply because solving simple algebra problems is very light work these days (and of course its all on device... so no waiting on the network).
dicroce
·3 часа назад·discuss
I updated the underlying engine (and its live on the web version here: https://dicroce.github.io/wyrm/home.html). There is some new powers examples in the drop down. Irrational roots are a potential next step.

Try the x^-1 = 2 example and click Guide Me.
dicroce
·3 часа назад·discuss
I'm adding at least basic support for random practice problems in the release I'll be dropping in a few days. If I can get to it I may also be adding a more gamified "practice" mode.
dicroce
·3 часа назад·discuss
Yeah I added the popup that appears when you hover as a means of trying to counteract this. I'll be looking for more ways to communicate this.
dicroce
·3 часа назад·discuss
This is actually a great find. I update the engine and the change is live on the web version. I will probably wait a couple of days on updating the mobile apps to see if any more fixes need to be made (there is a whole app approval process they have to go through and I want to minimize that).
dicroce
·14 часов назад·discuss
I will definitely consider using more color... hmm...
dicroce
·17 часов назад·discuss
The underlying math engine is written in typescript and is open source:

https://github.com/dicroce/wyrm_math

Probably it's most important feature for applications like this is that the id's of elements in the equations are stable (meaning, if an X has an id of 123 and a transformation moves it to the other side of the equals sign, it still has id 123... this allows you animate between states if you wish).
dicroce
·позавчера·discuss
This is the approach I was wondering about.
dicroce
·позавчера·discuss
There is a mobile game called DragonBox. It sort of tricks you into learning algebra by starting with very abstract manipulations of a puzzle that must follow rules... gradually the game teaches you more and more rules and also strips out the more abstract elements until on the last levels you are finally solving real equations. I loved it, it taught my kids algebra.... and it was just fun.

Over the years I often thought that there should be a calculator for Algebra that works this way... something where you can drag terms around and cancel & distribute with gestures, but most importantly enter your own problems. It should also do more kinds of problems than DragonBox allowed. So I finally decided to build it.

https://dicroce.github.io/wyrm/home.html

I also decided to open source the underlying math engine so others could build on it.

https://github.com/dicroce/wyrm_math

My goal for the engine btw is to build it all the way up to Calculus.

Monetization is deliberately boring: the engine is free (MIT), and the polished gesture app is $4.99 once. No subscription, no ads, no account, no analytics. It's on iOS (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wyrm-math/id6782342042) and as of this week on Google Play (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dicroce.wy...).

If you'd rather just play with it: there's a limited in-browser demo (real engine, a few example equations, no download) on the landing page — https://dicroce.github.io/wyrm/home.html.

I'd love feedback on the engine design — especially from anyone who's worked on CAS or proof-assistant-adjacent problems. And if you played DragonBox as a kid and wished it went further: this is for you.
dicroce
·в прошлом месяце·discuss
These are the last days of software. Use the AI's and build cool shit NOW.
dicroce
·2 месяца назад·discuss
If you know about the distribution of keys you can do even better by factoring that knowledge into where you split.
dicroce
·6 месяцев назад·discuss
This is actually pretty incredible. Cannot really argue against the productivity in this case.
dicroce
·6 месяцев назад·discuss
Lego blocks are how I like to think about software components... They may not be the perfect shape you need but you can iterate fast. In fact my favorite software development model is just to iterate on your lego blocks until the app you need is some trivial combination of your blocks.
dicroce
·6 месяцев назад·discuss
Ok, maybe someone here can clear this up for me. My understanding of B+tree's is that they are good for implementing indexes on disk because the fanout reduces disk seeks... what I don't understand is in memory b+trees... which most of the implementations I find are. What are the advantages of an in memory b+tree?
dicroce
·7 месяцев назад·discuss
Exactly my thoughts.
dicroce
·7 месяцев назад·discuss
They should have used HLS. Its still pulling, and the client controls the downshifts if required...
dicroce
·5 лет назад·discuss
Does Helix run on windows too?
dicroce
·11 лет назад·discuss
I wonder if the rebellion of the youth in the 60's (in the US) can be seen as an echo of atrocities our soldiers lived in WWII? Did everyone come home changed, and cold... and rais a generation that reacted badly to that?
dicroce
·11 лет назад·discuss
DragonBox is the best. I have bought literally everything this company has created... and I will continue to do so.

Take a look at this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLA-fde2eR0

That is the typical response to the game... My own boys were solving equations within a few hours... This is clearly how math should be taught...