Alex Anderson Creates Web-Based Spaceship Controls

Chats with Kent C. Dodds

Thorium is the software that space centers use for the computer controls and the flight director controls of simulated space ship experiences!

The cool thing about Thorium is that it's entirely web-based. Alex is using React to build Thorium and a 3D universe. The 3D universe is being driven by react-three-fiber by Paul Henschel, which is a fantastic piece of software.

Alex says that if you are privileged enough to have the time and the energy and the resources to be able to do side projects, that you should go for it. He believes side projects give you a lot of benefits outside of just the enjoyment of doing them.

Work-life balance is essential, though. There was a time where Alex just completely stopped working on it for about a month and a half. And that was necessary for him to be able to recenter, refocus, and get in a good place where he could be motivated and energized about it again.

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Homework

• Set a timer for 10 minutes and write down one thing you would like to accomplish and break it down into small and simple actions that can be done over time.

Resources

• Thorium
• Twitter Thread
• Wonder-driven Development: Using React to make a Spaceship | Alex Anderson

Guest: Alex Anderson

• Twitter: @ralex1993
• GitHub: @alexanderson1993
• Website: ralexanderson.com

Host: Kent C. Dodds

• Website: kentcdodds.com
• Twitter: @kentcdodds
• GitHub: @kentcdodds
• YouTube: Kent C. Dodds
• Epic React: epicreact.dev