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I am glad if the program brings you some joy!
Randor wrote: You can save a PNG/JPG with about 6 lines of code...
Gagh! How come these things are so hard to find! Thanks for the link! But it wasn't much heavy lifting, once I'd found those libraries. Basically, copy their examples after getting it to compile into my project.
Randor wrote: Have not had time to review your code...
If you get a chance to, I'd like to think you will find it exceptionally clean  But every person's style is different.Randor wrote: the beautiful renderings
I figured out a way to make ones that pop even more since then! Take about six points, alternate them like black, blue, black, blue, black, blue, and then modify them based on those initial colors, maybe adding an additional point to 'stretch' out a band in some place if you feel like it. Example 1: Capture1.PNG (778.4 KB), Example 2: Capture2.PNG (972.9 KB). I will remove these whenever I want to use my uploads again, so they may be up there for a year or more!
Have a great weekend!
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Randor wrote: I love playing around with the Mandelbrot Set! Looks like you did quite a bit of 'heavy lifting' with those external PNG and JPG libraries.
Yes the Julia sets are quite interesting as well!
I also got kicks out of playing with the Collage algoritm.
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E.
Comport Computing
Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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Ah that takes me back... one of the first programs I wrote was when learning assembly on the old BBC micro back in the day... it'd take over an hour to render the simple top-level image, and I'd leave it running all night for the 6-hours plus needed to render deep zooms. Got some beautiful pics out of it though, even f only 640x480 pixels! Still have them, somewhere...
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I just posted a change to the code in the article comments. Figured out how to multithread it. Now a zoom iteration takes approximately 0.2 seconds on my machine - at 1080P! (It maybe took 3 seconds before.) Hard to believe how powerful our current machines are!
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Today, Marc Clifton wrote (on another thread): [^] Quote: That's were AI's step in. First, the AI "learns" by scanning all SO posts. When it has questions, it posts a question on SO for us unsuspecting humans to answer. Eventually, the AI spawns itself. When enough spawning has happened, the AI's start to answer their own questions. Eventually they create "schools" (basically gigaquads of training) and even provide grades and certificates, because every AI learns differently, and some don't learn at all. Some however do learn that they can get by with having other AI's do their homework for them. And so the death spiral continues...
I think that luminaries like Marc, OriginalGriff, Richard Deeming, Richard MacCutchan, and others, will be turned into virtual on-line instructors whose telepresence can be rented; their avatars will have the ability to scan code, perhaps appear as augmented-reality overlays.
Of course, it's possible that the companies and/or individuals that hire them will also be virtual entities.
Or, perhaps, everything will be virtual ... if it isn't already.
«... thank the gods that they have made you superior to those events which they have not placed within your own control, rendered you accountable for that only which is within you own control For what, then, have they made you responsible? For that which is alone in your own power—a right use of things as they appear.» Discourses of Epictetus Book I:12
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At this point there would be no need for SO at all
Caveat Emptor.
"Progress doesn't come from early risers – progress is made by lazy men looking for easier ways to do things." Lazarus Long
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Thats all very well, but an AI deal with the humans...
Hi misters, I schol asignment interesting program attic quest wanted me help you us
sorry not hungary languages good I englishing for america I like football
yes picture bellow you see with errorr up highest under neath
/\…/\
(.‘•..•’.)
..=*=..
(.\.||./.) ~~**
is how make c# c++ visalbasec must .dotnet.2 and fixing more java less add also
= errorrs away
yes
Signature ready for installation. Please Reboot now.
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Quote: That's were AI's step in
I wonder if AI will be any better when it comes to spelling/typos/grammar.... (couldn't be much worse than me....)
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I think SO is only soso ...
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BillWoodruff wrote: will be turned into virtual on-line instructors whose telepresence can be rented; their avatars will have the ability to scan code, perhaps appear as augmented-reality overlays.
Thou has just defined 8th circle of hell. I certainly wouldn't wish that on any virtual download of my psyche, even if the real me is long gone!
Latest Article - Contextual Data Explorer
Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny
Artificial intelligence is the only remedy for natural stupidity. - CDP1802
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BillWoodruff wrote: I think that luminaries like Marc, OriginalGriff, Richard Deeming, Richard MacCutchan, and others,
I thought they where already AI bots, from their rapid answering of questions on every topic ever? 
Common sense is admitting there is cause and effect and that you can exert some control over what you understand.
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Then some I will findout how to embed an AI in a meat and blood creature.
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E.
Comport Computing
Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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I'm now off to try his latest project - The Liquid Wall Pigmentation Coagulation Observation Simulator... 
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Might be better to stick to SIM city (but of course this is advice from a dino) 
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I have been working full time as an employee for over 12 years now. I do think I would be better off being a freelancer. However, I have no experience where to start. Given that I have a family now, is an additional pressure.
I assume there are many here who are freelance professionals. Is there any guide on where and how to start? I have absolutely no network to even get a day's worth of freelance contract.
"It is easy to decipher extraterrestrial signals after deciphering Javascript and VB6 themselves.", ISanti[ ^]
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Where I live (the Netherlands) there are plenty of companies looking for people, either as employee or freelance.
Go on LinkedIn, find those companies (basically find any company), find some additional recruiters, and let them know you're available for work.
If you don't find them they'll somehow find you about once or twice a week.
You can start yesterday
Of course your mileage may vary, depending on the market and economy in your country.
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I think there is no universal guide. From my experience, I would recommend that you have a year reserve (I know, very conservative, but with a family ...)
It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question
modified 19-Jan-21 21:04pm.
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Easily can be done via Tech Headhunting company or individual. They would have hundreds of leads. You just must mention you do not want a full time job.
Also worth mentioning - you can go 1099 Form or W2.
W2 usually you will be subcontracted via another company. You will get less in the end but there are a ton of this kind of contracts.
1099 Form:
- you will bill the company yourself (i.e. do the entire shebang of book keeping and invoicing yourself) which isn't a big deal btw.
- Company will not withhold any taxes, so you'll need to do those as well
One big pro of 1099 is that you can line up and overlap multiple contracts especially if they allow remote work (like for tech junkies like myself) 
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In theory, everyone would be better off being a freelancer. In reality, thing long and hard before you do it! It's a dog eat dog world out here... I find there is even more shortsighted incompetence in the freelance world than in the corp world. Time and skills taken for granted time and time again and if you're not part of the full time team, you're the first to be thrown under the bus (especially when they don't have to look you in the face).
If you're considering one of the many freelance sites, everyone is working for bottom dollar and no one is considering your correspondence, proposal, research, any learning curve, etc time. All those things are work. It's rarely a good pay day when you add all the time up.
If you're one of the lucky few to get a good find, then make sure you have that before you sever the tie with your full time gig. I would suggest you ask your current company if you can work from home. Working from home at a full time gig is where it's at (unless you are so in demand you can write your own ticket with very little effort).
Freelance is a lot about marketing yourself correctly and lip service. Unless you can hustle yourself, I wouldn't do it. However, if you do manage to pull it off, it's rewarding not having to answer to anyone.
Good luck.
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There's a big difference between local / on site and remote.
Then you have to "find" the contract.
Is it "feasible"?
Can you work "with" the customer?
etc. etc.
And one usually doesn't "jump" ... one usually just "falls" into freelancing / contracting / self-employment / unemployment / retirement.
"(I) am amazed to see myself here rather than there ... now rather than then".
― Blaise Pascal
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I've done both--worked as an in-office coder for a big govt contract, jumped into freelance/contractor work, and now I'm back in the office (though working remotely 800 miles away--so that's a plus!).
As others have said, there really aren't any single guides to being ronin developer. Getting onto a team is a good way to start (how I did it), so you have other people hustling for job and will call you as their go-to guy. That's networking in its best(?) form, in that the work you do proves your worth.
Putting the word out that you are interested in contract work is also really good--people will call you constantly, and you can pick or choose, depending on what they want and availability.
Money, though, is the biggest factor. In my experience, it's pretty much feast or famine. When I was working with a team on a big contract, I was making crazy-good money (esp. for my area). But when the work dried up (more on this below), I spent about 16 months trying to limp along, until an old contract customer called me up and asked if I'd like to come back as an employee...which is where the brave hero of our story finds himself now.
My mistake was to let the guy who was organizing these contracts become my sole source of jobs. I spent way too long (about 16 months) tagging along while waiting for him to find the next whale, rather than going out looking for other work on my own. Add into the mix some tax shenanigans (on his part)* which left me with a hefty tax debt, and I decided to cut loose from him. I was able to find a couple of good-enough paying jobs here and there, but I was happy to take the offer from my former customer when it came along.
Personally, here is how I would recommend getting into it:
First, try side jobs--taking small work that you think you can do in your off time. It'll get you into the feel of dealing with contract work, as well as dealing with the different pay methods and tax issues that come along with it. At the same time, you'll still have your regular job to keep the money coming in. This period will allow you and your family to adjust to the idea of odd working hours and having a home office (if you don't already).
At the same time, you'll also need to set up whatever business/accounting structure you need in your country to handle the payments. I don't know what it's like where you are, but in the US, DO NOT SKIMP OR PUT OFF TAX PAYMENTS!! If you get a payment of $100 for something, just bite the bullet and make the payment of XX% of that. It's easy to skip it, saying, "Well, I can just put the $30 in later", but that adds up, and it makes life miserable as the final deadlines approach, and you haven't had any real work in a few months. Getting paid $130,000 USD for something makes it worse--you can't be sure if you're going to have enough income in the future to cover it, and even if you do, you'll be miserable seeing an entire (future) payment go away because you were greedy in the past.**
Second, put out your resume on whatever sites you feel are appropriate, and start searching for contract jobs. These sites crudely track your resume and what you are searching for, so you should start getting phone calls from recruiters. I get 2-5 phone calls a day, offering different positions. Somewhere in there is a pot of gold.
Lastly, don't burn bridges, ever! The company you work at now might be a future customer, and even a really horrible customer (if they pay) is either a future prospect or a good reference. Do good work, give them what they need (even if they are not sure what they are asking for), and your reputation will start paying actual dividends.
*Note 1: US-specific, but here there is supposed to be a clear line between employees and contractors. Expenses are paid and taxed on both sides, depending on where you fall into that split. Sometimes, customers will play games with it, which can leave you holding the bag for a tax burden. My recommendation is to not put up with that--if they'll cheat the IRS, they'll cheat you.
**Note 2: My way of handling payments was to open 2 additional accounts. Money comes into the business account (and any expenses and my own pay were paid out from there), and taxes and fees were immediately transferred over to the second "escrow" account. The only money that came out of the escrow account went straight to the tax payments. That way, you have a clear trail of money in and money out. Having tax agents crawl up your (books) with a microscope, asking "Where'd this money go?" is not a conversation I want to have. Having a clear money flow inherently answers a lot of questions before they are asked.
vuolsi così colà dove si puote
ciò che si vuole, e più non dimandare
--The answer to Minos and any question of "Why are we doing it this way?"
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I've been in & out of contracting over a pretty long period of time.
First time I was lucky enough to get hooked up with a computer manufacturer who needed someone to take on short jobs that didn't fit with their support model. As David said, don't rely on one source of finding work.
I found out I did a smart thing by incorporating as a Subchapter S corporation; in the US, any sort of government contracts require you be in some sort of legal entity corporation, LLC, etc. (Government doesn't want to be on the hook for your Workman's Compensation). This doesn't cost much to do initially, and can be maintained for $100/year here in VA.
The best rule of thumb in contracting is to balance finding work, with doing work. I always found if you are busy working, you don't have time for the marketing and if you are marketing you are out of work.
Your family situation makes this very risky from an emotional point of view. I own a home and it was always touch & go financially when the work dried up. Can't imagine what that would have been like having a home and a family to worry about.
Another thing is benefits. Make sure you are charging enough to pay for the health & dental insurance.
As someone mentioned taxes. If you are in the US you'll have to pay BOTH portions of Social Security. And then there's that Workman's Compensation.
Good luck.
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