ctrlaltengineer

[ctrlaltengineer]

08-30-2025 // 8:30 am

Yesterday I finished the first of testing with GoogleTest and I managed to find some critical bugs which would have disrupted my code if left there. Now I have to do the last part of testing and then on to writing my one page report. Later in the day I will be going bouldering so that I can steam off a little.

Wishing everybody an awesome day.

[ctrlaltengineer]

08-29-2025 // 9:40 am

Today I'll be traveling but I'll still be working on projects and presentations. I want to finish all tests for my code and get some rest. Exams for other courses finished at least 2-3 weeks ago and yet we're still here. I'm so tired. Gotta push through.

Keep working hard everyone! :)

[ctrlaltengineer]

08-28-2025 // 11 am

My code finally produces the output that was intended to produce, after so long. I was so happy I almost cried. I have been working so hard for so long, I feel like I deserved this. Now, I have two more presentations left and a report to write (luckily only one page) and I will be able to say that my first semester is finished! Can't wait!

Wishing everyone a wonderful day :)

[ctrlaltengineer]

08-27-2025 // 11:45 am

As one should always expect, things always go to shambles. The professor changed some significant aspects of the implementation and therefore a big chunk of the advancements I made the last few days are now gone. I am rewriting my code but I feel pretty tired and I just want it to be Saturday already, when the deadline will have passed by that time.

Setbacks happen all the time and to be the best version of ourselves, we must adapt. Hence, I won't be giving up. I will make this work, one way or another.

[ctrlaltengineer]

08-25-2025 // 9:45 am

Yesterday I managed to do heavy lifting of my C++ project, by implementing a graphical user interface (GUI). As the professor has not yet given us any input examples, I still feel pretty insecure about the core functionalities. They said they would provide them to use, but they still haven't. Therefore, even though they have already opened the submission on the platform, I am still going to wait for their providing, just to be sure.

Today I am going to test my code thoroughly, and then later in the day I will go bouldering :)

Wishing everybody a wonderful day!

[ctrlaltengineer]

08-24-2025 // 9:35 am

5 days left to the C++ deadline. I finished all the core functionalities of the project. Everything should be working correctly. Even though I have a few days left to implement the extra functionalities I want to finish early, so to have some margin in case I forgot to do something. Wishing everyone a wonderful Sunday! :)

[ctrlaltengineer]

08-23-2025 // 9:45 am

I am really wondering if I should go back to TikTok as I had a studytok account where I would post daily videos, including tips for stem students. I think my old account is dead by now, so it doesn't really make sense for me to use that. Well, if anyone is even remotely interested, let me know.

Today I have a lot of stuff to do so it's going to be a tough day for sure!

[ctrlaltengineer]

08-22-2025 // 10:10 am

I want to formalize my plan for the future. I plan to get a top PhD position, in Europe or elsewhere. To do this I must work extremely hard, in order to keep my grades high. Additionally to my university workload I need to implement at least one paper per month, starting from September. This is to show that I can understand novel research in my field.

Will I get a top spot somewhere? Unlikely.

Am I delusional? A little bit.

Am I still going to give it my 100%? You can bet on it.

[ctrlaltengineer]

08-21-2025 // 2:40 pm

I feel exhausted. I feel like these past few days I really have been pushing myself extremely. The C++ project deadline has been delayed. This is good news because I have more time to finish it. It is also bad news, as it means I can't go home as soon as I expected. Lately I have been overworking myself, without really leaving the house, just to make up for time lost. I need to do better.

[ctrlaltengineer]

08-19-2025 // 12:30 pm

I am making progress on C++ project, but not too much. It’s pretty hard to focus. Many distractions. Haven’t received yet a response from my Parallel Computing supervisor, and he usually answers immediately. I don’t know if I should be concerned. I have realised that I haven’t done a major experiment and I really need to do it for the presentation, at least. Maybe they will be pleased to see it done.

Wishing everybody a nice a productive day! :)

[ctrlaltengineer]

08-18-2025 // 11:10 am

This morning I handed in my project report and the link to the GitHub repository for the Parallel Computing project. I feel proud of what I’ve done, especially when considering circumstances.

I will take the rest of the morning to clean my room, and to have a relaxing lunch. In the afternoon the real challenge begins, as I will start my C++ project.

Am I scared of not making it? Of course. Am I going to give it my absolute best nonetheless? You can f-ing bet on it.

[ctrlaltengineer]

08-17-2025 // 11 am

I didn’t get much sleep last night as it was too hot. This morning I’ve started the last revision of the report which might take the whole day as it is very technical and I don’t have a clear picture in mind of what I’ve written. Hopefully I can finish it today so that tomorrow I can start with the last project of the semester, C++.

Hoping to spread some positivity, I am wishing everyone a good day! :)

[ctrlaltengineer]

08-16-2025 // 11 pm

Today has been a heavy days, like the ones before. I am deep in writing and revising my Parallel Computing report. The instruction was to write 5-6 pages, but I have written 14. It wasn’t my intention but I have been following to the letter the instructions and I can’t make it shorter. Hopefully it will be seen as a show of hard work, and not something else.

Hope everyone had a good day!

[ctrlaltengineer]

This is a very big generalization, but one which holds some underlying truth.

AIs used in this kind of context are probably small LLMs prompted to use some kind of look up table to help customers. If not programmed correctly they will not yield great results. LLMs people generally come across, especially during academic endeavors are far bigger and have several internal prompts. These are used to process requests and provide answers, both through multiple stages.

Companies sell services and want you to keep using them. This principle applies to LLM providing companies, which need to balance actual usefulness and satisfaction in usage to increase user retention. They are mainly programmed to help users but they are also prompted to almost never directly contradict them. Therefore, the information one receives from them will often fall under the category of confirmation bias.

Having an LLM to which you can ask anything is like having a look up table for integrals: you can solve the integral but you don’t understand why the underlying principles involved in the process. It might seem like you are learning, but you’re not.

For anyone using LLMs blindly, simply don’t. Learn how to search stuff online properly, how to distinguish between correct and wrong information and learn to process it. You’re learning stuff for yourself. Be kind to your brain.

[ctrlaltengineer]

Manifesting an academic comeback for anyone coming across this. Y’all deserve it :)

when you start having an academic comeback and it’s like oh. oh. oh. the sun actually does still shine

[ctrlaltengineer]

Proud, but not satisfied.

[ctrlaltengineer]

08-15-2025 // 1 pm

I have finished the experiments for my projects. I am creating plots to use in both the report and the presentation. It takes a while but it’s also satisfying. The deadline has been extended but I want to finish it as soon as possible. I really want to get both projects done.

Wishing everybody a wonderful day!