In 2021, I've learnt that I'm bad in "work-life balance" game
By the end of 2020 year, I've accepted an offer to work in Mercedes-Benz.io - first as a sole front-end developer to develop an UI of internal product, and then I've been delegated to help with another product that is being developed by MB.io.
The transition to a new workplace was very smooth, even though I've agreed with my previous team to help them in free time when I will be able to.
So the first half of the year was like a marathon. I had to learn TypeScript that is being widely used at MB.io, develop new product in given amount of time* and try to help my folks from my previous project as much as I can.
*budget
So after 6 months, there was a first month that I was unable to do anything for my previous team. I've decided to split up at that point as it was very stressful for me and I was feeling guilty that I can't spend more time on work for them. I do really appreciate the trust that they've put in me and their willingness to cooperate with me on part-time basis. π
Lessons learned
This year I've finally used to work with TypeScript π π₯
(I won't mention that I've learned it, as still I find some quirks from time to time that I need to google for to make it work with Vue 2).
Regarding my side projects, because of tons web-related work I've been into making simple, proof-of-concept games:
Tanki - a top-down 2D PvE shooter
Super Zero Adventures Platformer demo - a 2D platform game PoC
Super Zero Adventures Exploration demo - a Zelda-like single level game PoC
I've also created one PoC using Vue, JavaScript, HTML5 and CSS - A Creepy Labirynth (I was really inspired at the time by the approach of mimicking 3D/FPP perspective on 2D scene by Backspace Bouken devs).
As you might notice, there was 2 games that shares Super Zero Adventures title - those were created as PoCs for a bigger, full game that I've wanted to develop one time. At the moment of writing this post I've stopped the development of it, but I've managed to create 3 levels with some cutscenes in between them.
You can see some of the available gameplay above (it was recorded when I had only intro, tutorial level and cutscene between 1st and 2nd levels).
COVID-19 situation
In November, I've got COVID π€. Fortunately, I've vaccinated myself twice, so I've gone through it in a pretty decent manner (I could compare it to a really bad flu, but I've totally lost my taste for 3 days). Fortunately everything is alright now (as I didn't have to visit hospital was a really good news).
Personal growth stats
142 contributions (422 less than in 2020) - that's the amount of commits I've made solely to my own projects (but not counting those from my full-time job and the efforts I've made into gamedev (as those are not git-based but are being saved on personal cloud and loaded into Construct 3 web-based editor)).
My StackOverflow profile still lives its own life and earned 630 points this year (5175 in total).
This website has been seen by ~30k unique visitors in total (so again, an +6k growth in comparison to the last year). It's a really nice number, as this year I was really lacking of publishing anything new here (and last year I had an lkweekly project!). I assume that my acivity on social media has helped me with this (I've been putting screenshots/videos of my games there).
Social media
twitter: (@lukaszkups): +33 new followers (139 in total)
instagram (@lukasz_kups): same as last year, 117 in total
Entertainment
Books:
I was lazy this year and I won't hide it - I've ready only 2 books this year (Alien 1 and its sequel). I also read now way less online articles, as I've started relying more on couple weekly mailings instead (about programming / gamedev / webdev / front-end / Node.js / security).
I also continue my classic Transformers G1 comic book series π (I'm at 70th issue now π ).
Movies:
Referring to the last year note: I've seen Ad Astra (it was pretty nice, but I was expecting something else a little bit π).
Stephanie (2017) - seen it by accident, but it's a pretty decent horror movie (shame that it had so little budget for CGI, but still, it's movie).
The Visit (2015) - another cool horror, has some creepy moments, also has a nice plot-twist in the end.
The Expanse - I'm at 4th season right now - gosh, it's really great sci-fi serie!
The Boys - this serie rocks! Imagine R-rated Avengers with more realistic, bittersweet life problems - can't wait for new season!
Games:
Horizon: Zero Dawn - after beating it on PS4, I'm playing it now on PC. Must admit, it's way easier to fight with mecha-dinosaurs with mouse control πͺ πΉ π¦ π₯
A Plague Tale: Innocence - randomly started playing it out of curiosity, but I've got hooked into the main story to be honest π
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice - one of the best games I've played in 2021 (as I've created a dedicated article about it).
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided - one day, I'm gonna finish this game (started 3 times already)..
Honorable Mentions:
Forza Horizon 5 - while I don't really play it regularly (in contrast to my son π) I think this is one of the most astonishing title in terms of graphics in 2021.
Moving out - this game is soo cool to play with someone (e.g. your kid π) - tons of laughts & fun!
Small wins
There was a couple family/personal related ones, which I'm gonna keep for myself π
Besides those above, I'm really happy that I'm finally working full-time with TypeScript πͺ π₯ (as I couldn't/didn't want to/had-many-more-ideas/excuses for other things to do than force myself to learn it properly earlier π )
Small failures
I dunno to be honestβ¦ Not working enough on my side-projects maybe? But I've spent that time on my reset/leisure time so I was able to function somehow between one 12+ hours-long day of work (so I REGRET NOTHING in that case haha π)
Plans for the 2022
Work again on Tavuelo package (bump dependencies, add missing functionalities etc.)
Start working again on Lem app (?)
Go back to regular workouts - I'm basically at the same place as in the beginning of 2021 (or maybe even worse, as I've stopped working out on regular basis since the last couple months)
Finish at least 1 indie game title properly
Spend more/More/MORE/MORE! time with my family π
Summary of the summary
So wrapping things up, it wasn't a really bad year. But it also wasn't super-dooper-great one. It was just decent.
I wish you, and myself a waaay better one, 2022! Happy New Year! π
-- Ε.
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