Blog

"A [genetic algorithm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_algorithm) is a metaheuristic inspired by the process of natural selection". I've always been curious about genetic algorithms but my assu...

Ping Pong is a dead-simple single-file ping-pong / table-tennis score tracker for our office. How refreshing it is to make something dead simple that utilises zero frameworks, libraries, SDKs or APIs...

My interpretation of the classic [falling sand game](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falling-sand_game). You can play it here: [sand.jack.kiwi](https://sand.jack.kiwi) or check out the code on [GitHub](...

I don't mean back to _work_ work, I mean back to bug-fixing, learning, sketching in the evenings on what I enjoy. I moved away from freelance gigs to work full-time in the industry just over six mont...

Voyager 1 was launched September 5, 1977. NASA speculates that the Voyager 1 Space Probe might wander around the Milky Way eternally. This sketch is an imagined idea of what Voyager 1 might be seeing....

Inspired by Japanese artist [Katsushika Hokusai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hokusai) I wanted to create a generative cherry blossom tree. It actually kind of looks like a stylised [pōhutukawa tree...

This is just a quick write up about the tools I use everyday for productivity, development, entertainment, etc. I've read through lots of these write-ups from people I follow and admire ([Taylor Otwel...

I started developing [WeRoster](https://weroster.co.nz/) at the end of 2015 when a friend from university introduced me to her Mum. Their family ran a few restaurants in New Zealand and they wanted a ...

I'm not *usually* one to hold down a blog. This year is the year I start taking it seriously... starting February. # Motivations I'm doing this to organise my thoughts, improve my writing skill and ...

# Synopsis LIMELIGHT is a wearable technology project that promotes and encourages fitness. It’s a wristband that allows runners to keep an eye on their performance during their run. LIMELIGHT aims ...

Check it out on [GitHub](https://github.com/jackcruden/Weather-Lad)! Weather Lad was created as a *concept* web app for the MDDN352 paper at Victoria University of Wellington. It utilises the browse...

Check it out on [GitHub](https://github.com/jackcruden/Pixel-Plumber)! Pixel Plumber is a game made in [Processing](https://processing.org/) for a class at Victoria University of Wellington. The ide...

World.sim() is a university project I worked on to learn the basics of 3D modeling, animation and motion tracking in After Effects. We were tasked with designing an 'alternative interface of the futur...

Beat Buddy was my final project for MDDN251 Physical Computing at Victoria University of Wellington. Beat Buddy is a sort of assistive device. Playing heavily on the idea of ‘knocking’ as communi...

Growing up in a small town I often had to find creative ways to make money. I had a paper route delivering a fortnightly newspaper, later graduating to delivering circulars (that's where the real mone...