Backstory

Sim Racing

Force Feedback

Pedals

Realistic Precision

Princess and Puppy

• Realistic Physics
  • Grip
  • Brake Balance
  • Traction Control 
• Race Craft
  • Braking
  • Cornering
  • Focus
• Real-time Online Competitions 

Formula One

Max Verstappen

Building a Mental Model

Key Takeaway

• Senior developer means convincing others of your ideas
• Diagrams help everyone get onto the same page quicker

Discovery

Welding

Go Kart Parts

Fabrication

Electronics

CAD

Failure

HUMILITY

TEACHABILITY

Welding

Electronics

Software Development

Practice

Key Takeaway

• Be humble and teachable
• It's ok to not know something

Prebuild vs Roll your own

Rule of Thumb

• complex
• error-prone
• non-core to your product (e.g., date/time, i18n, crypto)
• there’s a well-maintained, lightweight, secure library.

• when the need is small

• performance/bundle size matters

• you want long-term control and stability without external dependency risk.

Roll your own

Prebuilt

React

Own-rolled

Web

React

Own-rolled

TV's with low-end processors

React

Own-rolled

Custom-built hardware

Tie Rods

Pedals

Spindle

Hydraulic Brake

Axle

Axle Hanger

Tyre

Brake Disc

Collars

Why roll my own?

Coupler

Steering Column

Frame

Steering Mount

Floor

Pedal Mounts

Pitman Arms

Key Takeaway

• Prebuilt gives you leverage
• Rolling your own gives you control

Chunking and MVPs

Frame

Not Welded

Welded

Magnets, how do they work?!

Wife first sees it at this point

No Brakes

Old Motor and Battery

Twist throttle

LEAN

MVP

Expose to users

Collect Feedback

Key Takeaway

• Build the smallest thing that works so you can learn before you invest.
• It's probably smaller than you think

Scope Creep & Configuration Costs

6' 2"

6' 5"

4' 3"

Person Component

Person Component Props

Key Takeaway

• Every ‘what if’ adds cost in design, testing, and maintenance.

Thinking Time and AI

Day Timeline

AI

How thick of tubing should I use?

AI

How can I build a motor mount?

Key Takeaway

• AI can be a great sounding board and matter expert
• Don't underestimate "thinking time"

You don't know what will prepare you

Be methodical, though

Electric Motors

Batteries

Gears

3D Printing

Voltage/Amperage

Working with Metal

PHP (2008)

MySql

Rails (2009)

MySql, svn

Angular (2012)

node, mongodb, git

Polymer 1 (2015)

Firebase

Polymer 2 (2017)

PWA, node, mongodb

Lit (2019)

node, mongodb

React (2021)

Node, mongodb, CRA

Next.js (2023)

Next, RSC, AWS, mongodb, tailwind

Key Takeaway

• You don't know what will prepare you
• Keep it relevant

Key Takeaways

1. Communicate to elevate ideas.

2. Stay humble and curious.

3. Build small, learn fast.

4. Leverage or control — choose wisely.

5. Every ‘what if’ has a price tag.

6. Think deeply, use AI wisely.

7. You don’t know what will prepare you — but keep it relevant.

Thank you!