programmer Archives

AppWizard

February 21, 2026

Cozy-punk record shop sim Wax Heads is spinning onto PC and consoles on May 5, 2026

Indie developer Patattie Games, in collaboration with publisher Curve Games, will launch the game Wax Heads on May 5, 2026, available on Steam, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. Players will take on the role of a team member at Repeater Records, a vinyl shop, engaging with customers and making choices that affect their experience. A playable demo will be available during Steam Next Fest from February 23 to March 3. The game features over 80 in-game records, more than 60 hand-drawn characters, and over 30 original songs. Key features include a handcrafted musical world, an emotional narrative, puzzle designs, and a comic book art style. Patattie Games is co-founded by Murray Somerwolff and Rothio Tome, while Curve Games is an award-winning publisher based in London.

AppWizard

February 16, 2026

“The hardest game in the world to make” – How Darkhaven hopes to rebottle Diablo 2’s lightning by channelling Minecraft

The "Necropolis" event in Darkhaven introduces a wave of undead that obstructs player waypoints and populates the environment with skeletal minions. Players can transfer characters to new worlds, facing challenges like volcanic eruptions, rising floodwaters, or ice ages. The game features modular gameplay events that can be procedurally integrated into the world. Players can interact with each other's worlds and utilize terrain deformation and building systems for strategic gameplay. Darkhaven aims to rejuvenate the action-RPG genre by focusing on organic experiences and player agency, moving away from rigid progression systems. The game emphasizes diverse loot systems and player impact on the environment, creating a living world that reflects players' actions. The development team includes veterans from the original Diablo, and they are preparing for a Kickstarter campaign.

AppWizard

January 29, 2026

Native PC Ports Of PS2 Games Could Be On The Way Thanks To New Recompilation “Experiment”

A new initiative called PS2Recomp aims to enable players to run PlayStation 2 games natively on PCs, led by Brazilian programmer ran-j. It involves statically recompiling PlayStation 2 ELF binaries into C++ code, promising greater accuracy than traditional emulation and enhanced modding support. The project is in early stages and is seeking contributions from the community. Previously, a similar project named PSRetroX was launched by an Argentinian student but became inactive. PS2Recomp is currently gaining momentum, with uncertain prospects for success.

AppWizard

January 12, 2026

A dev on Minecraft-like Hytale has already used its creative tools to make a homebrew side-scroller

Hytale, a standalone game inspired by Minecraft, is set to enter early access on January 13. It is developed by Hypixel Studios, founded by Simon Collins-Laflamme, and aims to provide players with extensive custom game creation tools. A level designer at the studio created a 2D side-scroller as a demonstration of the game's potential. The game will feature mechanics for object placement similar to an MMO housing system and include machinima-making tools. Hytale's development has been tumultuous, but it is expected to unleash a wave of creativity in the gaming community upon its launch.

AppWizard

January 9, 2026

Minecraft is getting a cute overhaul of baby mobs

Minecraft has released a new testing build that enhances the charm of baby mobs with various updates. Key changes include: - Name Tags are now craftable using 1 Paper and 1 Metal Nugget. - Zombie Horses no longer panic when injured. - Default JVM options have been improved for performance. - New audio cues have been added for baby Wolves, Cats, and Pigs. - Visuals of baby mobs have been revamped, including Cow, Sheep, Pig, Cat, Ocelot, Mooshroom, Wolf, Chicken, and Rabbit. - The bounding box for baby mobs has been adjusted to fit new models. - Adult and baby Rabbits have received new animations. - Armor on baby Wolves and saddles on baby Pigs will no longer be rendered.

Winsage

January 7, 2026

“Microslop”: Infuriating Video Sums Up How Microsoft Is Ruining Windows With AI

Programmer Ryan Fleury criticized Windows 11's AI-powered search feature in a video, highlighting a suggestion that users ask, “My mouse pointer is too small,” which yielded no results after a ten-second wait. In contrast, a simple search for the word “test” produced three relevant outcomes. Microsoft is committed to enhancing Windows 11 with AI, having ended support for Windows 10 to encourage users to transition to the new system featuring a virtual assistant called Copilot. New features include a Copilot icon on the taskbar and integration into Windows Explorer for generating document summaries. However, security concerns persist due to past incidents where sensitive information was saved in unsecured locations. Discontent with Microsoft's AI direction has grown since the discontinuation of Windows 10, and CEO Satya Nadella's comments against the term “slop” have led to increased use of the term “Microslop” on social media. Fleury's sarcastic remarks about AI's coding capabilities reflect skepticism about the effectiveness of AI in delivering quality results.

Tech Optimizer

December 25, 2025

Bernardo Quintero Uncovers Creator of Virus Málaga and Cybersecurity Legacy | Ukraine news

Bernardo Quintero sought to find the programmer behind the Virus Málaga, which had a significant impact on his life and career in cybersecurity. The virus, initially a piece of malware, sparked Quintero's interest in the field and led to the creation of VirusTotal, which was acquired by Google in 2012. This acquisition helped elevate Málaga as a tech hub in Europe. Quintero revisited the virus code and discovered a clue linking it to a programmer named Enrique, who was affectionately known as Kiki. He learned from Antonio Astorga, a source who passed away, that the virus contained a hidden message against the Basque terrorist group ETA. Astorga's legacy continues through his son, Serhiy, who has aspirations in cybersecurity and quantum computing.

TrendTechie

December 18, 2025

Фейковый торрент фильма “Битва за битвой” несет троян на ваш ПК через субтитры

A new Trojan delivery system has been identified in torrent downloads, using a disguised archive as an M2TS video file that includes a subtitle file and a shortcut labeled "CD.link." Clicking the shortcut activates the Trojan. The subtitle file contains both genuine text and harmful code, complicating detection. The malware employs a Living off the Land strategy, utilizing legitimate Windows tools to gain control over devices. This threat has been linked to the film "Battle for Battle," which has been downloaded several thousand times, though it has only been detected in one torrent download so far. The film has received significant recognition, with nine Golden Globe nominations and five mentions on the Oscars shortlist, and will be available digitally on HBO Max starting December 19.

Tech Optimizer

December 18, 2025

Constructive Launches pgpm: Modular Postgres for Large-Scale Application Development

Constructive has launched pgpm, an open-source PostgreSQL package manager that enables a Modular Postgres approach, allowing teams to decompose complex databases into focused, composable modules with explicit dependencies and isolated testing. This modularity facilitates better management of application-layer SQL, enabling developers to define schemas, tables, functions, and business logic directly in SQL without the limitations of traditional PostgreSQL extensions. Key features of pgpm include separation of concerns, composable architecture, idempotent migrations, first-class CI/CD testing, npm distribution for easy installation across projects, and compatibility with native PostgreSQL extensions. The system has been successfully implemented in real-world applications, such as packaging the Supabase PostgreSQL backend as pgpm modules. Teams can quickly initialize workspaces, create modules, and deploy to PostgreSQL using a package-driven workflow.

AppWizard

December 11, 2025

Cellar Door Games announces roguelike tactical RPG Neath, set to release for PC in 2026

Cellar Door Games has announced their new project, Neath, a roguelike tactical RPG set to launch in 2026 on PC via Steam. The game features a dynamic timeline system with a shifting turn order, allowing players to influence actions of allies and enemies. Co-founder Kenny Lee expressed excitement about the project, which draws inspiration from games like Into the Breach and tabletop games such as Mansions of Madness. The development team is exploring new concepts like "engagement locking" and the "attack resolve system." Players can join the developer’s Discord channel for information on closed beta tests, and an announcement trailer, descriptions, and screenshots are available on the official website.