Action 24Of course, you know the virus so well that cleaning your computer is no problem, but... but you can't let it rest there. Of course not! Your operating system has clearly proven how flawed it is, and thus you must fix it. So you settle in, and get to work.
Yes, yes... some obvious flaws here... and this can be optimized... and wow, who programmed this... and you've just realized what it is you've been missing!
YOU HAVE BEEN STRUCK BY INSPIRATION!You spend god knows how long making tweaks, replacing code, optimizing bits and pieces. You get up several times to grab some food, and take short naps once or twice, but in the end you've done it up one better. Even better than your improved OS, you feel like you've gained a better understanding not just of how to write software, but rip it apart and make it so much better than it was. You run your computer through its paces, and its efficiency has been increased by nearly 50%, in addition to proving immune to every attempt you make on it to crack its flaws.
You don't know how much time has passed, but you feel like it was worth it.
you have gone up a level in Programming!You have reached level 4 - you are now on par with the skills of those excellent programmers in the world who know this stuff inside and out - with the main difference being that you are much faster and make far fewer mistakes. You can tear code apart in moments to find its flaws, and see holes and optimization with a cursory examination. At this level, you begin to see so many of the common mistakes even good programmers do that limits the potential application of what they design - you are beginning to see the edge of what people believe is possible, and you're sure with enough effort you'll eventually be able to surpass it.
Knowledge Gained: Programming +.3
Time Constraints:
1.5 Months (42 days) - Science competition
3 Months (81 days) - Return of Cousin
Known Locations:
Cousin Caroline's Basement
Coffee Shop
Library
Scrapyard
Scrapyard Warehouses
Wearing:
Casual Clothing of NORMALCY!
White Lab Coat of SCIENCE!
Glasses to correct your POOR VISION!
Yellow Dishwashing gloves of SCIENCE!
Comfortable Shoes of SCIENCE!
Regular Clothes (under Lab Coat)
Inventory:
2 Reference Books
--Chemistry
--Physics
Letter addressed to one Dr. Donlan
Devices:
Design and Machining device
Tools:
Cheap Netbook
Metal Saw, Wood Saw
Drill with an assortment of bits
Hammer
Dwemel
Sledgehammer
Soldering Gun
Fire Extinguisher
Assorted wrenches/screwdrivers/pliers/wirecutters
Some other tools you forgot about in the back of your drawers
Smoke Detector
Large Table
Workbench
Remote Control
Parts:
Small Sheet Metal (x1)
2x4 (x2)
Large Plywood Sheet (x1.5)
Screws and Nails (Many)
Solder (x7)
Circuit Board (x2)
Magnetron
High Voltage Power Transformer
Small Motor
Small Wheels (x4)
Large Plastic Tarp (x1)
Various Wires (x13)
Duck Tape (x29)
Rope, 25ft (x2)
Circuitry (x1)
Spigot (x1)
Small Pipe section (x1)
Small Plastic Tubing (x3)
Chemicals:None
Minions: None
Knowledge:
Primary Passion: Programming! Level 4.2
Secondary Passion: Engineering! Level 2.2
Specialty: KillBotics (+1 effective level)
Other Disciplines:
Psychology Level 0.1
Chemistry Level 0.9
Physics Level 0.9
Gained Knowledge: None
Relationships:
Nathan Barnaby - Acquaintance (Neutral)
Negligible Fame
Mild Megalomania
Moderate Pride Damage
Medium Frame
Small Metal Sheet [x2] OR Plywood Sheet
Screws or Nails
2x4 [x2] or Small Pipe Section [x4]
Medium RC Roller
Medium Frame [Chassis]
RC Motor [x2] [Engine]
Small Pipe Section [x2] [Axles]
Small Wheels [x4] [Wheels]
Nails and Screws
Wires [x2]
Duct Tape [x1]
Platform Modification
Plywood Sheet [1/2] or Small Metal Sheet
Nails and Screws
Primitive Touch Sensor
Metal Scraps
Various Wires [x2]
Solder[x1]
Plastic Tubing[x1]
Circuitry[x1]
Laptop Hookup
Various Wires [x2]
Solder[x1]
Circuitry[x1]
Optimized Computer Operating System
You've modified a basic OS into an amazing system - which unfortunately only works on your computer. Still, you're pretty sure you could spend 10 or so hours recreating it (with appropriate changes) on any computer you got your hands on, and a days worth of work and you could create a slightly less optimized one that would work on any computer. It is built on a base of copyrighted code, though, so you probably couldn't sell it without getting unwanted attention.
Complex Game - The Effervescent Ascension of the Ancients
You have built a fairly complex video games.
Virus - Comment Bomb
Uses a flaw in the flackwave programming to allow use of a flackwave game as a vector. Posts comments praising the vector using hosts account, releases data to malware distributors, then destroys host computer.
You check your computer clock - its been, oh, wow. You've been working for over 30 hours, nearly nonstop.
You are contentYou are extremely tired.You are full.TIME:
6:40am