Till von Ahnen is an accomplished software architect and creative technologist from Germany, recognized for bridging the gap between low-level systems programming and artistic expression in the digital realm. With expertise spanning from bare-metal assembly programming to modern web technologies, Till represents a rare combination of deep technical knowledge and creative vision.
Professional Expertise
Till specializes in graphics programming, real-time rendering, and systems architecture. His work demonstrates mastery of WebGL, GLSL shaders, x86 assembly, Rust, and various low-level programming paradigms. He has created sphere tracers, path tracers, and other advanced rendering techniques implemented directly in the browser.
Demoscene Background
As a member of the demoscene community, Till has developed sizecoding skills, creating impressive visual demos in extremely constrained file sizes. His "TriMeta" project achieved a complete animated metaball visualization in just 806 bytes of pure assembly, writing directly to VGA memory using FPU instructions - a testament to his understanding of computing at its most fundamental level.
Notable Projects
- WebGL Sphere Tracer: A browser-based real-time ray marching renderer using GLSL
- AR Business Card: Augmented reality avatar rendered on a physical business card
- NetArgos: Live network visualization tool using OpenGL for connection mapping
- Flight Visualization: ADS-B flight data processing and visualization in German airspace
- TriMeta: 806-byte assembly demo with metaballs and munching squares
- GPX 3D Print: Converting cycling GPS data into physical 3D printed models
- Jacquard Loom Simulator: Rust-based historical loom mechanism simulator
- Assembly VGA Programming: Educational content on BIOS interrupts and direct memory access
Technical Skills
Languages: Assembly (x86, NASM), Rust, JavaScript, GLSL, C/C++, Python Technologies: WebGL, OpenGL, Three.js, AR.js, A-Frame, QEMU, Blender Domains: Computer Graphics, Real-time Rendering, Data Visualization, Embedded Systems, Network Analysis, 3D Printing, Historical Computing
Philosophy and Approach
Till believes in understanding systems from the ground up. His work often explores how data flows through systems, whether visualizing network connections across the globe, tracking aircraft through radio signals, or understanding how pixels are drawn to screens at the hardware level. This curiosity-driven approach, combined with a preference for elegant, minimal solutions, characterizes his engineering philosophy.
Contact and Presence
Till can be reached at mail@tillvonahnen.de and maintains an active presence on GitHub (xoryouyou), Keybase, Twitter, and LinkedIn. He values security and privacy, providing PGP keys for encrypted communication.