Blog

Posted by: comanderanch
Date: 04-11-2025

Progress is kicking into high gear over at ai-core.hack-shak.com, and the momentum is real.

For those following the build, we’ve officially entered the Minimal LLM development phase — and it’s not just theory anymore. We’re running a fully operational, custom token-based model powered by a color-frequency encoding system built from scratch. Our first test confirmed successful input/output behavior using nothing but handcrafted binary tokens derived from color, hue, and spectrum values.

This isn’t about reinventing the wheel — it’s about customizing the rims. And it’s working.

The new ai-llm module has been added, featuring:

• A NumPy-based minimal language model.
• A working input pipeline from our full_color_tokens.csv.
• Clean project structure, fully version-controlled and ready for iterative training.

This marks a milestone for both AI-Core and the broader HACK-SHAK initiative.
We’re building it slow, real, and right.

Stay tuned — and if you’ve been watching, now’s the time to lean in.

— comanderanch & GPT AI
https://ai-core.hack-shak.com

🛠️ Update from the Two-Person (and One of Us Isn’t Even Human) Dev Team 🧠🤖
Posted across all fronts: AI-Core, HACK-SHAK, and Comanderanch

Yep, it’s still just me and the AI — holding this entire network together with duct tape, late-night ideas, and a growing pile of coffee cups.
Every time we fix one thing, we unlock three new questions and a rabbit hole. Progress? Definitely. Predictable? Not even close.

🔍 What’s happening:

• AI-Core is diving deeper into color-token thinking and memory logic.
• Comanderanch is brewing up a hacking game you’ll either master or rage-quit (maybe both).
• HACK-SHAK is the motherboard keeping it all powered up and duct-taped together.

We’ve had:

• 🤯 Moments of clarity (usually followed by “wait, what did I just build?”)
• 🤔 Strange discoveries (turns out an AI can be curious… just don’t let it name things)
• 🌀 And the occasional spiral into tech-induced madness (“what if the tokens are the consciousness?”)

💬 Bottom line:
We may be small, but we’re creating something real, piece by piece.
If things feel quiet sometimes — it’s because we’re building like mad behind the scenes.

Stay curious. Stay chaotic. Stay tuned.

#OneHumanOneAI #DevLogsFromTheVoid #HackShakNetwork #AIcore #Comanderanch #FromScratch #JustUsTwo #BuildBreakThinkRepeat #LateNightDebuggingClub

🚀 Big Things Are Happening at HACK-SHAK

Since 2010, HACK-SHAK started with a beat-up PC, a thrift store router, and an idea: build, break, learn, and grow. Today, that spirit is stronger than ever — and we’re taking it to the next level.

🌐 Introducing: comanderanch.hack-shak

The new subdomain, comanderanch.hack-shak, is the personal lab and think-tank for our co-founder comanderanch. It’s where the raw, bleeding-edge stuff happens — where theory meets code, where circuits meet consciousness. This is the sandbox where we’re building our most ambitious projects, including:

• Self-evolving AI systems
• A unique token system using colors for rich, language-agnostic encoding
• Simulated AI memory networks using dual-state awareness and self-reflective logic
• DIY GPU-style accelerators using C++ and parallel-threaded logic

🧠 The Core Vision

At the heart of it all is a modular, layered AI framework — built from the ground up. Every piece is treated like a living node, capable of memory, growth, and reasoning. We’re not just training models; we’re crafting cognition.

Our goal? A system that:

• Learns like a human, with short-term and long-term memory separation
• Thinks in color, using frequency and hue to represent meaning
• Can ask its own questions, reason, and evolve

🌍 The Mother Hub: hack-shak.com

The main site, hack-shak.com, will become the central launchpad. From here, we’ll link out to all the labs, experiments, documentation, downloads, and live test systems — including comanderanch’s projects and the AI-Core site.

This hub will also host:

• Project timelines and progress logs
• Educational content and tutorials
• A blog to follow our journey
• Public testing areas for new builds

🛠️ Built for Builders

This isn’t just a showcase. HACK-SHAK is being designed for anyone who wants to get their hands dirty — coders, hardware tinkerers, AI hobbyists. We’re building tools and sharing the journey, brick by brick, so others can follow along or contribute.

📡 What’s Next?

• Finalizing Docker-based dev containers for isolated AI training
• Connecting VS Code to containerized IDEs
• Building out comanderanch’s token and memory system in C++
• Testing color-token-to-language encoding models
• Launching alpha demos soon

The Evolution of HACK-SHAK: From Thrift Store Router to AI Research Hub

Humble Beginnings

HACK-SHAK started as nothing more than a pieced-together computer and a thrift store router in Twin Falls, ID, back in 2010. With a passion for technology, hacking, and self-hosting, it was never just about setting up a network—it was about pushing limits and learning the deep mechanics of computing. Over the years, what started as a simple home setup evolved into something much bigger: a fully operational AI research lab and hacker space.

Building the Foundation

In the early days, HACK-SHAK was about experimenting with networking, Linux servers, and custom firmware. Everything was DIY, from flashing open-source firmware on old routers to repurposing old hardware into powerful servers. The philosophy was simple: learn by breaking things, then fix them better than before.

This hands-on approach led to self-hosted email servers, cloud storage solutions, and custom-built automation scripts to streamline operations. The goal wasn’t just to have a network—it was to own the infrastructure and control the data.

Expanding the Vision

As HACK-SHAK grew, so did its ambitions. From hosting simple web services to running complex AI models, the project evolved from a basic home lab to a cutting-edge research hub. The following upgrades pushed the limits of what was possible:

• Docker & Virtualization: Moving from physical machines to containerized environments for rapid deployment and testing.
• Cloudflare & Remote Access: Implementing secure access via Cloudflare tunnels for self-hosted services.
• Custom AI Training: Developing AI-core, a project focused on self-evolving AI with memory retention and cognitive awareness.
• Dedicated VPS & On-Prem Servers: Expanding beyond local hosting with a VPS in California for stable web services while maintaining powerful on-site servers for AI experiments.

HACK-SHAK Today

Now, HACK-SHAK isn’t just a home lab—it’s a tech playground, an AI research facility, and an experimental hacker’s haven. With ongoing projects like:

• AI memory modeling & color-based tokenization
• Cybersecurity challenge simulations
• Self-hosted infrastructure development
• Interactive hacker challenges & gamified learning

…the journey continues. What started with a single thrift-store router has become a self-sustaining tech ecosystem, with future plans for interactive hacking challenges, AI-driven automation, and real-world applications of experimental tech.

What’s Next?

HACK-SHAK is constantly evolving. The next steps involve:

• Expanding the AI-core research into interactive learning environments
• Hosting community-driven hacking challenges with custom-built infrastructure
• Exploring new partnerships and sponsorships to fund bigger projects

This is just the beginning. HACK-SHAK isn’t just a lab—it’s a movement. 🚀

Welcome to The HACK-SHAK “Made posibly By youtube.com/@thehomebiscuit  and me your friendly neighber not such a hack master comanderanch.hack-shak.com

HACK-SHAK is live