Show HN: ANSI-Saver – A macOS Screensaver
Hi, I've been working on something I've been thinking for long time but since I had no experience with macOS screen savers I always posponed. Now thanks to Claude I was able to create a screensaver that scroll ANSI files while your computer is idle. It allow to use local ANS files or packs directly from 16colo.rs. Repo: https://github.com/lardissone/ansi-saver
Discussion Highlights (13 comments)
binaryturtle
Those are some intense system requirements.
user3939382
As someone with a flying toasters tie, I can’t wait to try this.
retlehs
This is really great work, I’m installing this immediately once I’m back on my machine My terminal loads ANSI each time it opens, but requires downloading artpacks first: https://github.com/retlehs/ansimotd I also like how your README suggests specific packs to grab
superultra
Tahoe only? Yikes!
ynac
You're inspiring me to attempt a rescue of my last BBS (MajorBBS system) from 1991-1993. It had some great ANSI room and section screens. It was run from a single 1GB(!!) drive that cost us $1000. We had email, a couple stores (one of the first online book stores) and store-n-forward mail systems, maybe finger and telnet(?). Unfortunately, a neighbor got stoned, had a cigarette in bed and burned up his house and ours. Nobody hurt, but the BBS wasn't backed up offsite.
lardissone
Added a demo video and an explaining post on my own site: https://leandroardissone.com/posts/ansi-saver
primaryobjects
This would be great with an option to draw each ANSI line by line with pixels drawn left to right. The same way it was experienced over dialup. The options could be baud rates: 56k, 14.4, 2400
b800h
This is brilliant - thanks! There are so many packs on that site to choose from, it would be great to get some pointers on which ones to install.
stnvh
This is absolutely brilliant. I've been toying with the codebase and thought this would work really well similar to the 'Macintosh' style animated screensaver present in macOS's more recent updates. https://youtu.be/gSss24I_y3M Still a bit rough around the edges. I am currently adding per-character animation so the grid enters like a "wave"
gwbas1c
Anyone else having trouble getting this to work? I tried building myself, and the build ended with a certificate error. (I get it, distributing software always hits unexpected snags.) Then I installed from zip and when I use preview (in the screen saver options,) I just get a blank screen. There's a message at the top of the screen, but most of it is truncated from the notch from the camera. --- Edit: I tried adding sources, but they don't seem to download. Not sure why. Sigh.
empressplay
It's able to download packs but you have to disable Lulu when you first run the screen saver itself because Lulu doesn't seem to detect its network access (and can't allow you to approve it) It seems to also download the HTML for the 16colors page, and will occasionally display it.
blondin
Thank you so much for building this. The larger demoscene art community needs something like this. Also, as someone suggested, maybe a starter default art pack would be awesome.
xlos21
Nice work! The ANSI art scene was such a unique corner of computing history. Would love to see a "slow scroll" mode that simulates the modem experience — watching art render line by line over a 14.4k connection was half the magic.