There is a folder on my server where I keep old projects that have died.
Software for a variety of platforms. Some complete. Some half finished. Others consisting of nothing more than a few mock-ups or prototypes.
Every developer has just such a place -- where good (and not-so-good) code goes to die. A software graveyard.
I needed to venture into my own graveyard to dig up some old code... and got distracted by some of the older projects. Because reminiscing is fun, I am now sharing some of the weirder ones with you.
Macabinet
Back in 2004 (or 2003? No... no... 2004... some time around there) I built this little Mac-only app called "Macabinet".
It was this little drawer that slid out from the side of the screen when you dragged files near it... then you could drop them there. And sort them. Basically a place to file away your files to keep your desktop clear.
It was a cabinet. For your Mac. Hence... "Macabinet".
It had a few fancy themes (done by the same artist that did my current website design) and it had a small -- but loyal -- base of users.
Candleshire
This was an online game for the original e-ink Kindle that I started working on the moment that the Kindle's Java SDK was made available.
It was basically a simple BBS-style, turn based RPG along the lines of Legend of the Red Dragon. Except it ran on the Kindle with its fancy, free, always available (but kinda slow) wireless.
Got the game to about, I'd say, 50% complete before I decided to move on to other projects. It kinda worked. Was a bit pokey though. The latency of the Kindle's wireless made things almost maddeningly slow to play. Was fun to do a Java game project though!
Kernel Attack
This was a game that I started putzing around with some years back and never quite wrapped up.
The basic idea was that you were a program that must protect portions of the kernel from invading code.
Game-play wise it was a funky mix between Rampart and Robotron (quick action in rounds where you rebuild your defenses). Two of my all time favorite games.
Super, super nerdy. And very retro. Every now and then I get the itch to finish this one...
Footlights
This is another "Mac only" project from quite a few years back.
It was a video player with some various, odd options that nobody wanted in a video player.
One such feature is demonstrated in that screenshot. Adjustable transparency of every video playback window.
Because that is something that everybody wants to do every day.
Other features that only a handful of people would care about : Adjustable settings (like gamma and contrast)... and... I kid you not. Rotation.
Seriously. Check that screenshot out to the right. That's a video playing back nice and smooth... while being rotated.
You might ask me why that would be useful.
To which I would, confidently, reply... "uhhhh... I dunno".
It was cool looking and I wanted to do it. Does a dev really need a reason to do something random like that?
I'm curious what sort of funky projects are in your software project graveyard... feel free to post away in the comments.
Filed under: Games, I am awesome, Just stuff, Tech Stuff |