Interesting things to do to your Desktop. - Page 2

synkr0nized · 06-13-2004, 01:16 PM

And here I would have just installed a wallpaper-randomizer instead of making use of the Active Desktop and webpage content feature.

How about a screensaver that looks as if it's formatting the system disk? That was a fun one.

AndyBloodredMage · 06-13-2004, 02:01 PM

For those reasons and more are EXACTLY why I need to teach myself some form of computer language.

Sithdarth · 06-13-2004, 03:19 PM

With cut and paste it take me all of 15 minutes to do that. Plus by using JavaScript and html it simplified the program and minimized the cpu usage. The thing that does the switching is like 5 or 6 lines of code. The rest is just variables. I once had a script that caused an image to start out in the corner and try to catch the mouse pointer. Then when it did it went back where it began and started over. I could never get it to work smoothly though and after awhile it was a little annoying.

You think this is geeky. I have a TI92+ which has a clock feature, thats right a clock on a calculator. Anyway I wrote a program for it that displayed a running countdown until my senior graduation down to the second. It actually ticked away while to program ran. All my classmates thought that was funny.

Dragonsbane · 06-13-2004, 05:13 PM

Dude, that is cool beyond all mortal comprehension........I want a program like that!

Sithdarth · 06-13-2004, 05:31 PM

Which program is that Dragonsbane?

I seem to have a knack for programing. I find that the hardest part is simply coming up with an ideal for a program. I can't wait till college starts again. Then I get to learn C+ and the like which is going to be super easy with all my experience with other programing language. I'm also in the process of enabling my computer to run CGI scripts. Once I get that running and learn Perl then my desktop will do all sorts of cool things. At some point I may throw in some flash as well. Its just I don't know exactly what I'm going to do with the CGI or flash yet.

AndyBloodredMage · 06-13-2004, 05:54 PM

How exactly do you go about programming? That is, once you learn the programming language, what sort of program would you run your code?

Sithdarth · 06-13-2004, 06:00 PM

With C+ and other programs you compile the code and it sortof runs itself with a little help from windows. With CGI its a special enabled folder that processes the scripts, hence why I have to set my computer up for it. With JavaScript the browser juts runs it if it understands it. Most programing actualy ends up consisting of half math operations and half predefined commands. Its how you put it all together. As to how a programing language works and how a computer knows what you mean when you use commands I have no ideal.

Stover · 06-13-2004, 09:32 PM

I would have thought javascript more inefficient because it needs a browser, or other program of some sort, to run the programs, while Windows will run a C++ .exe file by itself.

Or can you make an .exe-like file with javascript?

Edit: I ask this because I've only ever taken BASIC and C++, and both were a long time ago. I've had only minor experiences with HTML (I can build you a very basic website with a little effort), and almost none with javascript.

Sithdarth · 06-13-2004, 09:37 PM

Windows has the nice little feature that lets you set your desktop as a webpage or an html document you happen to have saved. When you do that your desktop acts like what ever version of IE you have. Thus it actually takes much less code and cpu usage to do things like my background changer.

Zweihander · 06-13-2004, 09:55 PM

I think Andy is looking for a compiler. While most bare-bones compilers are just something run from the command prompt, you can download (or buy, if you're a sucker) an IDE (Integrated Developtment Environment), which adds all sorts of neat stuff to make your life easier. The only languages I know are C++, Java, and a smattering of noncomplex HTML. If I had the time, I'd learn more stuff about scripts, but I don't. The links below will take you to places where you can get the compliers, IDE's, and such.

Dev-C++, an open-source C++ IDE
The Java environment, needed to run a compiled Java program
The Java SDK, needed to make and compile Java programs, scroll down to where it says "Download"

The C++ compiler I linked to is different than what you might find in the more expensive and popular Visual C++ (EDIT: which uses the Borland C++ compiler, also very popular) or whatever they sell. The syntax remains the same, but some class files (mainly conio.h and some other stuff) aren't included in Dev-C++. And JAva is weird; when it compiles, it creates a .class file, which needs the runtime environment to actually be used. In this way, JAva is slower, but much more cross-platform compatible, meaning that a .exe file can't be run on Mac or Linux, but any OS with the environment installed can run a .class file.

I also violently recommend googling some tutorials up. The Dev-C++ page has some links to decent ones, including one on how to use C++ and its GUI stuff. HTML and Javascript only needs a text editor (Word, notepad, etc.) and a browser. Have fun, and as someone once said, "Programming is the act of applying logic to creativity."

06-13-2004, 01:16 PM	#11
synkr0nized synk-ism Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: throughout the Wired Posts: 6,857	And here I would have just installed a wallpaper-randomizer instead of making use of the Active Desktop and webpage content feature. How about a screensaver that looks as if it's formatting the system disk? That was a fun one. __________________ Find love.

06-13-2004, 03:19 PM	#13
Sithdarth Friendly Neighborhood Quantum Hobo Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Outside the M-brane look'n in Posts: 5,403	With cut and paste it take me all of 15 minutes to do that. Plus by using JavaScript and html it simplified the program and minimized the cpu usage. The thing that does the switching is like 5 or 6 lines of code. The rest is just variables. I once had a script that caused an image to start out in the corner and try to catch the mouse pointer. Then when it did it went back where it began and started over. I could never get it to work smoothly though and after awhile it was a little annoying. You think this is geeky. I have a TI92+ which has a clock feature, thats right a clock on a calculator. Anyway I wrote a program for it that displayed a running countdown until my senior graduation down to the second. It actually ticked away while to program ran. All my classmates thought that was funny. Last edited by Sithdarth; 06-13-2004 at 05:33 PM.

06-13-2004, 09:32 PM	#18
Stover Uncommonly common. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Level 19. Posts: 1,233	I would have thought javascript more inefficient because it needs a browser, or other program of some sort, to run the programs, while Windows will run a C++ .exe file by itself. Or can you make an .exe-like file with javascript? Edit: I ask this because I've only ever taken BASIC and C++, and both were a long time ago. I've had only minor experiences with HTML (I can build you a very basic website with a little effort), and almost none with javascript. __________________ The Loop. O x Me.

06-13-2004, 09:55 PM	#20
Zweihander You are not reading this. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: ::1 Posts: 1,443	I think Andy is looking for a compiler. While most bare-bones compilers are just something run from the command prompt, you can download (or buy, if you're a sucker) an IDE (Integrated Developtment Environment), which adds all sorts of neat stuff to make your life easier. The only languages I know are C++, Java, and a smattering of noncomplex HTML. If I had the time, I'd learn more stuff about scripts, but I don't. The links below will take you to places where you can get the compliers, IDE's, and such. Dev-C++, an open-source C++ IDE The Java environment, needed to run a compiled Java program The Java SDK, needed to make and compile Java programs, scroll down to where it says "Download" The C++ compiler I linked to is different than what you might find in the more expensive and popular Visual C++ (EDIT: which uses the Borland C++ compiler, also very popular) or whatever they sell. The syntax remains the same, but some class files (mainly conio.h and some other stuff) aren't included in Dev-C++. And JAva is weird; when it compiles, it creates a .class file, which needs the runtime environment to actually be used. In this way, JAva is slower, but much more cross-platform compatible, meaning that a .exe file can't be run on Mac or Linux, but any OS with the environment installed can run a .class file. I also violently recommend googling some tutorials up. The Dev-C++ page has some links to decent ones, including one on how to use C++ and its GUI stuff. HTML and Javascript only needs a text editor (Word, notepad, etc.) and a browser. Have fun, and as someone once said, "Programming is the act of applying logic to creativity." __________________ How to make sure your subtitles take advantage of newfangled things like anti-aliasing.

06-13-2004, 05:31 PM	#15
Sithdarth Friendly Neighborhood Quantum Hobo Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Outside the M-brane look'n in Posts: 5,403	Which program is that Dragonsbane? I seem to have a knack for programing. I find that the hardest part is simply coming up with an ideal for a program. I can't wait till college starts again. Then I get to learn C+ and the like which is going to be super easy with all my experience with other programing language. I'm also in the process of enabling my computer to run CGI scripts. Once I get that running and learn Perl then my desktop will do all sorts of cool things. At some point I may throw in some flash as well. Its just I don't know exactly what I'm going to do with the CGI or flash yet.

06-13-2004, 06:00 PM	#17
Sithdarth Friendly Neighborhood Quantum Hobo Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Outside the M-brane look'n in Posts: 5,403	With C+ and other programs you compile the code and it sortof runs itself with a little help from windows. With CGI its a special enabled folder that processes the scripts, hence why I have to set my computer up for it. With JavaScript the browser juts runs it if it understands it. Most programing actualy ends up consisting of half math operations and half predefined commands. Its how you put it all together. As to how a programing language works and how a computer knows what you mean when you use commands I have no ideal.

06-13-2004, 09:37 PM	#19
Sithdarth Friendly Neighborhood Quantum Hobo Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Outside the M-brane look'n in Posts: 5,403	Windows has the nice little feature that lets you set your desktop as a webpage or an html document you happen to have saved. When you do that your desktop acts like what ever version of IE you have. Thus it actually takes much less code and cpu usage to do things like my background changer.