As someone who never uses "desktop" or "background" images, I actually do think the example images are beautiful and enjoyable.
I'll admit there are probably very few idiots like me who refuse to use background image decorations, but let me explain why as well as what.
The background image I use on X is called the "root weave" and although it is horribly ugly, it is exceedingly useful. The "root weave" image is designed to help you detect errors in display rendering. If there's something wrong in your display drivers, display settings, or even cable connections, the refresh makes the root weave look like it's moving and can show other very obvious signs of corruption.
I got into this function-over-fashion mindset many decades ago when it was very easy to destroy a very expensive display by configuring or driving it the wrong way. Modern displays typically have safe-guards to prevent destroying equipment, but my ancient habit is still very useful for debugging.
The X.org and XFree code base includes the rootweave and a few other similar images designed to help identify display problems. You might have fun incorporating the ideas behind these test images into something more beautiful to look at?
That's a pretty interesting idea; do you have links to the "root weave" image? I googled but the search didn't turn anything up.
I'm not sure it's quite the direction I want to take Silk, but thanks for sharing -- I never thought about using desktop images for a pragmatic purpose such as that.
In the past I've read analysis/explanation regarding the various test images, why they were created and how they should be used, but that was a very long time ago. You'll probably need to do a bit of digging to find such information.
Pure beauty is commendable as well as commonly desirable. Pure function is also commendable but far less commonly desirable. A blend of both is often superior to either.
I think would be unwise to cater function solely towards people doing debugging since it would severely limit the market, but making something both gorgeous and useful will have a stronger appeal than just gorgeous.
Root weave is a rendering definition, rather than a bitmap image, so that's probably why you're having a hard time finding it. Someone could probably grab a screenshot for you though.
Apparently root weave was done away with in X11R7.5, who knew? (Can still be enabled with the -retro flag.)
Congrats on a very slick web app, btw. Often when I see a project posted here I think to myself, "I could have done that, but am too lazy." :-) However, your idea is highly original and superbly executed. Well beyond my ken, not that that means anything.
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I'm probably the wrong person to reply here...
As someone who never uses "desktop" or "background" images, I actually do think the example images are beautiful and enjoyable.
I'll admit there are probably very few idiots like me who refuse to use background image decorations, but let me explain why as well as what.
The background image I use on X is called the "root weave" and although it is horribly ugly, it is exceedingly useful. The "root weave" image is designed to help you detect errors in display rendering. If there's something wrong in your display drivers, display settings, or even cable connections, the refresh makes the root weave look like it's moving and can show other very obvious signs of corruption.
I got into this function-over-fashion mindset many decades ago when it was very easy to destroy a very expensive display by configuring or driving it the wrong way. Modern displays typically have safe-guards to prevent destroying equipment, but my ancient habit is still very useful for debugging.
The X.org and XFree code base includes the rootweave and a few other similar images designed to help identify display problems. You might have fun incorporating the ideas behind these test images into something more beautiful to look at?
That's a pretty interesting idea; do you have links to the "root weave" image? I googled but the search didn't turn anything up.
I'm not sure it's quite the direction I want to take Silk, but thanks for sharing -- I never thought about using desktop images for a pragmatic purpose such as that.
The various test images, including the rootweave, can be found in Xorg/XFree CVS:
http://webcvs.freedesktop.org/xorg/data/bitmaps/
In the past I've read analysis/explanation regarding the various test images, why they were created and how they should be used, but that was a very long time ago. You'll probably need to do a bit of digging to find such information.
Pure beauty is commendable as well as commonly desirable. Pure function is also commendable but far less commonly desirable. A blend of both is often superior to either.
I think would be unwise to cater function solely towards people doing debugging since it would severely limit the market, but making something both gorgeous and useful will have a stronger appeal than just gorgeous.
Also, lagrom.nl has a bunch of LCD test images, one of them being a clock/phase image that serves much the same purpose.
http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/clock_phase.php
Root weave is a rendering definition, rather than a bitmap image, so that's probably why you're having a hard time finding it. Someone could probably grab a screenshot for you though.
This is the only picture I could find:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3590/3621951455_9632ff862f.jp...
Apparently root weave was done away with in X11R7.5, who knew? (Can still be enabled with the -retro flag.)
Congrats on a very slick web app, btw. Often when I see a project posted here I think to myself, "I could have done that, but am too lazy." :-) However, your idea is highly original and superbly executed. Well beyond my ken, not that that means anything.
It's probably this: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Twm_en.pn...
The "probably" up there makes me sad; I miss my Linux desktops.
This one makes my display shimmer a little: http://peach.blender.org/wp-content/uploads/sun_session.png
TWM - that takes me back about 20 years!