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Show HN: I recreated a flying toasters screensaver for XScreensaver (github.com)

80 points by torunar ↗ HN
"After Dark" by Berkeley Systems was a collection of screensavers for Macintosh and Windows from early 90s; "Flying Toasters" is probably the most famous and loved among them.

Using my very limited knowledge of C and X11 programming, I recreated it as a XScreensaver module for Linux. Hope you find it useful or at least amusing!

22 comments

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GTP
Wasn't there already a screensaver with flying toasters? Or I remember wrong?
davewongillies
There is: https://www.jwz.org/xscreensaver/screenshots/

The existing Xscreensaver flying toasters is a sort of clone or reimagining whereas this new one looks like its exactly the same as the old After Dark Flying Toasters.

bch
NB: jwz does not appreciate direct-linking from HN - cut/paste this link or be prepared for a nsfw middle finger.
pavon
The original screen saver is still covered by copyright for at least 61 more years, and Berkeley Systems previously sued the makers of an Opus and Bill parody screensaver. So it is understandable that xscreensaver doesn't have a faithful replica of the original.
wkat4242
I prefer xfishtank on a root window <3. Surprisingly there was never a screensaver version of it.
prometheus76
Asciiquarium is the one I use and I love it. Runs in a Linux terminal window.
slicktux
Anyone ever play the after dark games..? Also by Berkeley Systems…
m463
I miss the other screensavers.

There was an aquarium where the mafia would dump someone with cement shoes.

There was apartment buildings where you could see people in the windows.

I thought it was after dark sick and twisted screensaver?

EDIT: It was After Dark Totally Twisted screen savers

Toxic swamp - an aquarium with dead/mutant fish swimming

Flying Toilets - like flying toasters, but...

Voyeur - apartment building with silhouettes in the window

and many more

https://youtu.be/ZsKYXftB68M

An edition called After Dark Totally Twisted includes the more macabre modules, namely Bungee Roulette, Chameleon, Coming Soon!, Flying Toilets, FrankenScreen, Message Mayhem, Mike's So-called Life, Mime Hunt, Mowin' Boris, Phlegm Boy, Shock Clocks, Toxic Swamp, and Voyeur.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/After_Dark_(software)

blibble
the after dark modules are just dlls

should be possible to get them to work with wine with a little wrapper

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rcarmo
Needs a "toast level" setting, like the original - but great job!
qwerty456127
Nice! Please create a clone of classic textmode (just looking like that, obviously) starfield screensaver from the Norton Commander next :-)