Experiences of a Linux Newbie: Screensavers
I've tinkered with Linux before, but never really got into it until just recently, when I started using it on my main machine as a way to force myself to learn. One of the things I like best about computers is the gadgets and gizmos built into the programs. So, coming from Windows 2000 to Debian/GNU Linux, it didn't take me long to discover the vast array of screensavers built into XScreenSaver. I started off with the famous BSODs screensaver (blue screens of death from various operating systems), which kept me entertained for a couple of days. I also tried lightning, but that didn't hold my interest long - I like information!
Then, a couple of days ago, I discovered Phosphor, a screensaver that imitates an old vt100 green phosphor screen terminal, rather reminiscent of the text behavior in The Matrix, and displays various log entries from Linux experts and enthusiasts. I assumed that they were programmed in whenever the software was released, and that it was reading from a text file; that was what I was used to. After a while, looking one of the entries up in my web browser, I noticed that it was dated less than two days old, and matched the one on my screensaver. I found that the screensaver is getting information from an Internet URL (a user-configurable RSS newsfeed, to be specific).
I find that very cool - it reminds me of when you see the blinking consoles on the computers and the scrolling information on the monitors in the background on TV and in movies - not only do I have something like that now in my computers (photo will follow, if I can get a good picture), but it's actually potentially useful, up-to-date information in easily-digestable blocks that I can pay attention to or ignore, as I desire. Also, Phosphor usually repeats logs a few times, so if I ignore it once, chances are I'll see it again later before it gets pushed off by newer log entries.
Then, a couple of days ago, I discovered Phosphor, a screensaver that imitates an old vt100 green phosphor screen terminal, rather reminiscent of the text behavior in The Matrix, and displays various log entries from Linux experts and enthusiasts. I assumed that they were programmed in whenever the software was released, and that it was reading from a text file; that was what I was used to. After a while, looking one of the entries up in my web browser, I noticed that it was dated less than two days old, and matched the one on my screensaver. I found that the screensaver is getting information from an Internet URL (a user-configurable RSS newsfeed, to be specific).
I find that very cool - it reminds me of when you see the blinking consoles on the computers and the scrolling information on the monitors in the background on TV and in movies - not only do I have something like that now in my computers (photo will follow, if I can get a good picture), but it's actually potentially useful, up-to-date information in easily-digestable blocks that I can pay attention to or ignore, as I desire. Also, Phosphor usually repeats logs a few times, so if I ignore it once, chances are I'll see it again later before it gets pushed off by newer log entries.
posted by Wireball at 1:15 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home