Afterglow: Run classic After Dark screen savers on modern macOS
A new macOS application, Afterglow, meticulously revives classic After Dark screen savers, bringing iconic animations like Flying Toasters back to modern Macs. By emulating the original 68k code without complex dependencies, it addresses a long-standing desire for software preservation and nostalgic computing. Hacker News users lauded its technical accomplishment and immediately dove into sharing fond memories and discussing the implications of digital archeology.
The Lowdown
Afterglow is a new macOS application designed to run the beloved classic After Dark screen savers from the 1990s on contemporary Apple hardware. These screen savers, originally developed by Berkeley Systems, were not only practical for preventing CRT monitor burn-in but also captivated users with their quirky, beautiful, and sometimes surreal animations.
- Afterglow directly emulates the original 68k module code, ensuring faithful reproduction without requiring classic Mac OS installations or ROMs.
- It simplifies the process of importing modules, allowing users to drag and drop files, disk images, or archives, and even browse and install releases directly from the Internet Archive within the app.
- The application integrates seamlessly as a standard macOS screen saver, enabling users to employ their favorite classic modules.
- Built on the Musashi 68k CPU emulator, Afterglow is dependency-free, reimplementing only the necessary Macintosh Toolbox and OS APIs.
- Additional features include module controls, full-screen mode, a randomizer, multimodule support, 3D box art, a CRT shader, and a resource inspector.
This project serves as a significant effort in software preservation, making these digital art pieces accessible and enjoyable for a new generation while offering a potent dose of nostalgia for those who remember them fondly.
The Gossip
Nostalgic Netizen Nods
Commenters waxed poetic about their favorite After Dark modules, particularly 'Flying Toasters,' 'Star Trek,' and the game 'Lunatic Fringe.' Many expressed a strong desire for similar projects on other platforms like Windows and Wayland, or for other 'deceased' classic screensavers, highlighting a collective yearning for the digital relics of yesteryear.
Installation and Integration Inquiries
A significant portion of the discussion revolved around practical issues with getting Afterglow to function as a macOS screensaver. Users inquired about its setup, particularly how to make it appear in System Settings. Helpful community members quickly provided solutions, clarifying that activation within Afterglow's own settings and navigating macOS's 'Show All' screen saver options were key.
Copyright Conundrums and Clever Compliance
The method Afterglow uses to provide access to modules—allowing import from user-supplied files and direct browsing of the Internet Archive—sparked a debate on the legality and copyright implications. Commenters discussed whether this approach, which avoids bundling copyrighted content, effectively shifts responsibility to the user, drawing parallels to other software like Comma.ai, Winamp, and Audacity, while also referencing past 'inducement liability' legal cases like MGM v. Grokster.