minich@d.cs.okstate.edu (Robert Minich) (06/15/90)
OK, so it's not only _me_ that is having trouble with darkness. I can't get any magic key sequences, sleep now, or anything other than the standard "don't flinch for two minutes" to work. I like the idea of a MultiFinder app instead of INIT (YEAH!) but Darkness goes to an extreme. It seems to me that a cdev to twiddle a pref file would be a very nice addition, even if you have to reboot to see the changes. Also, the app should be sneakier. How about this: a normal app that comes to the front after x minutes and does the nifty blank out stuff. Also, do a "invisible menu bar" like Tetris. That way, we don't even need a sleep now corner because we can just choose the dimmer like any other running program. (still need a never-sleep corner, tho) I am almost interested enough to go write this myself, but there are a few things I don't quite understand that I would like to. First and foremost, I need to know what darkness does to determine nothing has happened for x minute. I guess I could check the mouse location, but that does not help if you're typing. I would also be nice to know more about launching other programs from within another program, since I'm too cheap to buy the Programmer's Guide to MF, which I pressume is pretty thin reading. (When is Inside Mac VI going to hit the *@#*&%#$ press?) Last note: has anyone else wondered what they might use darkness for OTHER than to run screen dimmers? Perhaps this could be extended into a tool to periodicly run other programs? !!! please edit the newsgroups line for follow ups !!! -- | _ /| | Robert Minich | | \'o.O' | Oklahoma State University | | =(___)= | minich@d.cs.okstate.edu | | U | - Bill sez "Ackphtth" |
ml10+@andrew.cmu.edu (Michael A. Libes) (06/15/90)
Mac Tip #1: Never call InitWindows in a background only program!
This is why there are versions v1.0.1 and v2.0.1 of Darkness. You
will see v2.0.1 appear soon on the net. Sorry about the problem, but by
the size of the response, it looks like Darkness is catching on...
Enjoy!
- Lunarmobiscuit (author of Darkness)