Show HN: A CSS-Only Terrain Generator • Hacker News Board

Re: Show HN: A CSS-Only Terrain Generator

#71

Post by senfiaj » Tue, Nov 04, 2025, 8:30 PM UTC

decimaldesign wrote: post #63

senfiaj wrote: post #53

When I turn off JS, it shows a loader instead of the terrain. Is this really CSS-Only? I mean it's still a high achievement even with JS, but was expecting it would also work without JS. This one, for example, truly works without JS https://benjaminaster.com/css-minecraft/ .

I think what's intended is that the completed and downloaded solution doesn't require any javascript. Build something then hit the Download Code button - that packaged HTML solution doesn't require any javascript to render locally.

Yeah, it worked, it seems to be a static rendered html with no interactivity though.

Re: Show HN: A CSS-Only Terrain Generator

#72

Post by thih9 » Tue, Nov 04, 2025, 8:37 PM UTC

embedding-shape wrote: post #69

thih9 wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wanted to check if your assumption is correct but I couldn’t find the source code. Why do you think the renderer is pure css and not e.g. mostly css?

The top right button has a "Download code" which gives you a .zip file. That .zip file doesn't have any JS in it, and renders the terrain just like in the online editor, except you can turn off JS and it still works. Edit: someone else wrote basically the same an hour ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45814791

Looks like it’s a “(css-only terrain) generator” - a generator that lets the user create and download a css only terrain.

As opposed to a “css-only (terrain generator)” - a terrain creation studio built with css only.

Re: Show HN: A CSS-Only Terrain Generator

#73

Post by lawlessone » Tue, Nov 04, 2025, 8:42 PM UTC

mig39 wrote: post #30

andruc wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Funny, my mind went to OpenTTD

Both Rollercoaster Tycoon and Transport Tycoon Deluxe (which lives on in openTTD) are by the same author, and use the same engine :-)

Chris Sawyer, he made them with a tiny magnet that he used to write the games directly to a hard drive.

Re: Show HN: A CSS-Only Terrain Generator

#74

Post by chubs » Tue, Nov 04, 2025, 9:04 PM UTC

rofko wrote: post #9

mpeg wrote: post #3

Reminds me of Populous! Very cool

Thank you! Populous and Transport Tycoon were two big inspirations for sure :)

Also reminded me a lot of simcity 2000. Congrats, it's very neat!

Re: Show HN: A CSS-Only Terrain Generator

#75

Post by shermantanktop » Tue, Nov 04, 2025, 9:25 PM UTC

Elfener wrote: post #39

shermantanktop wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

is it a Generator for CSS-Only Terrain? or a CSS-Only Generator which creates Terrain? We need PEMDAS for English.

Let's use sexpr? actual meaning -> ((CSS-Only Terrain) Generator) incorrect interpretation -> (CSS-Only (Terrain Generator))

maybe RPN?

actual meaning -> CSS-Only Terrain + Generator +

incorrect interpretation -> CSS-Only + Terrain Generator +

Really we may need BNF here

Re: Show HN: A CSS-Only Terrain Generator

#76

Post by kataqatsi » Tue, Nov 04, 2025, 9:55 PM UTC

for those interested in more CSS-Only art, Lynn Fisher makes some neat stuff

https://a.singlediv.com/

Re: Show HN: A CSS-Only Terrain Generator

#77

Post by 91bananas » Tue, Nov 04, 2025, 10:19 PM UTC

tantalor wrote: post #52

bogwog wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess it'd be more accurate to call it a "Generator for CSS-Only Terrain", as the generator itself is not CSS-only.

It's a "(CSS-only Terrain) Generator", not a "CSS-only (Terrain Generator)"

https://xkcd.com/37/

Re: Show HN: A CSS-Only Terrain Generator

#78

Post by brendoelfrendo » Wed, Nov 05, 2025, 12:27 AM UTC

lawlessone wrote: post #73

mig39 wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Both Rollercoaster Tycoon and Transport Tycoon Deluxe (which lives on in openTTD) are by the same author, and use the same engine :-)

Chris Sawyer, he made them with a tiny magnet that he used to write the games directly to a hard drive.

I once heard he tickled a butterfly in Brazil to cause a cloud in the UK that diverted a cosmic ray onto his hard drive in the exact right spot to flip the required bit.

Re: Show HN: A CSS-Only Terrain Generator

#79

Post by jheriko » Wed, Nov 05, 2025, 3:52 AM UTC

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Re: Show HN: A CSS-Only Terrain Generator

#80

Post by jheriko » Wed, Nov 05, 2025, 3:54 AM UTC

bodge5000 wrote: post #38

I've used a few terrain generators before but I think this one might be my favourite. Obviously the fact its a "CSS only" demo project restricts things a bit, but its got enough going for it regardless. It actually comes at a really good time for me, I'm currently trying to make the transition from 2d game dev to 3d and things like this are really helpful.

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