Own up HN: What are your craziest abandoned projects?

#1

Post by aarongough » Fri, Sep 18, 2009, 5:54 PM UTC

I think everyone has at least one of these projects: something that seemed like an awesome idea when you started it, then mid-way through you realize how bad it was for such-and-such reason.

Going through my old files this afternoon in an effort to reclaim some HDD space reminded me of some of the crazier ideas I've had. It's always great to follow up your ideas, but it's even better to realize when they're totally crazy!

I'm sure that all of you have some great stories, and who knows, maybe our crazy ideas will inspire someone else to write their own crazy, and possibly great, app!

Re: Own up HN: What are your craziest abandoned projects?

#2

Post by aarongough » Fri, Sep 18, 2009, 5:57 PM UTC

While going through my old files today I have found 3 already!

- A JavaScript framework: Like jQuery wasn't good enough?

- A client-side search engine: Used AJAX calls to crawl a website and return results... Can you say slooow? Yuck.

- Hoppy: A simple little program that creates several new versions of itself, with names generated by a markov chain, then runs those new versions after a time delay. I never inflicted this upon anyone else, but trying to shut it down without re-booting was hell!

Re: Own up HN: What are your craziest abandoned projects?

#3

Post by tkiley » Fri, Sep 18, 2009, 6:10 PM UTC

This: http://votesimple.org/

I would like to see this kind of thing in the USA someday, but there are some pretty significant practical hurdles in the way. I think it's possible to design around the problems, but I just haven't had the time + energy to move forward.

Re: Own up HN: What are your craziest abandoned projects?

#4

Post by pavel_lishin » Fri, Sep 18, 2009, 6:14 PM UTC

Prison Buddy Search.

Basically, I wanted something that would let you search for your high school friends in all the jails & prisons, state and federal. Optionally I thought about hooking it into facebook, for automatic updates.

"Ben Jerry has just been imprisoned for 5 years for aggravated assault!"

Hope someone doesn't steal my idea; then again, if they do that means I'd get to reap the fun benefit without the hard work!

Re: Own up HN: What are your craziest abandoned projects?

#5

Post by aarongough » Fri, Sep 18, 2009, 6:16 PM UTC

tkiley wrote: post #3

This: http://votesimple.org/ I would like to see this kind of thing in the USA someday, but there are some pretty significant practical hurdles in the way. I think it's possible to design around the problems, but I just haven't had the time + energy to move forward.

I like it! It's a very clever way to combine a direct democracy with the current system! I would be happy to see it working...

I was talking with a friend of mine who is a political analyst a while ago about a similar scheme... While sketching out a basic plan I realized how much work it would be and let it die...

Re: Own up HN: What are your craziest abandoned projects?

#6

Post by aarongough » Fri, Sep 18, 2009, 6:17 PM UTC

pavel_lishin wrote: post #4

Prison Buddy Search. Basically, I wanted something that would let you search for your high school friends in all the jails & prisons, state and federal. Optionally I thought about hooking it into facebook, for automatic updates. "Ben Jerry has just been imprisoned for 5 years for aggravated assault!" Hope someone doesn't steal my idea; then again, if they do that means I'd get to reap the fun benefit without the hard…

Haha, nice. Takes all the hard work out of avoiding jailhouse beatings :-p

Re: Own up HN: What are your craziest abandoned projects?

#7

Post by rick2047 » Fri, Sep 18, 2009, 6:22 PM UTC

aarongough wrote: post #2

While going through my old files today I have found 3 already! - A JavaScript framework: Like jQuery wasn't good enough? - A client-side search engine: Used AJAX calls to crawl a website and return results... Can you say slooow? Yuck. - Hoppy: A simple little program that creates several new versions of itself, with names generated by a markov chain, then runs those new versions after a time delay. I never inflicted…

mine was something similar to hoppy.What I basically tried to do was write a ruby script that generated newer ruby scripts.And what did all these ruby scripts do?they scaned the long long equation and then try to put in different values in it and solve them for one variable. All this was so random and vague that I had to abandon it after about 66 minutes into it.

Re: Own up HN: What are your craziest abandoned projects?

#8

Post by aarongough » Fri, Sep 18, 2009, 6:27 PM UTC

rick2047 wrote: post #7

aarongough wrote: post #2

While going through my old files today I have found 3 already! - A JavaScript framework: Like jQuery wasn't good enough? - A client-side search engine: Used AJAX calls to crawl a website and return results... Can you say slooow? Yuck. - Hoppy: A simple little program that creates several new versions of itself, with names generated by a markov chain, then runs those new versions after a time delay. I never inflicted…

mine was something similar to hoppy.What I basically tried to do was write a ruby script that generated newer ruby scripts.And what did all these ruby scripts do?they scaned the long long equation and then try to put in different values in it and solve them for one variable. All this was so random and vague that I had to abandon it after about 66 minutes into it.

I just remember that an hour or so after I left Hoppy running the whole machine would freeze as Hoppy consumed all it's resources... Seemed like fun at the time, but I always was a strange child!

At least your script started out with a vaguely practical purpose in mind!

Re: Own up HN: What are your craziest abandoned projects?

#9

Post by rrival » Fri, Sep 18, 2009, 6:41 PM UTC

pavel_lishin wrote: post #4

Prison Buddy Search. Basically, I wanted something that would let you search for your high school friends in all the jails & prisons, state and federal. Optionally I thought about hooking it into facebook, for automatic updates. "Ben Jerry has just been imprisoned for 5 years for aggravated assault!" Hope someone doesn't steal my idea; then again, if they do that means I'd get to reap the fun benefit without the hard…

In the same vein, AdoptACon.com - trade prisoners like playing cards

Re: Own up HN: What are your craziest abandoned projects?

#10

Post by th0ma5 » Fri, Sep 18, 2009, 6:49 PM UTC

I had a thing as a kid written in Turbo Pascal that converted RBBS email to Proboard email and back again. I got a call about it from some BBS operators back in the day. I think it is safely abandoned, was insanely specific, and of use to maybe 2 or 3 people on the planet.