Show HN: ANSI-Saver – A macOS Screensaver • Hacker News Board

Show HN: ANSI-Saver – A macOS Screensaver

#1

Post by lardissone » Sat, Mar 07, 2026, 2:34 PM UTC

Hi, I've been working on something I've been thinking for long time but since I had no experience with macOS screen savers I always posponed. Now thanks to Claude I was able to create a screensaver that scroll ANSI files while your computer is idle.

It allow to use local ANS files or packs directly from 16colo.rs.

Repo: https://github.com/lardissone/ansi-saver

Show HN: ANSI-Saver – A macOS Screensaver
github.com

Re: Show HN: ANSI-Saver – A macOS Screensaver

#2

Post by binaryturtle » Sat, Mar 07, 2026, 3:32 PM UTC

Those are some intense system requirements.

Re: Show HN: ANSI-Saver – A macOS Screensaver

#3

Post by user3939382 » Sat, Mar 07, 2026, 3:44 PM UTC

As someone with a flying toasters tie, I can’t wait to try this.

Re: Show HN: ANSI-Saver – A macOS Screensaver

#4

Post by adambb » Sat, Mar 07, 2026, 4:23 PM UTC

binaryturtle wrote: post #2

Those are some intense system requirements.

(unintentional) satire? almost a meditation on the seemingly inevitable bloat of software

Re: Show HN: ANSI-Saver – A macOS Screensaver

#5

Post by lardissone » Sat, Mar 07, 2026, 4:25 PM UTC

binaryturtle wrote: post #2

Those are some intense system requirements.

Ah, yes, I’m not able to test in Intel Macs. Will try to make it available to lower macOS versions at least.

Re: Show HN: ANSI-Saver – A macOS Screensaver

#6

Post by retlehs » Sat, Mar 07, 2026, 4:30 PM UTC

This is really great work, I’m installing this immediately once I’m back on my machine

My terminal loads ANSI each time it opens, but requires downloading artpacks first: https://github.com/retlehs/ansimotd

I also like how your README suggests specific packs to grab

Re: Show HN: ANSI-Saver – A macOS Screensaver

#7

Post by conception » Sat, Mar 07, 2026, 4:32 PM UTC

user3939382 wrote: post #3

As someone with a flying toasters tie, I can’t wait to try this.

On an aside, I’ve gotten After Dark to work on Windows 10 with some effort. Haven’t tried 11 yet.

Re: Show HN: ANSI-Saver – A macOS Screensaver

#8

Post by superultra » Sat, Mar 07, 2026, 4:42 PM UTC

Tahoe only? Yikes!

Re: Show HN: ANSI-Saver – A macOS Screensaver

#9

Post by xp84 » Sat, Mar 07, 2026, 5:00 PM UTC

lardissone wrote: post #5

binaryturtle wrote: post #2

Those are some intense system requirements.

Ah, yes, I’m not able to test in Intel Macs. Will try to make it available to lower macOS versions at least.

You might find some volunteers here willing to make Intel builds :)

Re: Show HN: ANSI-Saver – A macOS Screensaver

#10

Post by ynac » Sat, Mar 07, 2026, 5:02 PM UTC

You're inspiring me to attempt a rescue of my last BBS (MajorBBS system) from 1991-1993. It had some great ANSI room and section screens. It was run from a single 1GB(!!) drive that cost us $1000. We had email, a couple stores (one of the first online book stores) and store-n-forward mail systems, maybe finger and telnet(?). Unfortunately, a neighbor got stoned, had a cigarette in bed and burned up his house and ours. Nobody hurt, but the BBS wasn't backed up offsite.