Presenterm is a terminal-based presentation tool that uses Markdown for content creation. It leverages the power of Markdown's simplicity for writing slides and integrates seamlessly with the terminal environment, making it lightweight and portable. Presenterm supports features like syntax highlighting, custom themes, and speaker notes, allowing for dynamic and engaging presentations directly within the terminal. This offers a minimalist and efficient alternative to traditional graphical presentation software, particularly appealing to developers and command-line enthusiasts.
Vtm is a terminal-based desktop environment built with Python and inspired by tiling window managers. It aims to provide a lightweight and keyboard-driven workflow, allowing users to manage multiple terminal windows within a single terminal instance. Vtm utilizes a tree-like structure for window organization, enabling split layouts and tabbed interfaces. Its configuration is handled through a simple Python file, offering customization options for keybindings, colors, and startup applications. Ultimately, Vtm strives to offer a minimalist and efficient terminal experience for users who prefer a text-based environment.
Hacker News users discuss vtm, a text-based desktop environment, focusing on its potential niche use cases. Some commenters see value in its minimal resource usage for embedded systems or as a fallback interface. Others appreciate the accessibility benefits for visually impaired users or those who prefer keyboard-driven workflows. Several express interest in trying vtm out of curiosity or for specific tasks like remote server administration. A few highlight the project's novelty and the nostalgic appeal of text-based interfaces. Some skepticism is voiced regarding its practicality compared to modern graphical DEs, but the overall sentiment is positive, with many praising the developer's effort and acknowledging the potential value of such a project. A discussion arises about the use of terminology, clarifying the difference between a window manager and a desktop environment. The lightweight nature of vtm and its integration with notcurses are also highlighted.
Nebu is a minimalist spreadsheet editor designed for Varvara, a unique computer system. It focuses on simplicity and efficiency, utilizing a keyboard-driven interface with limited mouse interaction. Features include basic spreadsheet operations like calculations, cell formatting, and navigation. Nebu embraces a "less is more" philosophy, aiming to provide a distraction-free environment for working with numerical data within the constraints of Varvara's hardware and software ecosystem. It prioritizes performance and responsiveness over complex features, striving for a smooth and intuitive user experience.
Hacker News users discuss Nebu, a spreadsheet editor designed for the Varvara computer. Several commenters express interest in the project, particularly its minimalist aesthetic and novel approach to spreadsheet interaction. Some question the practicality and target audience, given Varvara's niche status. There's discussion about the potential benefits of a simplified interface and the limitations of traditional spreadsheet software. A few users compare Nebu to other minimalist or unconventional spreadsheet tools and speculate about its potential for broader adoption. Several also inquire about the specifics of its implementation and integration with Varvara's unique operating system. Overall, the comments reflect a mixture of curiosity, skepticism, and cautious optimism about Nebu's potential.
This project demonstrates a surprisingly functional 3D raycaster engine implemented entirely within a Bash script. By cleverly leveraging ASCII characters and terminal output manipulation, it renders a simple maze-like environment in pseudo-3D. The script calculates ray intersections with walls and represents distances with varying shades of characters, creating a surprisingly immersive experience given the limitations of the medium. While performance is understandably limited, it showcases the flexibility and unexpected capabilities of Bash beyond typical scripting tasks.
Hacker News users discuss the ingenuity and limitations of a bash raycaster. Several express admiration for the project's creativity, highlighting the unexpected capability of bash for such a task. Some commenters delve into the technical details, discussing the clever use of shell built-ins and the performance implications of using bash for computationally intensive tasks. Others point out that the "raycasting" is actually a 2.5D projection technique and not true raycasting. The novelty of the project and its demonstration of bash's flexibility are the main takeaways, though its practicality is questioned. Some users also shared links to similar projects in other unexpected languages.
Obsidian-textgrams is a plugin that allows users to create and embed ASCII diagrams directly within their Obsidian notes. It leverages code blocks and a custom renderer to display the diagrams, offering features like syntax highlighting and the ability to store diagram source code within the note itself. This provides a convenient way to visualize information using simple text-based graphics within the Obsidian environment, eliminating the need for external image files or complex drawing tools.
HN users generally expressed interest in the Obsidian Textgrams plugin, praising its lightweight approach compared to alternatives like Excalidraw or Mermaid. Some suggested improvements, including the ability to embed rendered diagrams as images for compatibility with other Markdown editors, and better text alignment within shapes. One commenter highlighted the usefulness for quickly mocking up system designs or diagrams, while another appreciated its simplicity for note-taking. The discussion also touched upon alternative tools like PlantUML and Graphviz, but the consensus leaned towards appreciating Textgrams' minimalist and fast rendering capabilities within Obsidian. A few users expressed interest in seeing support for more complex shapes and connections.
Summary of Comments ( 37 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43303752
Hacker News users generally praised Presenterm for its simplicity and minimalist approach to terminal-based presentations. Several commenters appreciated its reliance on standard Markdown, making it easy to create and edit presentations without learning a new syntax. Some highlighted the benefit of having presentations version-controlled alongside code in Git repositories. Others suggested potential improvements, such as adding support for speaker notes, theming, and transitions. A few pointed out existing alternatives like
mdpand remarked on the trade-offs between terminal-based presentations and more feature-rich GUI options. The discussion also touched upon the niche use case of presentations within a terminal environment, with some finding it ideal for code-heavy talks and demos.The Hacker News post for Presenterm, a terminal-based Markdown slideshow tool, has generated a moderate amount of discussion with several interesting comments.
Several users express appreciation for the simplicity and utility of a terminal-based presentation tool. One commenter highlights the benefit of having presentations readily available within the terminal workflow, eliminating the need to switch to a separate GUI application. They also emphasize the advantage of using familiar Markdown formatting. Another echoes this sentiment, finding the terminal context particularly useful for technical presentations where code snippets and command outputs are frequently demonstrated. The lightweight and portable nature of a terminal-based solution are also mentioned as appealing features.
One user raises a concern about the lack of support for images, a feature they deem crucial for engaging presentations. This sparks a discussion about the trade-offs between simplicity and functionality. Another user counters this by suggesting that Presenterm could be useful for quick, informal presentations or internal technical discussions where rich visuals aren't as important. Furthermore, a commenter points out that the lack of image support could actually be a strength, forcing presenters to focus on content and delivery rather than relying heavily on visuals.
A discussion thread emerges regarding potential improvements and feature requests. One suggestion involves incorporating transitions or animations between slides to enhance visual appeal. Another user proposes the integration of syntax highlighting for code blocks, making technical presentations clearer and more readable. The possibility of adding speaker notes is also raised, which would be beneficial for keeping track of talking points during a presentation. Someone mentions wanting PDF export capabilities, suggesting this would be useful for sharing slides after a presentation.
Some users express interest in exploring similar terminal-based presentation tools, mentioning alternatives like
mdpand highlighting their respective features. This demonstrates an existing demand for this type of tool and suggests a broader interest in minimalist presentation methods.Finally, one commenter shares their experience of using a similar tool for teaching, indicating real-world applications and further validating the utility of terminal-based presentation software. They praise the ability to seamlessly integrate code demonstrations into the presentation flow.