Stories with Tag Desktop Customization

• Gorgeous-GRUB: collection of decent community-made GRUB themes

  permalink

  Posted: 2025-05-03 22:57:58

  Verbose tl;dr

  Gorgeous-GRUB is a curated collection of aesthetically pleasing GRUB themes sourced from various online communities. It aims to provide a simple way for users to customize their GRUB bootloader's appearance beyond the default options. The project maintains a diverse range of themes, from minimalist designs to more elaborate and colorful options, and includes installation instructions for various Linux distributions. It simplifies the process of finding and applying these themes, offering a centralized resource for users seeking to personalize their boot experience.

  Jacksaur's GitHub repository, "Gorgeous-GRUB," presents itself as a curated compilation of aesthetically pleasing, community-contributed themes for the GRUB bootloader. GRUB, the GRand Unified Bootloader, is the crucial software component responsible for initiating the operating system boot process on many computer systems. Often presenting a stark and utilitarian interface, GRUB's visual appearance can be customized through themes, and this repository aims to provide a centralized resource for users seeking to enhance their boot experience. The project emphasizes the quality and "decency" of the included themes, suggesting a focus on well-designed, functional, and visually appealing options, potentially contrasting with a plethora of less polished or incomplete themes available elsewhere. By hosting these themes in a single location, "Gorgeous-GRUB" simplifies the process of discovering, previewing, and implementing these visual modifications. Essentially, the repository acts as a curated gallery, allowing users to personalize a typically overlooked aspect of their computing environment and inject a touch of individual style into the very beginning of their system's startup sequence. The implication is that the collection will continue to evolve and grow through community contributions, further expanding the options available to users wishing to move beyond the default GRUB aesthetic.

  • GRUB
  • GRUB2
  • Bootloader
  • Themes
  • Customization
  • Linux
  • open-source
  • Community
  • repository
  • GitHub
  • Desktop Customization
  • System Configuration
  • boot theme

  Summary of Comments ( 94 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43883040

  Verbose tl;dr

  Hacker News users generally praised Gorgeous-GRUB for offering a convenient, centralized collection of aesthetically pleasing GRUB themes. Several commenters expressed appreciation for the project simplifying the often tedious process of customizing GRUB, while others shared their personal favorite themes or suggested additional resources. Some discussion revolved around the difficulty of discovering and installing GRUB themes previously, highlighting the value of the curated collection. A few users also mentioned specific features they liked, such as the inclusion of installation instructions and the variety of styles available. Overall, the comments reflect a positive reception to the project, acknowledging its usefulness for improving the visual appeal of the GRUB bootloader.

  The Hacker News post for "Gorgeous-GRUB: collection of decent community-made GRUB themes" has a moderate number of comments, sparking a discussion around GRUB themes, their utility, and potential alternatives.

  Several commenters appreciate the aesthetic improvements offered by the themes. One user highlights the often-overlooked nature of GRUB customization and expresses gratitude for the curated collection, finding it a valuable resource. Another echoes this sentiment, mentioning the difficulty in finding visually appealing GRUB themes and praising the project for simplifying the process.

  A thread emerges discussing the practical implications of GRUB themes. One commenter questions the relevance of theming a boot loader that's visible only briefly, suggesting that effort might be better directed elsewhere. This sparks a counter-argument that even brief visual elements can enhance the overall user experience, comparing it to other minor but appreciated details in software design. Another user points out the extended visibility of GRUB during troubleshooting or dual-booting scenarios, making theming more impactful in those situations.

  The conversation also touches on alternative boot loaders like systemd-boot, with some commenters suggesting it as a simpler and more modern option. One commenter specifically mentions using systemd-boot with a custom script to generate boot entries, effectively bypassing the need for complex GRUB configurations.

  Some users express interest in specific features, like animated GRUB themes, while others share their personal preferences and experiences with different theming approaches. One commenter humorously recounts a past experience of excessive GRUB customization leading to frustration and a preference for simpler setups.

  While there's no overwhelming consensus, the comments generally lean towards appreciating the effort put into the project, acknowledging the niche appeal of GRUB theming, and offering alternative perspectives on boot loader customization.

• Show HN: Pets for Cursor

  permalink

  Posted: 2025-04-02 12:11:47

  Verbose tl;dr

  Pets for Cursor is a simple web app that adds a small animated pet to follow your mouse cursor around the screen. Choose from a variety of animals, including a cat, dog, duck, and hamster, each with their own unique walking animation. The project is open-source and easily customizable, allowing users to add their own pets by providing a sprite sheet. It's a fun, lightweight way to personalize your browsing experience.

  A Hacker News user has shared a novel browser extension they've created called "Pets for Cursor." This extension introduces a small, animated companion that follows the user's mouse cursor around the webpage. The creator describes it as adding a touch of whimsy and personality to the otherwise mundane browsing experience. The showcased pet is a tiny, pixelated dog that trots dutifully behind the cursor, exhibiting simple but charming animations as it moves. While the initial demonstration only features a canine companion, the project page suggests the possibility of future additions, hinting at a potential menagerie of digital pets to choose from. The extension is designed to be lightweight and non-intrusive, aiming to enhance the browsing experience without hindering functionality or creating distractions. The creator has made the extension's source code publicly available on GitHub, inviting contributions and modifications from other developers. The Hacker News post itself serves as an announcement and a platform for feedback, allowing the community to interact with the creator and offer suggestions for improvement or expansion of the "Pets for Cursor" project.

  • Show HN
  • pets
  • Cursor
  • Mouse Cursor
  • Customization
  • Desktop Customization
  • Web Development
  • javascript
  • browser extension
  • fun
  • productivity
  • Digital Pets
  • Virtual Pets
  • animals

  Summary of Comments ( 10 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43555820

  Verbose tl;dr

  The Hacker News comments on "Show HN: Pets for Cursor" are generally positive and intrigued by the project. Several commenters express interest in trying it out or appreciate the novelty. Some suggest improvements like different pet options, customizable animations, and the ability to toggle the pet on/off. A few commenters raise potential downsides, such as the pet being distracting or interfering with clicking. One commenter notes the similarity to a previous project called "Cursorcerer," which was received favorably by their team. Overall, the comments indicate that while a simple idea, "Pets for Cursor" has sparked interest and discussion around its potential utility and entertainment value.

  The Hacker News post "Show HN: Pets for Cursor" generated a moderate amount of discussion, with a mix of positive feedback, constructive criticism, and tangential conversations.

  Several commenters expressed their enjoyment of the project, finding it cute and fun. Some appreciated the simplicity and whimsical nature of having a small pet follow their cursor. One user even suggested it could be a good way to introduce children to programming concepts.

  A recurring theme in the comments was the performance aspect. Multiple users pointed out that the pet's movement appeared jerky or laggy, particularly on certain websites or with specific browser extensions. This led to suggestions for optimization, including using hardware acceleration or different animation techniques. One commenter offered specific advice related to requestAnimationFrame and reducing redraws.

  The discussion also delved into the technical implementation of the project. Commenters inquired about the choice of JavaScript library and discussed alternative approaches. There was a brief exchange regarding the use of CSS transforms versus canvas for rendering the animation.

  Beyond the technical aspects, the conversation touched on the broader implications of such cursor modifications. One commenter expressed concern about the potential for distraction or annoyance, particularly in professional settings. Another user raised the issue of accessibility, questioning whether the pet might interfere with assistive technologies.

  Some commenters shared similar projects or resources, including browser extensions that offer cursor customization. This broadened the discussion to include different approaches to cursor enhancements and the potential use cases for such tools. There was even a brief detour into the history of cursor customization and the popularity of animated cursors in the early days of the internet.

  While many appreciated the project's lighthearted nature, some commenters questioned its practical value and suggested potential improvements or alternative applications. For example, one user proposed using the pet as a visual indicator for loading or processing tasks. Another suggested integrating it with other browser functionalities, such as highlighting links or displaying notifications.

  Overall, the comments reflect a general appreciation for the project's creativity while also acknowledging its limitations and suggesting areas for improvement. The discussion provided valuable feedback for the creator and sparked a wider conversation about cursor customization and its potential uses.