EDEX-UI: science fiction terminal emulator | Hacker News Reader

EDEX-UI: science fiction terminal emulator

github.com

204 pointscaiobegotti35 comments

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A few tangentially related links ...

First, there are a few write-ups of the fictional UI(s) used in The Martian:

https://www.behance.net/gallery/30473933/The-Martian-UI-Scre...

https://medium.com/territory-film/ui-stories-the-martian-eff...

Second, I think this blog on sci-fi typography may be interesting to those reading this thread:

https://typesetinthefuture.com/

Here's a write-up about the Tron scene in question was produced (hilariously, it features Emacs): https://web.archive.org/web/20110726180753/http://jtnimoy.ne...

I cant read this webpage it hurts my eyes. The font literally hurts. It not because I am a vi user... I am old. Also the EDEX-UI is the same way.

It's horrible. I used the Inspect feature and changed the font for the "seriouscopy" class to Arial. It's much more readable. Why would anyone ever use HelveticaNeueUltraLight?!

Indeed. The website doesn't seem to exist any longer, so I chose an old archive (2010). I seem to remember the formatting being better in a more recent one, but I can't find it.

Big plus of this software is that it runs without any configuration effort.

Usually these flashy Hollywood-OS terminals require a bunch of work before they look even slightly like the example image used by the developer.

I can't see myself using this for actual work, but it does look pretty. Maybe I could use it during a presentation :)

Quite. $ yay -S edex-ui-git (wait quite a while!) click on entry on menu item.

It looks amazing and will be trotted out at the next available opportunity. Luckily I have a fair bit of CPU in this laptop because that and Teams take their toll. Fan: take the strain ...

I really wish this thing would simply check to see if I already have a node/npm installation...

I can't see myself using this for actual work, but it does look pretty.

I use Cool Retro Term (CRT) for actual work. I find the PET font soothing. I also use it for certain types of tasks, so if, out of the corner of my eye, I see lots of text scrolling along, then my mind processes it as "Something's gone pear-shaped with Task X" without having to look at the other monitors.

Another link that might interest you, using an amber screened VT220 terminal with a modern computer.

https://jstn.tumblr.com/post/8692501831

Absolutely sick! Definitely I'll say its not the most usable, but some of the features make a ton of sense! Like having an active finder window thats always in the directory of your terminal, so great! Also +1 to having no configuration to get to a sweet looking setup.

This is one of the things I love about KDE’s Dolphin. It’s a file manager with a built in terminal and both stay in sync.

Yes, it is indeed quite friction-removing and combines the usefulness of both.

Neat!

In contrast to previous toys I've seen like this, EDEX-UI seems to have a bunch of good ideas. It's not something I'd use yet, but it's close. The idea of showing files in my current working directory is good. There's a bunch of other stuff that's good. And then there's a bunch of stuff that's a useless waste of screenspace.

But I could totally see myself replacing the useless stuff with things I care about:

* System status (computer thermals, connected USB devices, Bluetooth, Wifi, audio devices, etc.)

* Weather and time across places I interact with

Etc.

Key thing would be a simple extension API, where I can add the things I care about with a 5 minute learning curve.

I'd be glad to toss something like that up on one monitor.

I use a tiling window manager, but it doesn't support general tiling of the type needed to make everything an appropriate size, like this thing does.

Keep pushing. I think you're onto something.

Very cool! If you're a VS Code user, I ported my favorite Tron-based iTerm theme here https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=emeraldi...

There is recreation of classic 80s computerised synthetiser system (which was) called Fairlight CMI. It has interesting hybrid GUI which is controlled both by the command line or mouse in the same time. Lot of retro sci-fi vibes.

See http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2020/06/30/fairlight-cmi-i...

> Useful commands for the nerds

... are there non-nerds using this? ;)

Ha! Had it installed just to play around with (I imagine that is what this is for). My laptops fan wouldn't stop running below 4000rpm as long as this was in the foreground.

Edit: But I do agree that the configuration was pretty easy. If you wanted to move stuff around and make it look a certain other way, it was really simple to do that.

Surprised it hasn’t been mentioned yet, but “FUI” (fantasy user interface) embodies a lot of the “candy” on display here. Fun to see on reddit[0] or YouTube.

[0] https://www.reddit.com/r/FUI/

... and this is the exact reason I still love hacker news.

I know I love a good opportunity to waste a little time with novel software. It's hard to describe, but it brings me a feeling of joy

This is really neat, I was actually surprised that it "just worked". Usually, as others have pointed out, you have to sacrifice a few goats and utter the forbidden ancient incantations before novelty pieces like this will work at all.

I just last night watched the below video that covers the code that shows up on Dennis Nedry's computer screen in Jurassic Park. Turns out it's only example code they put up on screen, but this type of stuff is always interesting. The way movies get made is so intriguing!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq2Vkgsams0

Nice replication of the Tron theme! Perhaps this can actually do something unexpected like feed actual working experience back in to the realm of the Sci-Fi UX designers to let them know how much of it doesn't work, but let them know about the things that do. Still looks and feels great.

Cool, but impractical. With FVWM/WMaker you have usable screen state with system info and functionality.

You could replicate it with FVWM and using a 10th of the resources.

Inb4 Enlightenment back in the day, E16 used not as much as resources as this, even E21 is far snappier than ruling an NPM based desktop.

Cool, but impractical.

Someone should do a practical one for an overview of what all your containers and AWS accounts are doing. AWS monitoring provides a reason for a map of the world with lines and markers. There are AWS monitoring tools which, with better color choices, would look like something from Hollywood. Dynatrace is almost there.[1]

[1] https://cdn.comparitech.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Dynat...

This is so cool. The Tron Legacy OS interface is one of the most sci-fi looking realistic interfaces I can remember seeing. Really awesome to be able to play with it locally, even if it isn't really a practical terminal compared to iTerm.

Gorgeous. As a computer artist myself I can see that work and balances put into this. I'm quite excited to check it out and fiddle with it. The extensibility is especially endearing.

Gosh that is very pretty, and very smooth. I'd like an audio volume option rather than on/off - it's cool, but loud as hell.

Cool project! :)

I could've sworn I'd seen a similar dashboard, but web-based. Can't find it... anyone know/remember?

https://www.robscanlon.com/encom-boardroom/

That's it. Thanks!

I’ve always been waiting for something like this! Now I got an excuse for a new project. Ty ty:)

Pretty but I can't see myself using this :/

Great toy for HollyWood!

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