Interesting - what's the provenance of this? Is this a leaked copy of the System source, or a disassembly/decompile?
duskwuff · 1h ago
It's a leaked copy of the System 7.1 source code - just the System itself; it doesn't include any applications, control panels, or extensions. (So code for things like the Finder or QuickTime aren't included.)
I'm not certain where it came from precisely; from what I understand, it's been circulating online for ages. Apple hasn't authorized its release, but, as far as I'm aware, they haven't made any attempt to suppress it either.
fredoralive · 1h ago
It's a leaked version of the Mac toolbox ROM source code circa very early 1994.
turnsout · 1h ago
Or a screenshot! But what’s the fun in that?
paulsmith · 1h ago
Exactly. One of the cool things about doing this the hard way was discovering that Apple still hosts old system and programmers manuals like the one for QuickDraw on its website.
zahlman · 2h ago
That's an incredible hit of nostalgia. I haven't smiled like this in days.
It's still hard to believe that some of these effects are accomplished in 8x8 pixels — in a single integer's worth of space, on modern architectures.
MontyCarloHall · 1h ago
If you want to play with the actual Control Panels within various emulated Macintoshes (all in the context of a gorgeously written and illustrated history of Macintosh settings), have a look here: https://aresluna.org/frame-of-preference/
ayaros · 23m ago
Really glad to see I'm not the only one out there who appreciates these patterns.
In my LisaGUI project I've added not just the ones from the Lisa Office System and Mac System 1, but also a few I found in betas of the Mac OS, as well as some from Windows 3.x and 9x. These kinds of patterns popped up in all sorts of places in the 80s and 90s. I'm continually surprised at how much you can fit in an 8x8 monochrome grid whenever I come across a clever pattern I haven't seen before.
errantspark · 2h ago
Nice! I did one of these ages and ages ago copying the win 3.1 pattern editor (which doubtless is a ripoff of the mac one anyway)
https://github.com/historicalsource/supermario/blob/master/b...
:)
I'm not certain where it came from precisely; from what I understand, it's been circulating online for ages. Apple hasn't authorized its release, but, as far as I'm aware, they haven't made any attempt to suppress it either.
It's still hard to believe that some of these effects are accomplished in 8x8 pixels — in a single integer's worth of space, on modern architectures.
In my LisaGUI project I've added not just the ones from the Lisa Office System and Mac System 1, but also a few I found in betas of the Mac OS, as well as some from Windows 3.x and 9x. These kinds of patterns popped up in all sorts of places in the 80s and 90s. I'm continually surprised at how much you can fit in an 8x8 monochrome grid whenever I come across a clever pattern I haven't seen before.
https://errantspark.github.io/3.1/#0056755500caaeaa
https://jherrm.github.io/classic-mac-desktop-pattern/
Back in 2014 I made a phoney minigolf game using these patterns as a first step into making interactive work: https://www.maxpiantoni.com/projects/golfnet
The game isn’t particularly real, but the jokes are.
Demo here: https://jherrm.github.io/classic-mac-desktop-pattern/
Source: https://github.com/jherrm/classic-mac-desktop-pattern
See also Iconography of the X Window System: The Boot Stipple: https://matttproud.com/blog/posts/x-window-system-boot-stipp...
Same, that and the bubble one #36 have so much personality.
Swastikas make a nice pattern. Ya I know. But there are actually only like 7 really good strong patterns and swastikas is one of them.
Such a good graphic. Too bad about the branding.