Secret Geometry

Wikipedia explains it in detail, but here’s a shorter answer:

A “terminal” refers to a common, pre-1980s computer interface. For input, a terminal relied solely on a typewriter-like keyboard (the mouse hadn’t really caught on yet). For output, a tiny, monochrome screen only capable of displaying text. The rest of the computer was often so big that it was stored in a separate room.

Modern computers present us with a pleasant façade of buttons and touchscreens, but that old text interface still lives on underneath. Despite the steep learning curve, typing in a terminal can be faster and more expressive than clicking with a mouse.

Terminals are not as scary as they look, but they are definitely an advanced topic.

Here are some good learning resources:

• Unix Tutorial for Beginners
• Learning The Shell
• Learning the UNIX Operating System

VT220 –the same as Terminal.app, iTerm, xterm, rxvt, etc.

Cathode prints a ‘?’ when it can’t draw a particular character. This will happen with some of the rarer symbols. Cathode uses unicode internally, but it can only draw a subset that includes ASCII, Latin, and Cyrillic. This covers most European languages.

Cathode has unique limitations because of the way it draws text in 3D. Adding a few more popular characters is possible, but adding more complex alphabets is not possible at this time. Ellipses and line drawing characters will be added soon.

A few ideas:

• Turn down the frame rate
• Make the window smaller
• Use less rows or columns

Cathode was inspired by computer screens as they appear in movies, rather than history.

Examples:

• 2010
• Alien
• Tron
• War Games

Tabs are on the to-do list, but they’re not a top priority.

Yes. Here’s the link.

Yes, with a credit card or a PayPal account. Here’s the link.

Both versions are functionally identical. They differ only when it comes to purchasing, updating, and licensing.

• The Mac App Store purchasing and licensing experience is simpler.
• Independent versions receive updates immediately, while Mac App Store updates must wait for Apple’s approval.
• Mac App Store versions are subject to Apple’s rules, which could lead to future restrictions.

After purchasing you will automatically be emailed a unique license file. Drag and drop this file on top of Cathode.app and you’re done. The license is stored at /Users/username/Library/Application Support/Cathode.

Sorry. Once in a while a license email doesn’t reach its destination.

First, check your spam folder. If you don’t find anything, send a quick email to support@secretgeometry.com and we’ll respond with your license ASAP.

One day, but not yet.

We’ve been playing around with iPad development. If not Cathode, then probably something else.