Tim's Home - Programs

      PROGRAMS

The following are programs written by me, largely when I was in high school and experimenting with programming for Windows. Some (where noted, generally) do not work with current versions of Windows or current computers. I rarely write such programs for fun anymore; most things I write are for a specific (school or work-oriented) purpose and will therefore not be posted here, but have fun playing with this stuff! Programs marked

reached over 10,000 downloads on CNET's Download.com at some point.

ChangeStart v2.0 (1999)	Note: Not compatible with WinXP except in Classic Mode [ screenshot ] - ChangeStart is a program that allows you to modify the Windows Start Button. Options include modifying the button's icon, the button's text, when the button is changed, and whether to make the button "flat", or a regular button. You may modify the icon by making it any bitmap or icon. You are free to modify the text into any string (including no string at all) and change the text color, the background color, hide the button, change the font & font size, and more!
Clock (2000)	[ screenshot ] - Clock is a simple program. It floats above all your windows, and allows you to customize the font, font size, background color and text color. Just right click the clock to exit or change the settings. You can move it by clicking and dragging anywhere on it. It will remember where it was on the screen the last time you launched it, and go there automatically.
GetWeather (1999)	[screenshot ] - GetWeather allows you to get the weather for any zip code in the United States simply by entering it. It also updates itself every 30 minutes, automatically. It needs the VB 6 runtimes (which come with Windows 98, and are otherwise available from the Microsoft website). This program should only be used by those with permanent internet connections (LAN, Cable Modem, DSL...) or only launched when you are online.
Qacro - Program launcher (2000)	[ screenshot ] - A program launcher. You can set it up to launch any program or website whenever you hit any combination of the windows key + another digit, function key, or letter key. Useful, small, fast, takes little memory.
Calculator (2001)	[ screenshot ] - A calculator program in which you type out the expression rather than hitting buttons. Easier to use and faster than the calculator that comes with Windows. For instance, you can type in something like (pi12/4+3^(5-2)+3(2-(6-3)*pi)), then hit enter, and it will produce the answer.
Tetris (1998)	[ screenshot ] - The classical game of Tetris. You use the space bar to rotate the blocks and the arrow keys to move them around. Get as many lines as you can. After 20 lines, random blocks start appearing, adding a new degree of challenge. The game also keeps track of the top 10 scorers.
StickyNotes (Modified 2002)	[ screenshot ] - Sticky Notes is a program that adds a program icon to your taskbar. Left clicking the icon by your clock, or right clicking and choosing add allows you to add a note that stays below all other Windows on your desktop. It was built to remind you to do something, and can be extremely useful.
Tic Tac Toe (1998)	[ screenshot ] - Play the classical game of Tic Tac Toe against a more than worthy computer opponent. Winning isn't impossible, even though it may seem that way at first. And your computer opponent won't let you lose gracefully, either. This is a computer with an attitude!
Space Attackers (1998)	Note: This game does not compensate for processor speed; if your machine is faster than a typical 1998 machine, everything moves too quickly. [ screenshot ] - You must destroy as many enemy ships as possible to score the maximum amount of points. For every ship that gets by, you lose 10 points. For every shot you miss you lose 10 points, and for every ship you destroy you gain 50 points. Keeps a high score total between games, and allows pausing (hit the pause button on your keyboard).
Pong (1999)	[ screenshot ] - Pong allows you to set the color of the block, the ball, and change the background to any bitmap file (which will tile if it is too small). It has 5 levels, with each getting progressively more difficult.
Stay on Top (2001)	Note: Overlaps minimize button on WinXP [ screenshot ] - Stay On Top adds a button like the minimize and maximize buttons next to the X (close) button on the title bar of most windows. Clicking this button makes that window stay on top of all other windows.
Get Font (2000)	[ screenshot ] - Get Font allows you to find out what font is currently selected in any visible window. You just click and drag the hand over the window, and it tells you the name of the font that is currently selected in that window.