<div dir="ltr">btw - our internal website had a few wonderfully psycho Dennis Hopper pictures (mostly from Waterworld).<div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">I think Mike Seery had a big hand in that.<br><br>In the beginning, Hopper was known as Director 5.5 (I have a t-shirt with the same frog frog as above, & much, much bigger on the back).<br>but at some point, there were enough features for a full-digit release & the for-sale Xtras got included in & that became D6.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, Jul 10, 2025 at 4:09\u202fPM Dana <<a href="mailto:dana@nuon.me" target="_blank">dana@nuon.me</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">Also, Hopper's mascot was a green frog. I think it would have been funny to use Dennis Hopper, but I imagine there could have been legal issues with that.<br>
<br>
Here's the front of the beta tester t-shirt. The back has a list of team member names fit inside the number 6. If anyone wants a high resolution copy, I can email it to you directly, as the names are too blurry to read when the image is downsized to fit within the 40kb list limits.<br>
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On Thursday, July 10th, 2025 at 12:30 PM, Darrel Plant <<a href="mailto:dplant@moshplant.com" target="_blank">dplant@moshplant.com</a>> wrote:<br>
<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> Jim,<br>
> <br>
> I didn\u2019t start Hopper.<br>
> <br>
> (Dennis) Hopper was the beta code name of Director 6. At the time it was in development, I had just written my Shockwave book and that got me into the beta testing group, which had a Macromedia-moderated listserv called hopper-l. (\u201cL\u201d for list).<br>
> <br>
> When the beta was ending, Macromedia announced that they were going to be shutting the list down but a number people expressed how much they enjoyed the signal-to-noise ratio of the beta list compared to the (then) incredibly busy Direct-L. So I offered to set something up and that became hopper-ex.<br>
> <br>
> There\u2019s still a web page on my site, though the animation at the top is missing. If I remember correctly, it was a color version of the from from the famous Sam Gross \u201cNational Lampoon\u201d cartoon.<br>
> <br>
> <a href="https://moshplant.com/hopper-ex/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://moshplant.com/hopper-ex/</a><br>
> <br>
> <a href="https://www.marksverylarge.com/2023/05/17/sam-gross-r-i-p/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.marksverylarge.com/2023/05/17/sam-gross-r-i-p/</a><br>
> <br>
> James Newton and I were contracted to write behaviors for Director 6.5. By coincidence, I just heard from James the other day. We both contributed to the BL for a couple of versions, some of the staff made updates to them over time, and I think at least some of our work shipped through to the final version of the app.<br>
> <br>
> Darrel<br>
> <br>
> > On Jul 9, 2025, at 8:12 PM, Jim Andrews <a href="mailto:jim@vispo.com" target="_blank">jim@vispo.com</a> wrote:<br>
> > <br>
> > Hi Darrel,<br>
> > <br>
> > Great to hear from you. Did you start the Hopper listserv? My memory isn't what it used to be, but I seem to recall you probably did. In any case, I do remember you were the Hopper list's previous admin, Darrel.<br>
> > <br>
> > Would love to hear more of your involvement in Director stuff, Darrel. You wrote some behaviors that came with Director, didn't you? I probably used more than a few of them, or learned from them.<br>
> > <br>
> > ja<br>
> > <br>
> > On 2025-07-09 6:20 p.m., Darrel Plant wrote:<br>
> > <br>
> > > I used to have a thing back when Macromedia still controlled the site but were trying to say \u201cFlash isn\u2019t Shockwave!\u201d tracking how many Shockwave Site of the Day sites were Flash rather than Director.<br>
> > > <br>
> > > "I love surf music but I can't swim." \u2014Darrel Plant<br>
> > > <br>
> > > > On Jul 9, 2025, at 5:46\u202fPM, Robert Gordon <a href="mailto:rob@article19.com" target="_blank">rob@article19.com</a> wrote:<br>
> > > > <br>
> > > > Love seeing all of your names again!<br>
> > > > <br>
> > > > I went from Director to Flash to HTML5/CSS (first with CreateJS then with PIXI with lots of content working right in the DOM).<br>
> > > > <br>
> > > > Among other things I STILL release games over on Shockwave.com, a spin-out from Macromedia in the late 90s. I remember auditioning my Jigsaw Player - created in Director - in front of the Director lead engineers who did their best to break it (they did not) and a career pivot was born\u2026<br>
> > > > <br>
> > > > Stay well all!<br>
> > > > <br>
> > > > r o b<br>
> > > > <br>
> > > > Robert Gordon<br>
> > > > The Article 19 Group Inc.<br>
> > > > 514.938.8512<br>
> > > > <a href="mailto:rob@article19.com" target="_blank">rob@article19.com</a><br>
> > > > <a href="http://www.article19.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">www.article19.com</a><br>
> > > > <br>
> > > > On Wed, Jul 9, 2025 at 7:06\u202fPM Jim Andrews <a href="mailto:jim@vispo.com" target="_blank">jim@vispo.com</a> wrote:<br>
> > > > The SPAM subject line is probably my fault. My Thunderbird email program adds it to a lot of email, and sometimes I forget to get rid of it before I send. Sorry.<br>
> > > > <br>
> > > > I still have Director 10 installed. Last time I checked, it was freely available on the web. Does anyone know what that official situation is?<br>
> > > > <br>
> > > > I encourage people on the list to give us an update on what you've done and what you're doing since Director bit the dust.<br>
> > > > <br>
> > > > I retooled to JavaScript/HTML/CSS. I'd done a little of that since 1996, but after Director, I really learned JavaScript/HTML/CSS.<br>
> > > > <br>
> > > > Here are some recent online pages/works of mine:<br>
> > > > <br>
> > > > <a href="http://VISPO.COM" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">VISPO.COM</a> HISTORY (1996-present)<br>
> > > > <a href="https://vispo.com/misc/whatsnew.html" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://vispo.com/misc/whatsnew.html</a><br>
> > > > I've maintained this page since 1998. When I post a new thing on <a href="http://vispo.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">vispo.com</a>, I generally make an entry in this page, with a link. Not always, but usually. Anyway, I updated it recently to HTML5 cuz it had deprecated <font> tags and whatnot. I also put in an interactive timeline and an icon for most of the entries.<br>
> > > > <br>
> > > > LETTERS FROM LEIBNIZ (2024)<br>
> > > > <a href="https://vispo.com/aleph4/images/jim_andrews/leibniz/alchemy" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://vispo.com/aleph4/images/jim_andrews/leibniz/alchemy</a><br>
> > > > 158 images (3840x2160) generated in Aleph Null, the graphic synthesizer I wrote in JavaScript. These are images of Leibniz's writing, mainly. There's an essay I wrote about the project, also. I wrote the slideshow software (Slidvid) also.<br>
> > > > <br>
> > > > SEA OF PO (2024)<br>
> > > > <a href="https://seaofpo.vispo.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://seaofpo.vispo.com</a><br>
> > > > It's an appzine of 52 poets in a generative, kinetic, interactive, never-the-same-twice experience of 15 languages. It's a new experience of poetry and poetry magazines. It also animates and saves your texts, and creates deluxe screenshots. Yes, it's the Swiss army knife of digital poetry magazines and a literary blast of computer art.<br>
> > > > <br>
> > > > ENIGMA N2022 (2022)<br>
> > > > <a href="https://enigman.vispo.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://enigman.vispo.com</a><br>
> > > > Granular synthesis + colour music + digital poetry.<br>
> > > > <br>
> > > > NEONIO (2021)<br>
> > > > <a href="https://neonio.vispo.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://neonio.vispo.com</a><br>
> > > > This is an HTML5 version of a piece I created in Director, originally, in 2000 called Nio. Nio was the first piece of art I got paid to create; it was commissioned by <a href="http://turbulence.org" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">turbulence.org</a>. NeoNio uses the original 16 sounds and the original 16 animations. My wife converted the original 16 SWF animations into SVG. I used the Web Audio API to do the synchronizing and playing of sounds in NeoNio.<br>
> > > > <br>
> > > > ja<br>
> > > > <br>
> > > > On 2025-07-09 2:57 p.m., Dana wrote:<br>
> > > > <br>
> > > > > It's nice to see that this little community is still together after all this time. I do primarily iOS development nowadays, but there are so many developers that you don't get the tight-knit feel.<br>
> > > > > <br>
> > > > > My last Director project was around 2010, though I've had a few requests since then to update some old projects. I still wonder if I have some kiosks chugging along in a museum or visitor center somewhere.<br>
> > > > > <br>
> > > > > Director made transitioning to iOS development fairly easy, having touch screen experience, and Lingo sharing Smalltalk roots with Objective-C.<br>
> > > > > <br>
> > > > > BTW, is anyone else seeing *** SPAM *** added to the subject line?<br>
> > > > > <br>
> > > > > On Wednesday, July 9th, 2025 at 7:17 AM, Danny Kodicek <a href="mailto:dragon@well-spring.co.uk" target="_blank">dragon@well-spring.co.uk</a> wrote:<br>
> > > > > <br>
> > > > > > I was reading an article the other day talking about how modern websites are overengineered and full of unnecessary animations and complex JavaScript packages, and it made me think again how unfair it was back in the day when Flash (and Shockwave to a lesser extent) got the blame for people doing exactly the same thing. Surprise, surprise: killing Flash didn't stop bad design, it just made developers' lives harder.<br>
> > > > > > <br>
> > > > > > On Wed, 9 Jul 2025 at 10:04, Jim Andrews <a href="mailto:jim@vispo.com" target="_blank">jim@vispo.com</a> wrote:<br>
> > > > > > It's great to hear from the amazing developers of Hopper.<br>
> > > > > > <br>
> > > > > > There are 38 members, all of whom have email addresses that are not bouncing.<br>
> > > > > > <br>
> > > > > > I had to delete some bouncing email addresses from the list yesterday cuz the bouncing was causing me not to be able to send any email from my <a href="mailto:jim@vispo.com" target="_blank">jim@vispo.com</a> address, which is my main email address ("Domain <a href="http://vispo.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">vispo.com</a> has exceeded the max defers and failures per hour (10/10 (100%)) allowed. Message discarded.")<br>
> > > > > > <br>
> > > > > > I talked with my hosting service three times on the phone about it.<br>
> > > > > > <br>
> > > > > > Consequently, today I sent an email to everyone, not from the list, but from me, so I could see if it bounced. None of them bounced, today. Which must mean I got rid of the bouncing addresses yesterday.<br>
> > > > > > <br>
> > > > > > So the re-start of the list was a little ragged, but I think it's working OK now.<br>
> > > > > > <br>
> > > > > > Yes, Noisecrime, I too was very disappointed with the fate Adobe inflicted on Director.<br>
> > > > > > <br>
> > > > > > ja<br>
> > > > > > <a href="https://vispo.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://vispo.com</a><br>
> > > > > > <br>
> > > > > > On 2025-07-09 1:28 a.m., Noise-Mail wrote:<br>
> > > > > > <br>
> > > > > > > Thanks Jim for keeping the list alive.<br>
> > > > > > > <br>
> > > > > > > Every few years there seems to be a message that gets people back together, but sadly those messages are getting less frequent.<br>
> > > > > > > <br>
> > > > > > > Can't quite believe this has been going for over a quarter of a century, though I guess I also never thought that Director would die. In many ways I feel it was ahead of its time, or at least could have been maintained and updated to have become a force in the indie scene.<br>
> > > > > > > <br>
> > > > > > > Anyway nice to see some familiar names in here.<br>
> > > > > > > <br>
> > > > > > > NoiseCrime<br>
> > > > > > > <br>
> > > > > > > On 08/07/2025 07:18, Jim Andrews wrote:<br>
> > > > > > > <br>
> > > > > > > > Great to see some messages on Hopper again!<br>
> > > > > > > > <br>
> > > > > > > > I am the administer of the list.<br>
> > > > > > > > <br>
> > > > > > > > All the best to you, my friends!<br>
> > > > > > > > <br>
> > > > > > > > ja<br>
> > > > > > > > <a href="https://vispo.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://vispo.com</a><br>
> > > > > > > > <br>
> > > > > > > > _______________________________________________<br>
> > > > > > > > Hopperxx mailing list<br>
> > > > > > > > <a href="mailto:Hopperxx@vispo.com" target="_blank">Hopperxx@vispo.com</a><br>
> > > > > > > > <a href="http://vispo.com/mailman/listinfo/hopperxx_vispo.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://vispo.com/mailman/listinfo/hopperxx_vispo.com</a><br>
> > > > > > > <br>
> > > > > > > _______________________________________________<br>
> > > > > > > Hopperxx mailing list<br>
> > > > > > > <a href="mailto:Hopperxx@vispo.com" target="_blank">Hopperxx@vispo.com</a><br>
> > > > > > > <a href="http://vispo.com/mailman/listinfo/hopperxx_vispo.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://vispo.com/mailman/listinfo/hopperxx_vispo.com</a><br>
> > > > > > > _______________________________________________<br>
> > > > > > > Hopperxx mailing list<br>
> > > > > > > <a href="mailto:Hopperxx@vispo.com" target="_blank">Hopperxx@vispo.com</a><br>
> > > > > > > <a href="http://vispo.com/mailman/listinfo/hopperxx_vispo.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://vispo.com/mailman/listinfo/hopperxx_vispo.com</a><br>
> > > > > <br>
> > > > > _______________________________________________<br>
> > > > > Hopperxx mailing list<br>
> > > > > <br>
> > > > > <a href="mailto:Hopperxx@vispo.com" target="_blank">Hopperxx@vispo.com</a><br>
> > > > > <a href="http://vispo.com/mailman/listinfo/hopperxx_vispo.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://vispo.com/mailman/listinfo/hopperxx_vispo.com</a><br>
> > > > > _______________________________________________<br>
> > > > > Hopperxx mailing list<br>
> > > > > <a href="mailto:Hopperxx@vispo.com" target="_blank">Hopperxx@vispo.com</a><br>
> > > > > <a href="http://vispo.com/mailman/listinfo/hopperxx_vispo.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://vispo.com/mailman/listinfo/hopperxx_vispo.com</a><br>
> > > > > _______________________________________________<br>
> > > > > Hopperxx mailing list<br>
> > > > > <a href="mailto:Hopperxx@vispo.com" target="_blank">Hopperxx@vispo.com</a><br>
> > > > > <a href="http://vispo.com/mailman/listinfo/hopperxx_vispo.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://vispo.com/mailman/listinfo/hopperxx_vispo.com</a><br>
> > > <br>
> > > _______________________________________________<br>
> > > Hopperxx mailing list<br>
> > > <br>
> > > <a href="mailto:Hopperxx@vispo.com" target="_blank">Hopperxx@vispo.com</a><br>
> > > <a href="http://vispo.com/mailman/listinfo/hopperxx_vispo.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://vispo.com/mailman/listinfo/hopperxx_vispo.com</a><br>
> > > _______________________________________________<br>
> > > Hopperxx mailing list<br>
> > > <a href="mailto:Hopperxx@vispo.com" target="_blank">Hopperxx@vispo.com</a><br>
> > > <a href="http://vispo.com/mailman/listinfo/hopperxx_vispo.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://vispo.com/mailman/listinfo/hopperxx_vispo.com</a><br>
> <br>
> <br>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
> Darrel Plant phone: 503-490-1388 <a href="mailto:dplant@moshplant.com" target="_blank">dplant@moshplant.com</a><br>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
> "I triple-down on trickle-down." -- Darrel Plant<br>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> _______________________________________________<br>
> Hopperxx mailing list<br>
> <a href="mailto:Hopperxx@vispo.com" target="_blank">Hopperxx@vispo.com</a><br>
> <a href="http://vispo.com/mailman/listinfo/hopperxx_vispo.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://vispo.com/mailman/listinfo/hopperxx_vispo.com</a>_______________________________________________<br>
Hopperxx mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:Hopperxx@vispo.com" target="_blank">Hopperxx@vispo.com</a><br>
<a href="http://vispo.com/mailman/listinfo/hopperxx_vispo.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://vispo.com/mailman/listinfo/hopperxx_vispo.com</a><br>
</blockquote></div>