ClassicalCode

The earliest memories I have of computers is a contraption my dad rigged up that would draw mandalas on a screen. Later in my life he wrote software that would plot large mandalas on his huge plotters.

In my last project, I learned about image generation using PHP and realized that it might be possible to use PHP functions to draw mandalas. After a couple hours of relearning trig, I was able to create a script that outputs a .png image of a mandala based on the size and number of points that you give it.

Give it a try:

Inspired by spypig.com, a site that helps you track when your emails are opened, I decided to see if I could write a script with the same functionality. It tuned out to be a rather interesting project.

Here it is: http://www.classicalcode.com/t.php

It works by generating an image which you embed in your email. Then when your recipeint reads their email, their email client downloads that image. Downloading that image triggers a script on my server which then sends you an email.

In order to make the image look less suspicious I implemented a feature where the image is a string of text of the senders choosing. Example:

Give it a try!