Everyone should mess with this painting app from the 80s

When I started using computers as a child, I naturally gravitated towards making weird drawings and strange shapes on Microsoft Paint. But there were a ton of apps that were popular before that.

Programmer Vikrum Nijjar has resurrected one of them called Kid Pix in a browser window. The app was originally released for Macs in 1989. If the name doesn’t sound familiar, it might be because the app was before your time (and mine): it was originally released for Macs in 1989.

In my spare time, I ported Kid Pix 1.0 to JS/HTML ✨https://t.co/70UhXnVDza

— V:IKRUM＞ (@vikrum5000) August 4, 2021

Kid Pix works like any other old paint app with options for different types of pencils, brushes, shapes with textures. But every time you draw or perform an action, the app emits weird and fun sounds.

One of my favorite tools is called the Electric Mixer. It lets you apply funky effects to whatever you’ve drawn and make it a bit more artistic. Check out my masterpiece created from the app after applying ‘lollipop’ and ‘pancake stack’ effects. NFT-worthy. Don’t you think?

You can also save your work and share it with friends.

I’ve recently started with adult coloring books, and I’m finding any kind of drawing calming. So this app might help you distract yourself from worldly woes for a few minutes.

You can try out the app here. And if you’re a programmer and want to tweak it with your own stuff, the app’s code is available on GitHub.

If you need me after hours, I’ll be at my desktop, creating more ‘art.’