As usual with fractal software, this program uses the Mandelbrot set ( z[x] = z[x-1]^2 +c, iterated 1000 or so times) to see if each point tends to infinity or not. If it does, paint it black, if not, paint it a certain colour. It seems simple when put like that but Jesus H. Cristos does it produce some crazy shit.
At any time in the program hit enter to redraw the screen. It initially starts in a lower resolution mode which is faster. Once you have found a cool looking fractal you should increase the resolution (The value shown for resolution in the program is backwards so decrease all the way for High Res - sorry 'bout that).
You can move about and zoom in and out of the fractals. Because fractals are fractals there is no limit to how far you can theoretically zoom in but the computer starts playing up after a while. I got to a few hundred trillion at home which to me seems pretty fucking mad.
You can also change the c value in the formula above on the fly. I really dont have much of an idea what it does mathematically but rougly, the higher the real part the more swirly and the higher the imaginary/complex/j part the more colours and smaller black center.
Since the program runs in 256 colour mode it is prefect to use a little hack that cycles the pallete. This produces a very cool effect. "wow man, I can like see the air".
For some reason geocities doesnt allow certain filenames so the source files are suffixed with txt.
Here is the source code, with This header file. The header file just contains the imaginary number class.
I know its not the proper use of a header file but really, WGAF?
Enjoy, anyone who downloads these. If you have a few minutes spare, muck around with them and Im sure you will be suprised what the comp can produce.
There are two zipped exe's you can download. One uses the Mandelbrot Set and the other the Julia Set.
mandelbrotset.zip
juliaset.zip
The extra exe in the zip is cwsdpmi.exe which is a protected mode emulator or something. If the programs dont work run this first each time.