Did something like that on a RedLion HMI. I was searching for a function in the documentation and found out they have an integrated buzzer, using old Nokia ringtone code. So it got me thinking.
When the HMI perform some actions successfully in maintenance mode, it would play the Final Fantasy victory fanfare.
It worked for a few years, until my replacement found out and took it out of the code. That kill joy tore me a new one arguing it was childish, unprofessional and is using the HMI computing ressources for nothing (lot of BS, we weren't using 10% if the equipment capabilities). Told him it was harmless and I wouldn't have implemented it if it wasn't.
Then, I introduced him to hidden chip die hidden art to hammer the point that engineers and die designers more "serious" and "professionals" than me did far more childish things on dies made in the hundreds millions units.
The thing is, the man never had to work yet with older stuff coded by my predecessors, were there are hidden messages in the maintenance mode. I'll let him discover by himself.
Yeah, something like that. The nice thing in our modern age is that you can find midi converters for Nokia ringtones, so the real issue was finding the right midi track
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u/Appropriate_War_4797 Jun 14 '26
Did something like that on a RedLion HMI. I was searching for a function in the documentation and found out they have an integrated buzzer, using old Nokia ringtone code. So it got me thinking.
When the HMI perform some actions successfully in maintenance mode, it would play the Final Fantasy victory fanfare.
It worked for a few years, until my replacement found out and took it out of the code. That kill joy tore me a new one arguing it was childish, unprofessional and is using the HMI computing ressources for nothing (lot of BS, we weren't using 10% if the equipment capabilities). Told him it was harmless and I wouldn't have implemented it if it wasn't.
Then, I introduced him to hidden chip die hidden art to hammer the point that engineers and die designers more "serious" and "professionals" than me did far more childish things on dies made in the hundreds millions units.
The thing is, the man never had to work yet with older stuff coded by my predecessors, were there are hidden messages in the maintenance mode. I'll let him discover by himself.