About the JavaScript Jukebox
More than you ever wanted to know about my one small claim to fame
I wrote this little piece of goofiness over 10 years ago. Back in 1995, my former business partner Pat Sloan and I were in charge of creating and maintaining the very first Michaels Arts and Crafts website. Theron (you know who you are) in the Michaels Marketing department pretty much loved every crazy idea we came up with, and we were given incredible freedom.
I developed the original Jukebox as a Holiday feature for Michaels.
After the holidays, I pulled it from their website and installed it
on my personal site, the Ralph
Art Website Project. Six months later I got the first of several
reque
sts
from people who wanted to use the JavaScript Jukebox on their
sites. Realizing the hopelessness of hiding the source code (hey it
is JavaScript), I graciously consented to all who asked permission.
The following year, we did a new jukebox, completely rewritten, which became the basis for the mini-jukebox. Both of these were wildly popular with Michaels visitors (according to site stats).
To aid and abet all code-borrowers, I finally decided to give detailed instructions on how to install the Jukebox (my thanks to long-time friend Kipp Baker for pointing out where my instructions were obscure or hard-to-follow, or downright incorrect). At one point, I estimate there were about 50 versions of the Jukebox out there -- some modified, some ripped off and presented as someone else's work (they hadn't even bothered to strip my name out of the source!). My thanks to those who gave me credit for it.
My little deal wasn't the only Jukebox out there by any means. The basics of creating the Jukebox were pretty straight forward, and the idea was an obvious one.
And now it's time to let it go. I haven't supported it for a while, and here's why.
I've left the code (pretty much as it was seven years ago) for those who are interested. I may, if I have the time some day, tinker with the code, but don't expect much.
Thanks to all who enjoyed and supported it.
--Ron Crouch