SKEDADDLE 📡🐱

Hide secret messages in cat tongue animations using International Morse Code

In 100 years, a morse code expert will decode your viral cat video and discover the profound message: "I HAS LICKS"

The Vision

You nailed it. This is the pre-AI generative art at its finest:

• Commodore Amiga demo scene aesthetics
• After Dark screensavers philosophy
• Hidden messages in plain sight
• Technical creativity over brute force

Some grandpa in 2125, with excellent morse code skills from his Navy days, will be watching his grandkid's TikTok and suddenly freeze:

"Wait... WAIT! That cat... it's sending a signal! F-E-E-D... Y-O-U-R... K-I-T-T-Y... THE CAT IS TALKING IN MORSE CODE!"

Temporary war mode: ACTIVATED 🎖️

What It Does

Takes any text message and encodes it as International Morse Code using three frames:

• Dit frame = Short signal (·)
• Dah frame = Long signal (─)
• Pause frame = Space between signals

The timing follows official morse code standards:

• Dit (·): Short signal (e.g., tongue out briefly)
• Dah (─): Long signal (e.g., tongue out longer)
• Spaces: Pause frame for element, letter, and word boundaries

Result: A seemingly innocent cat animation that actually transmits a message with clear visual separation between signals and pauses.

Quick Start

# Basic message
skedaddle --text "MEOW"

# Secret message
skedaddle --text "I HAS LICKS"

# Emergency broadcast
skedaddle --text "SOS"

# With audio for grandpa
skedaddle --text "FEED YOUR KITTY" --audio --format mp4

# For learning morse code (slow speed, longer pause before loop)
skedaddle --text "SOS" --wpm 10 --end-pause 5.0

# Faster transmission (expert level)
skedaddle --text "THE QUICK BROWN FOX" --wpm 25

Installation

# No npm dependencies needed!
# Just requires:
# - Node.js
# - ffmpeg
# - Three cat images (dit.jpg, dah.jpg, and pause.jpg in ./samples, or specify your own)

Usage

Basic Options

skedaddle \
  --text "YOUR MESSAGE" \
  --wpm 15 \
  --output message.avif

With Audio

skedaddle \
  --text "HELLO WORLD" \
  --audio \
  --frequency 800 \
  --format mp4 \
  --output hello.mp4

Custom Frames

skedaddle \
  --text "MEOW MEOW" \
  --dit dit-frame.jpg \
  --dah dah-frame.jpg \
  --pause pause-frame.jpg \
  --output custom-morse.avif

Command Options

• -t, --text <message> - Message to encode (default: "MEOW")
• -w, --wpm <speed> - Words per minute (default: 15)
• -o, --output <file> - Output filename
• -f, --format <fmt> - Format: avif or mp4 (default: avif)
• -a, --audio - Add morse beep audio track
• -F, --frequency <hz> - Beep frequency (default: 800 Hz)
• -D, --dit <file> - Dit image - short signal (default: ./samples/dit.jpg)
• -H, --dah <file> - Dah image - long signal (default: ./samples/dah.jpg)
• -P, --pause <file> - Pause image - space/pause (default: ./samples/pause.jpg)
• -E, --end-pause <seconds> - Pause before loop in seconds (default: 2.0)

Morse Code Speed (WPM)

| WPM | Level | Dit Duration | Use Case | |-----|-------|--------------|----------| | 5 | Beginner | 240ms | Learning | | 10 | Slow | 120ms | Easy decode | | 15 | Standard | 80ms | Normal (default) | | 20 | Proficient | 60ms | Experienced | | 25 | Fast | 48ms | Expert | | 40+ | Military | <30ms | Professional operators |

At 15 WPM (standard):

• Dit: 80ms
• Dah: 240ms
• Element space: 80ms
• Letter space: 240ms
• Word space: 560ms

Supported Characters

Letters

A-Z (full alphabet)

Numbers

0-9 (all digits)

Punctuation

. , ? ' ! / ( ) & : ; = + - _ " $ @

Spaces

Word boundaries are properly encoded with extended pauses

Examples

Example 1: Classic Cat Message

skedaddle --text "I HAS LICKS"

Output:

📻 Morse Code: ..   .... .- ...   .-.. .. -.-. -.- ...
⏱️  Duration: 5.34s

Hidden in plain sight! Looks like a silly cat video.

Example 2: Distress Signal

skedaddle --text "SOS" --audio --format mp4

The classic distress signal: ··· ─── ···

With audio beeps, grandpa will recognize it immediately.

Example 3: Food Reminder

skedaddle --text "FEED YOUR KITTY" --wpm 20

Perfect for hiding in your morning alarm video.

Example 4: Long Message

skedaddle --text "THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG" --wpm 25 -o pangram.mp4

Full pangram at expert speed. Impressive dedication.

Example 5: Secret Code

skedaddle --text "OPERATION CATNIP AT 0300" --wpm 15 -o classified.avif

For when you need to coordinate with other cat operatives.

Example 6: Learning Morse Code

skedaddle --text "SOS" --wpm 10 --end-pause 5.0 --audio --format mp4

Perfect for learning morse code:

• Slow speed (10 WPM) gives time to recognize patterns
• 5-second pause before loop lets you process the message
• Audio helps reinforce the timing
• Short message (SOS) is easy to memorize

Young learners can watch the loop and practice decoding before it repeats!

The Philosophy

Pre-AI Generative Art

This is what we had before AI video generation:

• Constraints breed creativity
• Simplicity creates mystery
• Technical skill over computational power
• Hidden depth in apparent simplicity

The Amiga Demo Scene

Remember Commodore Amiga intros?

• Amazing graphics from limited hardware
• Copper bars, plasma effects, 3D rotations
• Technical wizardry disguised as art
• Messages hidden in scrollers

Morse Kitty is that spirit in 2025.

After Dark Screensavers

Remember Flying Toasters? Starfield?

Simple animations that were:

• Mesmerizing to watch
• Technically interesting
• Culturally iconic
• Pure joy without purpose

Morse Kitty channels that energy. It's art disguised as a cat video. Or a cat video disguised as communication.

Neko on Your Desktop

The little cat that wandered around your screen (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neko_(software))

Simple sprite animation. No AI. Just:

• 16 directional frames
• Chase the mouse cursor
• Sleep when idle
• Pure personality from pixels

Your future idea of looping backgrounds with walk cycles is exactly this spirit. The Scooby Doo technique - multi-layer scrolling with character animation. That's the next evolution.

Decoding Instructions

For the historians and grandpas:

Visual Decoding

1. Watch frame by frame
2. Note tongue appearances (signal)
3. Measure durations:
   • Short tongue = Dit (·)
   • Long tongue = Dah (─)
4. Note pauses:
   • Tiny pause = same letter
   • Short pause = new letter
   • Long pause = new word
5. Translate using morse table

Audio Decoding

If the video has audio beeps:

1. Listen to beep pattern
2. Note duration: Short = dit, Long = dah
3. Note silence: Letter/word boundaries
4. Write down morse code
5. Decode to text

Grandpa Mode

Just show it to someone who learned morse in the military.

They'll decode it instantly and have flashbacks to 1943.

Technical Details

Morse Code Standard

Uses International Morse Code (ITU-R M.1677-1):

• Based on PARIS standard (50 units per word)
• 1 dit = base time unit
• 1 dah = 3 dits
• Element space = 1 dit (between dits/dahs in same letter)
• Letter space = 3 dits
• Word space = 7 dits

Timing Calculation

WPM = (word_count × 50) / (time_in_minutes × 60)

Therefore:
dit_duration = 1.2 / WPM seconds

At 15 WPM:

dit = 1.2 / 15 = 0.08 seconds = 80ms

Frame Sequencing

The script generates a precise frame sequence using three distinct frames:

// Short signal
{
  frame: 'dit.jpg',
  duration: 0.060,
  type: 'dit',
  symbol: '·'
}

// Long signal
{
  frame: 'dah.jpg',
  duration: 0.180,
  type: 'dah',
  symbol: '─'
}

// Pause/space
{
  frame: 'pause.jpg',
  duration: 0.180,
  type: 'letter-space',
  symbol: ' '
}

Each frame has exact timing down to the millisecond, with clear visual distinction between signals and pauses.

Audio Generation

Uses ffmpeg's sine wave generator:

sine=f=800:d=0.08  # 800 Hz beep for 80ms (dit)

Multiple beeps are delayed and mixed to create the full morse audio track, synchronized perfectly with visual.

Creative Applications

1. Hidden Messages in Videos

Upload to YouTube/TikTok with title: "Silly Cat Compilation"

Message inside: "SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE SECRETS"

Only the morse code literate will know.

2. Secret Communication

Send to friends who know morse:

• "PARTY AT MY HOUSE FRIDAY"
• "BOSS IS WATCHING BE CAREFUL"
• "I LOVE YOU" (romantic!)

3. Educational Content

Teach morse code by example:

• Use slow WPM (5-10) for beginners
• Add 3-5 second end pause so learners can process before loop
• Show the video
• Reveal the message
• Explain the encoding
• Let people practice decoding

Perfect settings for learning:

skedaddle -t "HELLO" -w 8 -E 4.0 --audio

The end pause gives learners time to:

• Write down what they decoded
• Think about the pattern
• Prepare for the next loop
• Not feel rushed

4. Art Installations

Gallery piece:

• Silent video loop
• Visitors watch cute cat
• Hidden message only revealed in exhibition notes
• "The cat was speaking the whole time"

5. Internet Mysteries

Create an ARG (Alternate Reality Game):

• Post morse kitty videos
• Hidden messages are clues
• Lead to next video
• Community decodes together

6. Time Capsules

Encode a message for the future:

• "YEAR 2024 HUMANS LOVED CATS"
• Upload to internet archives
• In 100 years, historians discover it
• Window into our culture

Fun Facts

Morse Code History

• Invented: 1844 by Samuel Morse
• International version: 1848
• Still used: By amateur radio operators
• Official distress: SOS (··· ─── ···) adopted 1908
• Last commercial: 1999 (French Navy)

Famous Morse Messages

• "What hath God wrought" - First telegraph message (1844)
• SOS from Titanic - CQD first, then SOS (1912)
• V for Victory - BBC's WWII call sign (· · · ─)

Morse in Pop Culture

• Music: Rush used morse in "YYZ" (airport code)
• Movies: Many WWII films feature morse scenes
• TV: Lost used morse in background sounds
• Games: Metal Gear Solid (Meryl's codec frequency)

Modern Uses

• Amateur Radio: Still primary mode for many
• Aviation: Some navigation beacons
• Military: Backup communication
• Accessibility: For people with severe disabilities
• Art: Hidden messages in various media

Troubleshooting

"Frame not found"

By default, skedaddle looks for ./samples/dit.jpg, ./samples/dah.jpg, and ./samples/pause.jpg. You can specify custom frames:

skedaddle -D dit.jpg -H dah.jpg -P pause.jpg -t "HELLO"

"Audio generation failed"

ffmpeg might not support sine generation. Try without audio:

skedaddle -t "TEST" # no --audio flag

Message too long

Very long messages create large files. Consider:

• Increasing WPM speed
• Splitting into multiple videos
• Using abbreviations

Can't decode the video

Check the timing:

• At 15 WPM, dits should be ~80ms
• Dahs should be ~240ms
• Count frames if needed

The Legacy

In the demo scene, the goal was always:

"How much can we do with how little?"

Morse Kitty asks:

"How much meaning can we hide in how little?"

Three frames. Simple timing. International standard from 1848.

Result: Infinite messages encoded as cats.

No AI needed. No machine learning. No GPU clusters.

Just:

• ffmpeg
• Node.js
• Three cat pictures (dit, dah, pause)
• Mathematical precision

This is pre-AI generative art at its purest.

Appendix: Full Morse Table

LETTERS:
A ·─      B ─···    C ─·─·    D ─··     E ·
F ··─·    G ──·     H ····    I ··      J ·───
K ─·─     L ·─··    M ──      N ─·      O ───
P ·──·    Q ──·─    R ·─·     S ···     T ─
U ··─     V ···─    W ·──     X ─··─    Y ─·──
Z ──··

NUMBERS:
0 ─────   1 ·────   2 ··───   3 ···──   4 ····─
5 ·····   6 ─····   7 ──···   8 ───··   9 ────·

PUNCTUATION:
. ·─·─·─    , ──··──    ? ··──··    ' ·────·
! ─·─·──    / ─··─·     ( ─·──·     ) ─·──·─
& ·─···     : ───···    ; ─·─·─·    = ─···─
+ ·─·─·     - ─····─    _ ··──·─    " ·─··─·
$ ···─··─   @ ·──·─·

License

Public domain. Do whatever you want.

Morse code is humanity's shared heritage. Cats are the internet's shared obsession.

Combine them freely. 📡🐱