magnum6actual/flipoffPublic

Free split-flap display emulator for any TV. The classic flip-board look, without the $3,500 hardware.

AI summary: A web app that turns any screen into a realistic, retro split-flap airport display.

Stars: 2.9K; +1 today
Forks: 360
Watchers: 24
Open issues: 6
Open PRs: 12
Contributors: ~1
Commits: 1
Branches: 1

JavaScriptNo licenseCreated Mar 26, 2026Last push 4mo ago+2 stars this week+2 this month

Star history

since Mar 22, 2026

2.9K stars as of Aug 7, 2026, tracked back to Mar 22, 2026. Historical curve reconstructed from public GitHub event archives, calibrated to the current total.

Contribution activity

commits per day, last 52 weeks

1 commits in the last yearLessMore

What flipoff does

FlipOff is a free, browser-based application that emulates the classic mechanical split-flap displays found in mid-century train stations and airports. It runs entirely locally in the browser without requiring accounts, subscriptions, or specialized hardware. Users can simply open an HTML file on any device with a screen, from smart TVs to old monitors, to display custom messages with authentic flipping animations. It provides a highly accessible, zero-cost alternative to expensive physical split-flap boards. The project focuses on visual accuracy and ease of deployment.

Hobbyists, event organizers, and office managers looking for unique, retro digital signage without investing in expensive proprietary hardware.

Realistic emulation: Accurately reproduces the look and animation of mechanical split-flap boards.
Zero dependencies: Runs as a static web app (`index.html`) without needing a backend server or database.
Hardware agnostic: Works on any device with a modern web browser, easily turning old TVs or monitors into signage.
Completely free: Offers a no-cost alternative to physical split-flap displays that often cost thousands of dollars.
Customizable messaging: Allows users to input and display their own text via a simple interface.

Where teams use it

Digital signage

Creating attractive, retro-themed informational displays for offices, cafes, or events.

Home decor

Repurposing an old monitor or tablet as a unique, animated clock or message board in the home.

Event announcements

Displaying schedules or key messages at conferences using an eye-catching, nostalgic format.

Status dashboards

Integrating the display into a dashboard to show build statuses or metrics with dramatic flair.

Getting started: Simply download the repository and open `index.html` in any web browser.

README

main branch

FlipOff.

Turn any TV into a retro split-flap display. The classic flip-board look, without the $3,500 hardware. And it's free.

What is this?

FlipOff is a free, open-source web app that emulates a classic mechanical split-flap (flip-board) airport terminal display — the kind you'd see at train stations and airports. It runs full-screen in any browser, turning a TV or large monitor into a beautiful retro display.

No accounts. No subscriptions. No $199 fee. Just open index.html and go.

Features

Realistic split-flap animation with colorful scramble transitions
Authentic mechanical clacking sound (recorded from a real split-flap display)
Auto-rotating inspirational quotes
Fullscreen TV mode (press F)
Keyboard controls for manual navigation
Works offline — zero external dependencies
Responsive from mobile to 4K displays
Pure vanilla HTML/CSS/JS — no frameworks, no build tools, no npm

Quick Start

Clone the repo
Open index.html in a browser (or serve with any static file server)
Click anywhere to enable audio
Press F for fullscreen TV mode

# Or serve locally:
python3 -m http.server 8080
# Then open http://localhost:8080

Keyboard Shortcuts

Key	Action
`Enter` / `Space`	Next message
`Arrow Left`	Previous message
`Arrow Right`	Next message
`F`	Toggle fullscreen
`M`	Toggle mute
`Escape`	Exit fullscreen

How It Works

Each tile on the board is an independent element that can animate through a scramble sequence (rapid random characters with colored backgrounds) before settling on the final character. Only tiles whose content changes between messages animate — just like a real mechanical board.

The sound is a single recorded audio clip of a real split-flap transition, played once per message change to perfectly sync with the visual animation.

File Structure

flipoff/
  index.html           — Single-page app
  css/
    reset.css          — CSS reset
    layout.css         — Page layout (header, hero, board)
    board.css          — Board container and accent bars
    tile.css           — Tile styling and 3D flip animation
    responsive.css     — Media queries for all screen sizes
  js/
    main.js            — Entry point and UI wiring
    Board.js           — Grid manager and transition orchestration
    Tile.js            — Individual tile animation logic
    SoundEngine.js     — Audio playback with Web Audio API
    MessageRotator.js  — Quote rotation timer
    KeyboardController.js — Keyboard shortcut handling
    constants.js       — Configuration (grid size, colors, quotes)
    flapAudio.js       — Embedded audio data (base64)

Customization

Edit js/constants.js to change:

Messages: Add your own quotes or text
Grid size: Adjust GRID_COLS and GRID_ROWS
Timing: Tweak SCRAMBLE_DURATION, STAGGER_DELAY, etc.
Colors: Modify SCRAMBLE_COLORS and ACCENT_COLORS

License

MIT — do whatever you want with it.

View on GitHub

Recent activity

commits and pull requests

feat(control): Add live message and adaptive displayOpen
#22 by MohamedHechmiZammel · updated 3mo ago
Add responsive controls panel and quote fetching functionalityOpen
#21 by dangarjatin69 · updated 4mo ago
Merge PRs #1, #2, #4, #10 with improvements and fixesOpen
#19 by vakaobr · updated 4mo ago
Enhance README description for FlipOff projectOpen
#18 by mehra27piyush · updated 4mo ago
feat: shuffle messages randomly instead of sequential orderOpen
#1 by vai-oro · updated 4mo ago
Add header and hero section to index.htmlOpen
#15 by victorlopeez1 · updated 4mo ago
Add backend API, live sync, admin settings and plugin supportOpen
#2 by vultuk · updated 4mo ago
Update .gitignoreOpen
#14 by asdstazotasdtest1 · updated 4mo ago
=
Initial release: FlipOff split-flap display web app
= committed ebd8f26 · 4mo ago

Recent open issues

view all

Phonics Fork
#20 · 4mo ago · by InconsequentialNoncoder
APK Game Not Installing on Android Devices
#17 · 4mo ago · by nullsbrawl77
Fuel the Noobs
#12 · 4mo ago · by Adnexal · 2 comments
Shall we convert this to use Tailwind CSS?
#11 · 4mo ago · by Rl0007

Commits per week

last 52 weeks

1 commits in the last 52 weeks.

When work happens

weekday and hour

Commit volume by weekday and hour (UTC). Larger dots mean more commits.

Date	List	Rank	Stars gained
Mar 28, 2026	daily	#18	+117

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