[HN Gopher] A web app to generate valid QR codes with readable i...
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       A web app to generate valid QR codes with readable images
        
       Author : rguiscard
       Score  : 65 points
       Date   : 2022-02-01 13:43 UTC (9 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (github.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (github.com)
        
       | nayuki wrote:
       | They're "valid" QR codes only in the sense that many QR scanner
       | software only measure a small part of the middle of each square
       | instead of averaging the brightness of the whole square.
        
       | Retr0id wrote:
       | I tried this via Binary Eye, a ZXing-based QR reader on my
       | Android phone, and it couldn't read them. The camera app didn't
       | seem to work either. However, the Google search app did work.
       | 
       | While these are still "valid" QR codes, they are certainly less
       | easily readable.
       | 
       | Edit: I tried again in the camera app and it worked, for the
       | pikachu example at least.
        
         | Cerium wrote:
         | WeChat has a very good QR reader, and was able to read these
         | without any trouble.
        
       | bertman wrote:
       | Note: this is all client-side. There is no "upload" to a server.
        
       | sharmin123 wrote:
        
       | iwebdevfromhome wrote:
       | I tried generating a QR code with an image and it didn't work at
       | first, I had to adjust the bit size for it to work. I then tried
       | another image and it required me to have a bigger bit size for
       | the camera phone camera to correctly detect it.
        
       | ryuta wrote:
       | I tend to ignore projects with GPL3 License
        
         | gammalost wrote:
         | Why?
        
           | mikece wrote:
           | Just a guess, but lack of ability to embed it directly into
           | other software without the technical requirement to then make
           | that whole project GPL3. I suspect the OP would be happier
           | with a BSD/MIT/Apache license.
        
             | stavros wrote:
             | Is there an issue with the version? Would v2 be different
             | there?
        
             | netr0ute wrote:
             | That's just the way you make more software open source. If
             | you don't like making your software OSS, then you can take
             | it or leave it.
        
               | samatman wrote:
               | Exactly, a lot of us leave it.
               | 
               | I'm fine with my software being OSS, it doesn't have to
               | infect yours.
               | 
               | Your license is fine as well, just oil and water is all.
        
               | edm0nd wrote:
               | What's the most widely used license type when it comes to
               | OSS software?
        
               | omoikane wrote:
               | MIT, according to this old github blog:
               | https://github.blog/2015-03-09-open-source-license-usage-
               | on-...
               | 
               | Might be because https://choosealicense.com/ recommends
               | MIT license.
        
               | prophesi wrote:
               | MIT and Apache 2.0, I think. They're both very
               | permissive. You can both use the software as a library or
               | create derivative works without needing to open your
               | source or change your licensing. IANAL, though.
        
               | prophesi wrote:
               | This is why I usually go for LGPL. Much more sane terms
               | for infection.
        
               | stavros wrote:
               | I go the other way, AGPL.
        
         | fbanon wrote:
         | Lol. Someone is salty they can't make money off of others'
         | work.
        
           | mxmilkiib wrote:
           | One can sell GPL3 licenced software.
        
       | temp0826 wrote:
       | I tend to not have to use (nor generate) qr codes often, but I
       | can picture using this to embed an image that actually describes
       | the data in the code. (E.g. codes to connect to a wifi, maybe
       | having the name of the ap pictured in the code)
        
       | dijit wrote:
       | Only one of those example QR codes works with my iPhone camera,
       | and it's a bit awkward as it keeps vanishing and coming back.
       | 
       | There are some good stylised QR code generators, I used one to
       | make this:
       | https://git.drk.sc/uploads/-/system/appearance/logo/1/git.do...
       | 
       | I think I used this: https://www.qr-code-generator.com
        
         | stronglikedan wrote:
         | You're lucky that you actually got it to read one. I'm 0 for 4
         | on a Galaxy S21 Ultra.
        
       | rob74 wrote:
       | I still find this old project, which tries to embed images in the
       | QR code so that the pixels making up the image are _actually part
       | of the code_ , more impressive (unfortunately the website seems
       | to be gone): https://research.swtch.com/qart
        
         | sqren wrote:
         | Agree! And those QR codes actually worked for me.
        
         | easrng wrote:
         | That generator is gone but https://www.qrpicture.com/ works and
         | does basically the same thing.
        
       | nsxwolf wrote:
       | Are the sample legitimate QR codes? They don't look like it, and
       | my iPhone camera doesn't recognize them.
        
         | jhowison wrote:
         | My iPhone 12 pro Max, with the latest iOS, picked up all four.
         | The first three fairly easily, the last one I had to keep
         | moving the phone in and out before it showed. That said, none
         | of them kept the link constantly and it was a bit tricky to
         | hold it still enough once it found the link to tap it. (The
         | link was to a YouTube video about QR image codes..)
        
           | nsxwolf wrote:
           | My iPhone Xs eventually got the green guy to recognize, but
           | not the Pikachu or the little RPG guy or the whatever the
           | other thing is.
           | 
           | This would be a really cool idea if it could be made to work
           | reliably. I like how Twitter did it, they put your avatar in
           | a small circle in the center. That seems to work.
        
       | vernie wrote:
       | Looks awful.
        
       | koch wrote:
       | I did it differently and incorporate the image into the code
       | pattern itself, instead of having it as the background. It seems
       | to make them more scannable.
       | 
       | https://sw.ink/create
        
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       (page generated 2022-02-01 23:02 UTC)