Four balls race down four frictionless slopes to the same point – a straight line, a steep curve, a cycloid and a deep dip. The cycloid wins every time.
Four balls race down four frictionless slopes to the same point – a straight line, a steep curve, a cycloid and a deep dip. The cycloid wins every time.
In the app you can adjust the slow motion. It runs natively on your Mac, drawn live in real time – no video, never quite the same twice.
Use it on your Mac
- Get SCRNSVRS free from the Mac App Store.
- Select Brachistochrone in the library.
- Click Set as Screensaver or Set as Wallpaper – or both.
Preview free · macOS Tahoe 26 or laterNeed a hand? Read the setup guide.
Brachistochrone FAQ
How do I set Brachistochrone as my screensaver on a Mac?
Install SCRNSVRS free from the Mac App Store, select Brachistochrone in the library and click Set as Screensaver. macOS starts it whenever your Mac is idle, exactly like a built-in screensaver.
Can I use Brachistochrone as a live wallpaper?
Yes. Click Set as Wallpaper in SCRNSVRS and Brachistochrone plays on your desktop behind your windows and icons. You can use it as screensaver and wallpaper at the same time.
Is Brachistochrone free?
Brachistochrone is included in SCRNSVRS Unlimited. It's free for your first 7 days; after that Unlimited is $1.99/month or $9.99/year (€1.99/month or €9.99/year) for every screensaver, including new ones. It can also come up in Free this month, when 25 premium screensavers are free for everyone.
Is Brachistochrone a video loop?
No. Brachistochrone is rendered live on your Mac with Metal, so it never repeats and stays sharp on any display size. The clip on this page is a screen recording of the real thing.
Will Brachistochrone slow down my Mac or drain the battery?
No. SCRNSVRS drops to 30 fps on battery and stops rendering when the wallpaper is covered by a full-screen app, so Brachistochrone costs next to nothing in everyday use.
Which Macs does Brachistochrone run on?
Brachistochrone needs macOS Tahoe 26 or later.
