Yet another fun program. Which I used to generate the background to this very article.

The last two programs (the random text generator and the graphic tracer) are a bit of a challenge to install and use. This one isn't. You don't even really install it, just unzip it and run.

What Starfish does is generate random graphic patterns and automatically make them your desktop wallpaper. Unless you change the settings, the patterns tile seamlessly. The concept is that the program makes a new pattern on a schedule that you set. I tend not to use it that way - I click the GO button until I get something I like, and then exit. Most of the patterns are quite pleasant, I'm just picky.
Starfish can select from preset color schemes, generate random color schemes, or use one that you specify. The specific color scheme option is handy for web design - set up a color scheme in Starfish that matches your web colors, and hit GO until you get a background you like.

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When you download free or shareware programs, there can be a risk of spyware. But if the program is Open Source, that risk is near zero, because open source means that anybody who wants to can check out the code, and there is no place to hide spyware. You probably won't check out the code, but somebody else - somebody unconnected with the author - almost certainly has, or will. I haven't read the code for Starfish, but it is protected by one of the major open source licenses. I trust it.

I'll go into more detail on open source in the near future.