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Spank supports four different modes that control which audio files are played when you slap your MacBook. Modes are mutually exclusive — you can only run one mode at a time.

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Pain Mode (Default)

The default mode plays random pain and protest sounds when your laptop is slapped. 
sudo spank
Behavior:
  • Randomly selects from 10 embedded pain/protest audio clips
  • Each slap triggers a different random sound
  • No escalation or progression
Code Reference: main.go:239 
default:
    pack = &soundPack{name: "pain", fs: painAudio, dir: "audio/pain", mode: modeRandom}

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Sexy Mode

Sexy mode features an escalating audio response system that intensifies based on how frequently you slap your MacBook. 
sudo spank --sexy
# or use the short flag
sudo spank -s

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How Escalation Works

Sexy mode uses a sophisticated intensity tracking system with exponential decay:
  • Intensity Score: Each slap adds 1.0 to your intensity score
  • Decay Half-Life: 30 seconds (configurable via decayHalfLife constant in main.go:66)
  • File Mapping: Score maps to 60 different audio files using a 1-exp(-x) curve
  • Sustained Slapping: At maximum slap rate (one per 750ms cooldown), the score converges to reach the final, most intense audio file
if !st.lastTime.IsZero() {
    elapsed := now.Sub(st.lastTime).Seconds()
    st.score *= math.Pow(0.5, elapsed/st.halfLife)
}
st.score += 1.0
The score decays exponentially when you stop slapping:
  • After 30 seconds of inactivity: intensity halves
  • After 60 seconds: intensity is at 25% of peak
  • After 90 seconds: intensity is at 12.5% of peak
// Escalation: 1-exp(-x) curve maps score to file index
maxIdx := len(st.pack.files) - 1
idx := int(float64(len(st.pack.files)) * (1.0 - math.Exp(-(score-1)/st.scale)))
if idx > maxIdx {
    idx = maxIdx
}
return st.pack.files[idx]
The exponential curve ensures smooth progression from mild to intense responses.
Example Output: 
slap #1 [moderate amp=0.45000g] -> audio/sexy/001.mp3
slap #2 [strong amp=0.52000g] -> audio/sexy/003.mp3
slap #5 [strong amp=0.48000g] -> audio/sexy/012.mp3
slap #20 [strong amp=0.55000g] -> audio/sexy/058.mp3
Sexy mode tracks your slapping intensity over a rolling time window. The more consistently you slap, the more intense the audio becomes. Stop slapping and the intensity naturally decays back to lower levels.
Code Reference: main.go:235 
case sexyMode:
    pack = &soundPack{name: "sexy", fs: sexyAudio, dir: "audio/sexy", mode: modeEscalation}

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Halo Mode

Halo mode plays random death sound effects from the Halo video game series. 
sudo spank --halo
# or use the short flag
sudo spank -H
Behavior:
  • Randomly selects from embedded Halo audio clips
  • Each slap triggers a different random game sound
  • No escalation (same as Pain mode behavior, different audio files)
Code Reference: main.go:237 
case haloMode:
    pack = &soundPack{name: "halo", fs: haloAudio, dir: "audio/halo", mode: modeRandom}

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Custom Mode

Custom mode lets you use your own MP3 files instead of the built-in audio packs. 
sudo spank --custom /path/to/mp3s
# or use the short flag
sudo spank -c ~/my-sounds
Requirements:
  • Directory must contain at least one .mp3 file
  • All files in the directory will be loaded (subdirectories are ignored)
  • Files are sorted alphabetically
Behavior:
  • Randomly selects from your MP3 files
  • No escalation (random mode only)
Code Reference: main.go:233 
case customPath != "":
    pack = &soundPack{name: "custom", dir: customPath, mode: modeRandom, custom: true}
If Spank cannot find any MP3 files in the specified directory, it will exit with an error: no audio files found in /path/to/dir

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Mode Restrictions

You cannot combine multiple modes. The flags --sexy, --halo, and --custom are mutually exclusive. 
# This will fail:
sudo spank --sexy --halo
# Error: --sexy, --halo, and --custom are mutually exclusive; pick one
Code Reference: main.go:212-224 
modeCount := 0
if sexyMode {
    modeCount++
}
if haloMode {
    modeCount++
}
if customPath != "" {
    modeCount++
}
if modeCount > 1 {
    return fmt.Errorf("--sexy, --halo, and --custom are mutually exclusive; pick one")
}

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Cooldown Period

All modes enforce a 750ms cooldown between audio playbacks to prevent rapid-fire sounds. Code Reference: main.go:69 
// slapCooldown prevents rapid-fire audio playback.
slapCooldown = 750 * time.Millisecond
If you slap twice within 750ms, the second slap will be detected but no audio will play. The console will still increment the slap counter.

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