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On generative algorithms

inconvergent.net

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Re: On generative algorithms

#31

Post by khitchdee »

a1369209993 wrote: post #18
khitchdee wrote: post #9

There's but a fine line between generative algorithms used for the purposes of arts and entertainment and those used for programming itself. Formerly referred to as meta-programming generative programming is the art of writing programs that help generate programs sort of a way of extending the idea of the tool as in programming tool beyond its current rather static avatar that consists merely of a rather lifeless IDE

Honestly, given the unreasonable effectiveness of (de-)compression algorithms, and the plethora of "I built a CPU in [insert PCG game here]" articles, I think it's a line of negative width.

strange

Re: On generative algorithms

#32

Post by munificent »

bduerst wrote: post #30
aw3c2 wrote: post #3

Warning, this series of fantastically written articles on generative art might make you feel very small and sad compared to those who are capable of not only creating but communicating beauty like this. In other words, I highly recommend you try some generative art yourself and see that at its core, it is not that hard and YOU can do it too!

Any idea on what they used to generate patterns like this? https://img.inconvergent.net/img/plot/43adc57.jpg

If you're asking software-wise, I believe Anders Hoff has his own big suite of Lisp code that he uses for his generative stuff.

Physically, I think he printed that one using an AxiDraw plotter.

Re: On generative algorithms

#33

Post by adw »

tbirrell wrote: post #13
aw3c2 wrote: post #3

Warning, this series of fantastically written articles on generative art might make you feel very small and sad compared to those who are capable of not only creating but communicating beauty like this. In other words, I highly recommend you try some generative art yourself and see that at its core, it is not that hard and YOU can do it too!

Do you have any recommendations of where to start?

Processing, p5.js, Max/MSP (if you want to do audio/video), CFDG (context-free design grammars). CFDG (contextfreeart.org) has a lot of bang for the buck in terms of effort in to quality of output out.

Re: On generative algorithms

#34

Post by Twirrim »

bduerst wrote: post #30
aw3c2 wrote: post #3

Warning, this series of fantastically written articles on generative art might make you feel very small and sad compared to those who are capable of not only creating but communicating beauty like this. In other words, I highly recommend you try some generative art yourself and see that at its core, it is not that hard and YOU can do it too!

Any idea on what they used to generate patterns like this? https://img.inconvergent.net/img/plot/43adc57.jpg

From the looks of the repos, they're primarily using Python + Numpy + the Cairo graphics library.

Re: On generative algorithms

#35

Post by imranq »

aw3c2 wrote: post #3

Warning, this series of fantastically written articles on generative art might make you feel very small and sad compared to those who are capable of not only creating but communicating beauty like this. In other words, I highly recommend you try some generative art yourself and see that at its core, it is not that hard and YOU can do it too!

I was thinking that it couldn’t feel so bad, but once I clicked on the link I was definitely in awe and then felt bad...

Re: On generative algorithms

#36

Post by akavel »

When I was a kid (in the 90s), one of the computer periodicals in Poland at the time had a column titled "Mikroprofesor", which run a lot of simple and beutiful algorithms for generative art like these. I loved the images and even tried coding some of them (I think they always came with some pseudocode). I wish there was some online archive of the articles, but unfortunately I couldn't find one (the magazine was named "Enter"; I can't recall the name of the column author however).

Re: On generative algorithms

#37

Post by fractallyte »

akavel wrote: post #36

When I was a kid (in the 90s), one of the computer periodicals in Poland at the time had a column titled "Mikroprofesor", which run a lot of simple and beutiful algorithms for generative art like these. I loved the images and even tried coding some of them (I think they always came with some pseudocode). I wish there was some online archive of the articles, but unfortunately I couldn't find one (the magazine was name…

A.K. Dewdney's "Computer Recreations" column in Scientific American in the 1980s also had early examples of algorithmic art - I bet you'd have loved those!

Re: On generative algorithms

#38

Post by toxik »

JadeNB wrote: post #8
shawn wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hmm, no need to feel like that. There are so many wonderful things in the world. Creativity is additive — even if you only do something small, it still matters.

> Creativity is additive — even if you only do something small, it still matters. This is a wonderful quote, which I'll probably steal. (Is it original to you?) Thank you!

Creativity is additive as far as money's not involved.

Re: On generative algorithms

#40

Post by emptybits »

akavel wrote: post #36

When I was a kid (in the 90s), one of the computer periodicals in Poland at the time had a column titled "Mikroprofesor", which run a lot of simple and beutiful algorithms for generative art like these. I loved the images and even tried coding some of them (I think they always came with some pseudocode). I wish there was some online archive of the articles, but unfortunately I couldn't find one (the magazine was name…

Sounds interesting. FWIW, A search for "Magazyn Enter" (the publisher is Lupus?) at archive.org turns up a handful of downloadable cover CDs from 1999. I didn't see any references to Mikroprofesor in the one ISO I checked. Just FYI, if it helps anyone sleuth.
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