Pattlas
Pattlas is a new creative coding platform for exploring “patterns” generated from algorithms and parameters.
Whether you write code or not, you can enjoy “moments of creation” through slider manipulation and sharing.
Recording Unknown Patterns
The inspiration for Pattlas came from Wallpaper Group Alpha, a small app I published on my personal site.
This app was simple—users could enjoy watching patterns change through slider operations on the site. But when I saw the works users created with Wallpaper Group Alpha, I felt as if new works were emerging from the code I had written.
New aspects emerged that I hadn’t noticed while writing the code.
I wanted to record these discoveries in one place. That’s what inspired the development of Pattlas.
The images that emerge from parameter manipulation cannot all be imagined while building the system that creates them.
Surprising patterns that weren’t noticed during actual coding may be hidden, and Pattlas aims to let many people explore and share these discoveries together.
Algorithm, Parameter, Pattern
In Pattlas, we call code an algorithm. An algorithm is a mechanism for creating images. Parameters can be set for algorithms, and the images that actually emerge from these combinations are called patterns.
“Creating patterns from the combination of algorithms and parameters” is the basic creative coding flow in Pattlas.
Fork, Variant
Pattlas encourages creating derivative works from existing works, and you can create derivatives from any work.
Creating a derivative from an existing algorithm is called a fork, while creating a derivative by inheriting parameters from an existing pattern is called a variant.
Through remixing and collaboration between users, you can discover new aspects of works that wouldn’t emerge from solo creation.
More details are available on note (Japanese content).
