The Nature of Code
How can we capture the unpredictable evolutionary and emergent properties of nature in software? How can understanding the mathematical principles behind our physical world help us to create digital worlds? This book focuses on a range of programming strategies and techniques behind computer simulations of natural systems, from elementary concepts in mathematics and physics to more advanced algorithms that enable sophisticated visual results. Readers will progress from building a basic physics engine to creating intelligent moving objects and complex systems, setting the foundation for further experiments in generative design. Subjects covered include forces, trigonometry, fractals, cellular automata, self-organization, and genetic algorithms. The book's examples are written in Processing, an open-source language and development environment built on top of the Java programming language. On the book's website (http: //www.natureofcode.com), the examples run in the browser via Processing's JavaScript mode.
Stats for nerds
73recommend
111mentions
82people
2012–2026years
86% recommend14% neutral1% critical
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
- Reminds me of this fun book I worked through years ago https://natureofcode.com/
- Ooh boids, yes! One of my favorite books is Vehicles: Experiments in Synthetic Psychology. I learned about it from another favorite, Nature of Code, which has a great list of related books. https://natureofcode.com/resources/#further-reading
- Nature of Code is such a great book !
- If you're into exploring this sort of thing yourself, I can extremely highly recommend Daniel Shiffman's Nature of Code[1]. It's among my top-5 recommended books about computing in general, let alone for algorithmic art.
- Can still remember the sound of the Funky Bomb firing in Scorched Earth. Thanks fot reminding me of that.
If you're interested in this sort of stuff, the book Nature Of Code is great for exploring this topic by creating simulations. There's a Javascript version and Java based version (using the Processing framework). It isn't actually all that difficult, and I found it very satisfying to work through.
- It really depends on your level - this kind of graphics work is usually learned over many years.
Some sources
> Math & motion: – The Nature of Code https://natureofcode.com/ – Coding Math https://www.youtube.com/user/codingmath
> Shaders / math-based rendering: – The Book of Shaders https://thebookofshaders.com/ – Inigo Quilez https://iquilezles.org/
> Interactive explanations: – Red Blob Games https://www.redblobgames.com/
You can also find some insight into his work process here: https://x.com/BCiechanowski/status/1387827101294686210?s=20
Most people doing this level of work built their own tools over time, learned a bit here and there, and kept refining things throughout their career.
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