dallasbrittany / glicol

Graph-oriented live coding language and audio DSP library written in Rust

GLICOL (an acronym for "graph-oriented live coding language") is a computer music language and an audio DSP library written in Rust.

Why Glicol?

Glicol is mainly contributing to these two domains:

1. rethink language style and interaction in collaborative live coding
2. as an audio lib for quick DSP prototyping

Language style and interaction

As its name suggests, Glicol opts a graph-oriented syntax, rather than OOP or FP. The consideration is from balancing the simplicity and readability. Thus, the programming in Glicol is all about:

1. remembering the input and output of each node
2. connect them

// an amplitude modulation example
o: sin 440 >> mul ~mod

~mod: sin 0.5 >> mul 0.3 >> add 0.5

For interaction, Glicol choose a WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) paradigm. Under the hood, Glicol has implemented LCS algorithm to dynamically update the graph in real-time. Together with code preprocessing, Glicol provides smooth transition for oscillators and the mul node.

You can learn Glicol, find music example and create decentralised collaboration on its web interface:

https://glicol.org

The web interface has the following features:

1. run Glicol engine at near-native speed, thanks to WebAssembly
2. garbage-collection-free real-time audio in browsers thanks to AudioWorklet, SharedArrayBuffer
3. error handling and command in browser console: e.g. load your own samples
4. mix JS code with Glicol easily: o: sin {{42*10+20}}
5. create visuals with Hydra

DSP

Glicol can be used:

1. as Web Audio API, Tone.js alternative
2. for developing VST plugins in Rust (has POC, but still WIP)
3. to program on Bela board (has POC, but still WIP)

The js folder contains the Glicol distribution for the web platform. The usage is very easy. Just include this into your index.html:

<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/chaosprint/glicol@latest/js/src/glicol.js"></script>

Then you can write on your website:

run(`o: sin 440`)

See the README.md in js folder for details.

For VST plugins development, see the README.md file in the rs folder for details.

Features and milestones

• 0.1.0 hello world from dasp_graph and pest.rs, pass code from js to wasm, and lazy evaluation
• 0.2.0 pass samples from js to wasm, support error handling, bpm control in console
• 0.3.0 build complex node plate reverb using basic node from glicol, using macro in Rust
• 0.4.0 use LCS algorithm and preprocessor for smooth and efficient whole graph updating
• 0.5.0 build const_generics to dasp_graph and use it in glicol, use SharedArrayBuffer, support local sample loading
• 0.6.0 refactor the code to modules:
  • glicol-main = glicol-synth + glicol-parser + glicol-ext
  • glicol-ext = glicol-synth + glicol-parser + glicol-macro
  • glicol-js = glicol-main + glicol-wasm
• 0.7.0 support mixing js with glicol in glicol-js using Regex; add visualisation
• 0.8.0 embed Rhai in glicol 🎉

main: script `
    output.clear();
    for i in 0..128 {
        output.push(sin(2.0*PI()*phase / (44100.0 / 55.0 )));
        phase += 1.0;
    };
    output
` >> script `
    output = input.map(|i|i*0.1);
    output
`

• 0.9.0 better docs/tutorials, music examples and bug fix
• detailed and robust error handling; may swtich to nom parser
• midi support? better communication between wasm and js
• better extension node, vst, web audio development protocol

Note that Glicol is still highly experimental, so it can be highly risky for live performances. The API may also change before version 1.0.0.

Please let me know in issues or discussions:

• your thoughts on the experience of glicol
• new feature suggestion
• bug report, especially the code that causes a panic in browser console
• missing and confusion in guides and reference on the website