The Nature of Code

Informationen zum Autor Daniel Shiffman is an Associate Arts Professor at ITP/IMA, Tisch School of the Arts, NYU. He is a director of The Processing Foundation and the author of Learning Processing: A Beginner's Guide to Programming Images , Animation , and Interaction and The Nature of Code , an open source book about simulating natural phenomenon with code. On his YouTube channel, The Coding Train, he publishes "creative coding" tutorials with subjects ranging from the basics of programming languages like JavaScript (with p5.js) and Java (with Processing) to generative algorithms like physics simulation, computer vision, and data visualization. Zusammenfassung All aboard The Coding Train ! This beginner-friendly creative coding tutorial is designed to grow your skills in a fun, hands-on way as you build simulations of real-world phenomena with The Coding Train YouTube star Daniel Shiffman. How can we use code to capture the unpredictable properties of nature? How can understanding the mathematical principles behind our physical world help us create interesting digital environments? Written by The Coding Train YouTube star Daniel Shiffman, The Nature of Code is a beginner-friendly creative coding tutorial that explores a range of programming strategies for developing computer simulations of natural systemsfrom elementary concepts in math and physics to sophisticated machine-learning algorithms. Using the same enthusiastic style on display in Shiffman's popular YT channel, this book makes learning to program fun, empowering you to generate fascinating graphical output while refining your problem-solving and algorithmic-thinking skills. You'll progress from building a basic physics engine that simulates the effects of forces like gravity and wind resistance, to creating evolving systems of intelligent autonomous agents that can learn from their mistakes and adapt to their environment. The Nature of Code introduces important topics such as: Randomness Forces and vectors Trigonometry Cellular automata and fractals Genetic algorithms Neural networks Learn from an expert how to transform your beginner-level skills into writing well-organized, thoughtful programs that set the stage for further experiments in generative design. NOTE: All examples are written with p5.js, a JavaScript library for creative coding, and are available on the book's website. Inhaltsverzeichnis Introduction Chapter 1: Vectors Chapter 2: Forces Chapter 3: Oscillation Chapter 4: Particle Systems Chapter 5: Autonomous Agents Chapter 6: Physics Libraries Chapter 7: Cellular Automata Chapter 8: Fractals Chapter 9: Evolutionary Computing...

Autorentext
Daniel Shiffman, creator of the YouTube channel The Coding Train (www.youtube.com/c/TheCodingTrain), spends much of his free time teaching nearly 2 million subscribers how to code through a blend of step-by-step tutorials and project videos. An associate arts professor at the NYU Tisch School of the Arts and co-founder of the Processing Foundation, Shiffman is on a mission to empower curious learners and humans everywhere to express themselves through code.

Klappentext

All aboard The Coding Train! This beginner-friendly creative coding tutorial is designed to grow your skills in a fun, hands-on way as you build simulations of real-world phenomena with “The Coding Train” YouTube star Daniel Shiffman.

What if you could re-create the awe-inspiring flocking patterns of birds or the hypnotic dance of fireflies—with code? For over a decade, The Nature of Code has empowered countless readers to do just that, bridging the gap between creative expression and programming. This innovative guide by Daniel Shiffman, creator of the beloved Coding Train, welcomes budding and seasoned programmers alike into a world where code meets playful creativity.

This JavaScript-based edition of Shiffman’s groundbreaking work gently unfolds the mysteries of the natural world, turning complex topics like genetic algorithms, physics-based simulations, and neural networks into accessible and visually stunning creations.

Embark on this extraordinary adventure with projects involving:

• A physics engine: Simulate the push and pull of gravitational attraction.
• Flocking birds: Choreograph the mesmerizing dance of a flock.
• Branching trees: Grow lifelike and organic tree structures.
• Neural networks: Craft intelligent systems that learn and adapt.
• Cellular automata: Uncover the magic of self-organizing patterns.
• Evolutionary algorithms: Play witness to natural selection in your code.
  Shiffman’s work has transformed thousands of curious minds into creators, breaking down barriers between science, art, and technology, and inviting readers to see code not just as a tool for tasks but as a canvas for boundless creativity.

Whether you’re deciphering the elegant patterns of natural phenomena or crafting your own digital ecosystems, Shiffman’s guidance is sure to inform and inspire. The Nature of Code is not just about coding; it’s about looking at the natural world in a new way and letting its wonders inspire your next creation. Dive in and discover the joy of turning code into art—all while mastering coding fundamentals along the way.

NOTE: All examples are written with p5.js, a JavaScript library for creative coding, and are available on the book's website.

Inhalt
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 0: Randomness
Chapter 1: Vectors
Chapter 2: Forces
Chapter 3: Oscillation
Chapter 4: Particle Systems
Chapter 5: Autonomous Agents
Chapter 6: Physics Libraries
Chapter 7: Cellular Automata
Chapter 8: Fractals
Chapter 9: Evolutionary Computing
Chapter 10: Neural Networks
Chapter 11: Neuroevolution
Appendix: Creature Design Tutorial
Image Credits
Index