For my research project, I looked into several languages before I stumbled upon livecodelab. This platform, created by the team of Davide Dela Casa and Guy John, is a breath of fresh air for anyone wishing to experiment with digital creation without the inconvenience – “anyone” and “without inconvenience” being the key terms. Both of the creators’ backgrounds are in Computer Science and they’ve worked in tech giants like Meta, Amazon and Google as per my research. Lets look deeper into what they’ve developed now.
The Concept and The Language
What sets LiveCodeLab apart is its simplicity. The code is developed through JavaScript and runs in a native JS runtime. They’ve crafted a language, LiveCodeLang, that’s so straightforward, it feels like you’re having a conversation rather than writing lines of code. And the magic happens as you type – 3D visuals start taking shape, and sound clips start playing, all in real-time. It’s like watching your ideas come to life right before your eyes. The rendering happens at 60 fps and the sound plays at an adjustable bpm.
The Website: livecodelab.net
I was pleasantly surprised to find that LiveCodeLab works right in your browser. No need to download any fancy software or set up complicated environments. Just fire up your browser, head to livecodelab.net, and you’re ready to dive into the world of creative coding. What’s even cooler is that the visuals and sounds keep playing as long as you stay on the tab. They won’t distract you if you change tabs, but will still be there when you come back later.
Cool Features and Areas for Improvement
One thing I love about LiveCodeLab is its accessibility. You don’t need to be a coding whiz to appreciate what it can do. As Guy John puts it,
"You don't need to understand the code to appreciate it, much like you don't need to play guitar to enjoy a guitar performance."
It’s a welcoming space where anyone, regardless of their background, can unleash their creativity and see where it takes them.
On top of that, it’s open-source. That means anyone can contribute to its development and help make it even better. Whether it’s adding more shapes and visuals or finding ways to sync animations with sound beats, the possibilities are endless. Everything about how to build on top of LiveCodeLang is also a part of its GitHub documentation.
As great as the platform is, there are areas that could use some polish. More shapes and visuals would be great, and syncing animations with sound could take things to the next level.
However, even as it is, LiveCodeLab is a shining example of how simplicity and creativity can go hand in hand.