1---
2title: '2 Years of Strudel'
3description: ''
4date: '2024-01-22'
5tags: ['meta']
6author: froos
7---
8
9Strudel is now 2 years old! This was the first commit to the strudel repo:
10
11```log
12commit 38b5a0d5cdf28685b2b5e18d460772b70246207b
13Author: Alex McLean <alex@slab.org>
14Date:   Sat Jan 22 20:24:36 2022 +0000
15
16Initial commit
17```
18
19I have already written these 2 posts about the first year of strudel:
20
21- [Introducing Strudel](https://loophole-letters.vercel.app/strudel)
22- [1 Year of Strudel](https://loophole-letters.vercel.app/strudel1year)
23
24To continue that tradition, let me recap what happened around Strudel in 2023, at least what I have noticed:
25
26## ICLC 2023
27
28I presented strudel at the [International Conference on Live Coding (ICLC)](https://iclc.toplap.org/2023/), which took place in April in Utrecht.
29Here is the (pretty technical) video of my presentation:
30
31import { Youtube } from '@src/components/Youtube';
32
33<Youtube client:only="react" id="ZzDSW08IAdU" params="start=2805" />
34
35For the conference, I wrote a paper with Alex McLean, called [Strudel: Live Coding Patterns on the Web](https://zenodo.org/records/7842142).
36For me personally, this was my first major contact with the live coding scene and it was a very memorable experience!
37
38## Workshops and Courses
39
40A lot of workshops have been using strudel in the last year, from many parts of the world:
41[Iceland](http://www.raflost.is/live-coding-for-beginners/), [UK](https://gutlevel.co.uk/whatson/patternclub8),
42[Japan](https://yoppa.org/kanazawa23), [France](https://www.stereolux.org/agenda/workshop-de-decouverte-de-la-musique-algorithmique-avec-strudel-avec-camille-amet) and the [US](https://www.nycresistor.com/2023/09/25/making-music-with-code-9-30-2023/) (probably more I've missed).
43I've also given workshops in [Switzerland](https://basel.codes/2023/index.html) and [Germany](https://www.cityofmediaarts.de/de/events/strudel-live-coding-workshop/), where we even had real strudel, thanks to [TOPLAP Karlsruhe](https://toplap-ka.de/)!
44
45![strudel workshop space](/img/workshop-space.png)
46
47Additionally, there is now a [Creative Coding](https://www.chalmers.se/en/collaborate-with-us/activities-for-schools/creative-coding/) course at Chalmers in Sweden, consisting of "a 10-week series of workshops [...] for younger girls to have fun and experiment with code and music".
48I was very delighted to see this video of the girls having fun with Strudel:
49
50<Youtube client:only="react" id="4zgHeNpG4wU" />
51
52The course was also encompassed by a study on female empowerement through Creative Coding, read more in [Jasmina Maric's paper "Singing Code"](https://www.academia.edu/106106710/Singing_Code).
53
54Another bigger installment was the [(Algo|Afro) Futures programme](https://algo-afro-futures.lurk.org/) led by Antonio Roberts, which is "a mentoring programme for early career Black artists who want to explore creative coding and live coding".
55For the final concert they recorded this amazing live stream:
56
57<Youtube client:only="react" id="zUoZvkZ3J7Q" params="start=842" />
58
59I am so happy to see that the project I've co-created has had such an impact already, making live coding workshops more easy and accessible.
60In my opinion, the reasons why people seem to choose strudel for teaching are:
61
62- it does not require an installation, so it even runs on your phone / tablet or a chromebook
63- in-code and behind-code visualizations help learners to understand what the system is doing
64- the interactive documentation
65- the simple javascript syntax, which is very similar to [hydra](https://hydra.ojack.xyz)
66- tidal's mini notation for playful expression of rhythms (based on the [Bol Processor](https://bolprocessor.org/)'s polymetric expressions)
67- its range of functions for transforming patterns for those getting deeper into exploring strange rhythms
68
69## Performances
70
71![strudel performance](/img/strudel-live-coding-mars-college.jpg)
72
73People are starting to use Strudel for performances, many of which can be watched in the new [Showcase](/intro/showcase/)!
74The above photo comes from the [Mars College Department of Future Music](https://mars.college/gallery/live_coding/)
75
76## New Features
77
78Let's talk about some of the major features that landed since last year.
79
80### Audio Engine Improved
81
82The audio engine has gotten a lot of attention! Once integrated into Strudel itself, the engine has been pulled out and named [superdough](https://www.npmjs.com/package/superdough),
83the name being based on [SuperDirt](https://github.com/musikinformatik/SuperDirt), which is the audio engine of Tidal.
84Superdough is now also used by [topos](https://topos.live/), a creation of [Raphaël Forment](https://github.com/Bubobubobubobubo/), who helped me implement a bunch of new features.
85Lately, [Jade Rowland](https://github.com/daslyfe) has also developed many synthesis features into superdough! Here is a non-exhaustive list of new features:
86
87- [filter envelopes](https://strudel.cc/learn/effects/#filter-envelope) + [24db filter option](https://strudel.cc/learn/effects/#ftype)
88- [pitch envelopes](https://strudel.cc/learn/effects/#pitch-envelope)
89- [fm synthesis](https://strudel.cc/learn/synths/#fm-synthesis)
90- [wavetable synthesis](https://strudel.cc/recipes/recipes/#wavetable-synthesis)
91- [phaser](https://strudel.cc/learn/effects/#phaser)
92- [vibrato](https://strudel.cc/learn/synths/#vibrato)
93- [noise](https://strudel.cc/learn/synths/#noise)
94- [an integration of the zzfx synth](https://strudel.cc/learn/synths/#zzfx)
95- [compressor](https://strudel.cc/learn/effects/#compressor)
96- multichannel audio / audio device selection
97
98import { MiniRepl } from '@src/docs/MiniRepl';
99
100Here's an example that shows off filter envelopes:
101
102<MiniRepl
103  client:visible
104  tune={`// "acidic tooth" @by eddyflux
105setcps(1)
106stack(
107  note("[<g1 f1>/8](<3 5>,8)")
108  .clip(perlin.range(.15,1.5))
109  .release(.1)
110  .s("sawtooth")
111  .lpf(sine.range(400,800).slow(16))
112  .lpq(cosine.range(6,14).slow(3))
113  .lpenv(sine.mul(4).slow(4))
114  .lpd(.2).lpa(.02)
115  .ftype('24db')
116  .rarely(add(note(12)))
117  .room(.2).shape(.3).postgain(.5)
118  .superimpose(x=>x.add(note(12)).delay(.5).bpf(1000))
119  .gain("[.2 1@3]*2") // fake sidechain
120  ,
121  stack(
122    s("bd*2").mask("<0@4 1@16>"),
123    s("hh*8").gain(saw.mul(saw.fast(2))).clip(sine)
124    .mask("<0@8 1@16>")
125  ).bank('RolandTR909')
126)
127`}
128/>
129
130### Import Sounds
131
132In the "sounds" tab, you can now press "import sounds" to select sounds from your local disk, allowing you
133to use your own samples without the need to upload them! Keep in mind that if you share a pattern that uses local samples that the samples will fail to load on other people's machines..
134
135### Community Bakery / Patterns Tab
136
137You can now share your patterns publicly to the [Community Bakery](/bakery/), via the "Share" button!
138The Community Patterns are also listed in the new "patterns", where you can also save your own patterns locally!
139
140### Quality of Life Improvements
141
142You can now change the theme and font of the editor:
143
144![strudel themes](/img/strudel-themes.png)
145
146You can now enable autocompletion in the settings:
147
148![autocomplete](/img/autocomplete.png)
149
150If you enable tooltips, you will get the same info by hovering the mouse over functions while holding the ctrl key!
151
152Another handy thing is that Strudel now has offline support! Even samples will work once you have played them once. [More info](/learn/pwa/)
153
154### New Visualizations
155
156There is now a new `.spiral()` visualization that renders events in a spiral, elevating the cyclical nature of time (+ swirl also means Strudel in german).
157
158![strudel alien ui](/img/strudel-alien-live-coding.png)
159
160Ah yes and you see one of the less readable fonts in this screenshot too :)
161
162The `.scope()` function renders you an oscilloscope:
163
164![scope](/img/strudel-scope.png)
165
166The pianoroll also got some more options, including the ability to set labels:
167
168![scope](/img/strudel-monkeys.png)
169
170### Sliders
171
172The `slider` is the first of a family of functions that render UI widgets inline:
173
174<MiniRepl
175  client:visible
176  tune={`note("<c eb g bb>*8")
177  .s("sawtooth").lpenv(2).lpq(8)
178  .lpf(slider(500, 100, 2000, 1))`}
179/>
180
181Sliders are especially useful for gradual changes like fading things in and out by hand,
182which is not very practical with just code. The fact that the slider is inside the code and also changes the code itself,
183makes it feel connected to the rest of the system + doesn't distract or obstruct from the code.
184Other widgets will come for sure.
185
186### More Voicings
187
188One of my personal goals that got me involved with live coding in the first place is to be able to generate good sounding chord voicings on the fly.
189Strudel now supports most chord symbols:
190
191<MiniRepl
192  client:visible
193  tune={`chord("<C^9 C7b9 Fm9 Db^7>/2")
194  .dict('ireal').voicing()
195  .s("sawtooth")
196  .lpf(400).lpa(.5).lpenv(4)
197  .phaser(4).room(.5)`}
198/>
199
200So far, this is only [documented briefly](https://strudel.cc/learn/tonal/#voicing), a more in-depth guide will follow!
201
202### Multiplayer / Collaborative Coding
203
204The collaborative live coding editor [flok](https://flok.cc) had strudel support early on, thanks to [Damián Silvani](https://github.com/munshkr).
205Later, I've added [support for multiple strudel instances](https://github.com/munshkr/flok/pull/181), which was merged to the official version [just a few days ago](https://social.toplap.org/@munshkr/111748783047032711).
206This photo shows a flok jam I did with my workshop participants in basel:
207
208![collaborative coding](/img/strudel-collaborative-coding.png)
209
210The cool thing about flok is that you can jam with people on the other side of the planet!
211Here is a recording of the first session we organized over the discord server:
212
213<Youtube client:only="react" id="p0J7XrT9JEs" params="start=2634" />
214
215### Better MIDI integration
216
217The midi integration has gotten a few new features:
218
219- [clock out](https://codeberg.org/uzu/strudel/pulls/710) to sync your midi devices / DAW to the strudel clock (better doc coming soon)
220- [cc output](https://strudel.cc/learn/input-output/#ccn--ccv) to send cc values to your gear
221- [cc input](https://codeberg.org/uzu/strudel/pulls/699) to control strudel via MIDI (better doc coming soon)
222
223Here is a little demo of me fiddling with a midi controller, changing a piano pattern:
224
225<Youtube client:only="react" id="e2-Sv_jjDQk" />
226
227### Experimental Features
228
229- You can now run [hydra inside strudel](https://strudel.cc/learn/hydra/) + you can even run strudel in [hydra](https://hydra.ojack.xyz), thanks to [Olivia Jack](https://ojack.xyz/) and [Ámbar Tenorio Fornés](https://atenor.io/)! Read more [here](https://alpaca.pubpub.org/pub/b7hwrjfk/release/2?readingCollection=1def0192)
230- There is now a [VSCode Plugin](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=roipoussiere.tidal-strudel) thanks to [roipoussiere](https://github.com/roipoussiere)! It allows you run patterns from a `.strudel` file inside VSCode.
231- Strudel can now be downloaded as a desktop app, thanks to [vasilymilovidov](https://github.com/vasilymilovidov) who has wrapped the REPL with [tauri](https://tauri.app/). You can download it [on the releases page](https://codeberg.org/uzu/strudel/releases) (scroll down to Assets). The performance is not optimal on MacOS and Linux, which is why it is still considered experimental
232
233## Stats
234
235Let's end the recap with some naked numbers:
236
237### Releases
238
239- 0.0.2 Schwindlig
240- 0.1.0 Stürmisch
241- 0.0.3 Maelstrom - state of last strudel post
242- 0.0.4 Gischt
243- 0.3.0 Donauwelle
244- 0.4.0 Brandung
245- 0.5.0 Wirbel
246- 0.6.0 Zimtschnecke - state after 1 year
247- 0.7.0 Zuckerguss
248- 0.8.0 Himbeermuffin
249- 0.9.0 Bananenbrot
250- 0.10.0 Kuchenboden
251- 0.11.0 Kuchengabel
252- 1.0.0 Geburtstagskuchen - now!
253
254### Repo Stats
255
256- 3399 commits (+1521)
257- 427 stars (+243)
258- 90 forks (+45)
259- 163 open issues (+110), 186 closed (+100)
260- 20 open PRs (+18), 515 closed (+292)
261- 32 contributors (+17)
262- 12 releases (+4)
263
264## Thank you 💗
265
266A big thanks to everyone contributing to this project in one way or another,
267be it by writing code, fixing typos, asking questions or making sounds!
268I am very grateful for how all of this came together and I'm looking forward to year 3!
269If you have some spare cash to support the tidal project, we'd be happy if you can [insert some coins here](https://opencollective.com/tidalcycles).