1---
2title: Strudel vs Tidal
3layout: ../../layouts/MainLayout.astro
4---
5
6import { MiniRepl } from '../../docs/MiniRepl';
7import { JsDoc } from '../../docs/JsDoc';
8
9# Comparing Strudel and Tidal
10
11This page is dedicated to exisiting tidal users, giving an overview of all the differences between Strudel and Tidal.
12
13## Language
14
15Strudel is written in JavaScript, while Tidal is written in Haskell.
16
17### Example
18
19This difference is most obvious when looking at the syntax:
20
21```haskell
22iter 4 $ every 3 (||+ n "10 20") $ (n "0 1 3") # s "triangle" # crush 4
23```
24
25One _could_ express that pattern to Strudel like so:
26
27```
28iter(4, every(3, add.squeeze("10 20"), n("0 1 3").s("triangle").crush(4)))
29```
30
31- The `$` operator does not exist, so the `iter` function has to wrap everything in parens.
32- Custom operators like `||+` are explicit function calls, `add.squeeze` in this case
33- The `#` operator is replaced with a chained function call `# crush 4` => `.crush(4)`
34
35Unlike Haskell, JavaScript lacks the ability to define custom infix
36operators, or change the meaning of existing ones.
37
38Before you discard Strudel as an unwieldy paren monster, look at this alternative way to write the above:
39
40```
41n("0 1 3").every(3, add.squeeze("10 20")).iter(4).s("triangle").crush(4)
42```
43
44By reordering calls, the parens are much less nested.
45As a general rule by thumb, you could say that everything Tidal does with `$` is reversed in Strudel:
46
47`iter 4 $ every 3 (||+ n "10 20") $ (n "0 1 3")`
48
49becomes
50
51`n("0 1 3").every(3, add.squeeze("10 20")).iter(4)`
52
53Simply put, `foo x $ bar x` becomes `bar(x).foo(x)`.
54
55### Operators
56
57The [custom operators of tidal](https://tidalcycles.org/docs/reference/pattern_structure/#all-the-operators) are normal functions in strudel:
58
59| function    | tidal  | strudel |
60| ----------- | ------ | ------- |
61| add         | \|+ n  | .add(n) |
62| subtract    | \|- n  | .sub(n) |
63| multiply    | \|\* n | .mul(n) |
64| divide      | \|\/ n | .div(n) |
65| modulo      | \|\% n | .mod(n) |
66| left values | \|\< n | .set(n) |
67
68The above list only displays the operators taking the structure comes from the `left`.
69For each of those, a `right` and `both` variant also exists.
70As this directional thinking only works with code, strudel calls these `in` / `out` / `mix`:
71
72| direction | tidal   | strudel     |
73| --------- | ------- | ----------- |
74| left      | \|+ n   | .add.in(n)  |
75| right     | +\| n   | .add.out(n) |
76| both      | \|+\| n | .add.mix(n) |
77
78Instead of `+` / `add`, you can use any of the available operators of the first list.
79
80## Function Compatibility
81
82[This issue](https://codeberg.org/uzu/strudel/issues/31) tracks which Tidal functions are implemented in Strudel.
83The list might not be 100% up to date and probably also misses some functions completely..
84Feel encouraged to search the source code for a function you're looking for.
85If you find a function that's not on the list, please tell!
86
87## Control Params
88
89As seen in the example, the `#` operator (shorthand for `|>`) is also just a function call in strudel.
90So `note "c5" # s "gtr"` becomes `note("c5").s('gtr')`.
91
92[This file](https://codeberg.org/uzu/strudel/src/branch/main/packages/core/controls.mjs) lists all available control params.
93Note that not all of those work in the Webaudio Output of Strudel.
94If you find a tidal control that's not on the list, please tell!
95
96## Sound
97
98Tidal is commonly paired with Superdirt / Supercollider for sound generation.
99While Strudel also has a way of [communicating with Superdirt](/learn/input-output/),
100it aims to provide a standalone live coding environment that runs entirely in the browser.
101
102### Audio Effects
103
104Many of SuperDirt's effects have been reimplemented in Strudel, using the Web Audio API.
105You can find a [list of available effects here](/learn/effects/).
106
107### Sampler
108
109Strudel's sampler supports [a subset](/learn/samples) of Superdirt's sampler.
110Also, samples are always loaded from a URL rather than from the disk, although [that might be possible in the future](https://codeberg.org/uzu/strudel/issues/118).
111
112## Evaluation
113
114The Strudel REPL does not support [block based evaluation](https://codeberg.org/uzu/strudel/issues/34) yet.
115You can use labeled statements and `_` to mute:
116
117<MiniRepl
118  client:visible
119tune={`$: n("[0 .. 8]*8/9").scale("C:minor:pentatonic")
120
121\_$: s("bd\*4").bank('RolandTR909')`}
122/>
123
124## Tempo
125
126Strudels tempo is 1 cycle per second, while tidal defaults to `0.5625`.
127You can get the same tempo as tidal with:
128
129```
130note("c a f e").fast(.5625);
131```
132
133Next up: the [REPL](/technical-manual/repl)