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I've spent some time trying to work with Sonic Pi, but I've really struggled with the syntax, finding it difficult to work with. I'm fluent in Python but find

I've spent some time trying to work with Sonic Pi, but I've really struggled with the syntax, finding it difficult to work with. I'm fluent in Python but find the use of colons is the real sticking point. If anyone's got any suggestions, or can point to a python version of the same (I spent a fair bit of time working with FoxDot which does use python so it made more sense to me) it'd be appreciated - this is something I'd really like to get into, but have found the hurdles a bit too tall!

simongray 4y ago
> I'm fluent in Python but find the use of colons is the real sticking point. The you'd probably have hated its predecessor which was all about the parentheses: https://overtone.github.io/ https://overtone.github.io/ It's too bad that superficial stuff like which characters you need to type is holding you back. Getting used to Ruby when you're familiar with Python is no big deal. I would just stick with it
- 0atman 4y ago
  Agreed! OP: Do you think Ruby is the last language you'll have to learn? ;-) Stick with it, sonic-pi is worth it!
intrepidhero 4y ago
For what it's worth, I have a python background and Sonic Pi was my introduction to Ruby too. It does feel a bit weird but the built in tutorials are really quite good. You can get pretty far just copying and pasting samples. Play around until bits of it start to make sense. If you just don't want to mess with Ruby, there are python libraries for supercollider (the same backend that Sonic Pi is using). The only gotcha is I think a lot of the value of Sonic Pi comes from the built in samples and synths.
discardedrefuse 4y ago
FoxDot is probably what you're looking for. https://foxdot.org/ https://foxdot.org/
- nvrspyx 4y ago
  They actually mentioned FoxDot in their comment, so they're already familiar. Plus, FoxDot is no longer being actively developed.

simongray 4y ago

> I'm fluent in Python but find the use of colons is the real sticking point. The you'd probably have hated its predecessor which was all about the parentheses: https://overtone.github.io/ https://overtone.github.io/ It's too bad that superficial stuff like which characters you need to type is holding you back. Getting used to Ruby when you're familiar with Python is no big deal. I would just stick with it

0atman 4y ago
Agreed! OP: Do you think Ruby is the last language you'll have to learn? ;-) Stick with it, sonic-pi is worth it!

intrepidhero 4y ago

For what it's worth, I have a python background and Sonic Pi was my introduction to Ruby too. It does feel a bit weird but the built in tutorials are really quite good. You can get pretty far just copying and pasting samples. Play around until bits of it start to make sense. If you just don't want to mess with Ruby, there are python libraries for supercollider (the same backend that Sonic Pi is using). The only gotcha is I think a lot of the value of Sonic Pi comes from the built in samples and synths.

discardedrefuse 4y ago

FoxDot is probably what you're looking for. https://foxdot.org/ https://foxdot.org/

nvrspyx 4y ago
They actually mentioned FoxDot in their comment, so they're already familiar. Plus, FoxDot is no longer being actively developed.