4 ms·

Context Free - a program that generates images from written instructions

82 points by Garbage 15y ago

tikhonj 15y ago
This is an interesting program. However, I found the headline a little bit misleading--I thought "written instructions" meant natural language. On the website, the blurb actually continues "...written instructions called a grammar" which makes it clear this doesn't expect natural language.
- keeperofdakeys 15y ago
  In fact, it looks like a 'grammar' is quite similar to most programmings languages, http://www.contextfreeart.org/mediawiki/index.php/CFDG_HOWTO http://www.contextfreeart.org/mediawiki/index.php/CFDG_HOWTO. It makes the iteration and stopping-bounds easy to create. It also allows uses functions to define shapes, so you can use them again easily.
- jeremysalwen 15y ago
  Interestingly enough, I actually know of a website which does exactly what you are talking about: http://wordseye.com/ http://wordseye.com/ (Full disclosure: I might potentially be working on a speech interface for this system soon)
  - tikhonj 15y ago
    Wow, that's really neat. I'll have to play around with it later.
- pantaloons 15y ago
  Yes, the distinction between "program that generates images from written instructions called a grammar." and "image file format" is an interesting one too.
- pavlov 15y ago
  The tagline does sound like something from the '50s. "COBOL - a program that generates software from written instructions"
skrebbel 15y ago
Nice idea, but not very revolutionary. I mean, we already have Processing, which is the same but with time included, and which has significantly more interesting efforts in its gallery, if you ask me. I'm not sure what these people are trying to achieve - if it's to get more people into procedural graphics, an (even) more accessible set of tools would be warranted. If it's to create splendid graphics, better tools would probably be warranted (though admittedly I've only checked 10 pictures or so). On the programming-a-picture front: I always thought that this one [1] is particularly impressive (4 kilobyte Windows executable; zip includes a jpg for if you don't run Windows) [1][http://loonies.dk/demos/bin/lns-burjbabil.zip http://loonies.dk/demos/bin/lns-burjbabil.zip]
- tavish1 15y ago
  The difference is that this language is rule based.
Jach 15y ago
Another open source program in the same space: Structure Synth. http://structuresynth.sourceforge.net/ http://structuresynth.sourceforge.net/ (Combined with Sunflow to render can make some great images.)
mbq 15y ago
Almost like Logo (-;
RodgerTheGreat 15y ago
Reminds me of Forth Haikus: http://forthsalon.appspot.com/ http://forthsalon.appspot.com/

82 points by Garbage 15y ago

This is an interesting program. However, I found the headline a little bit misleading--I thought "written instructions" meant natural language. On the website, the blurb actually continues "...written instructions called a grammar" which makes it clear this doesn't expect natural language.

keeperofdakeys 15y ago
In fact, it looks like a 'grammar' is quite similar to most programmings languages, http://www.contextfreeart.org/mediawiki/index.php/CFDG_HOWTO http://www.contextfreeart.org/mediawiki/index.php/CFDG_HOWTO. It makes the iteration and stopping-bounds easy to create. It also allows uses functions to define shapes, so you can use them again easily.
jeremysalwen 15y ago
Interestingly enough, I actually know of a website which does exactly what you are talking about: http://wordseye.com/ http://wordseye.com/ (Full disclosure: I might potentially be working on a speech interface for this system soon)
- tikhonj 15y ago
  Wow, that's really neat. I'll have to play around with it later.
pantaloons 15y ago
Yes, the distinction between "program that generates images from written instructions called a grammar." and "image file format" is an interesting one too.
pavlov 15y ago
The tagline does sound like something from the '50s. "COBOL - a program that generates software from written instructions"

skrebbel 15y ago

Nice idea, but not very revolutionary. I mean, we already have Processing, which is the same but with time included, and which has significantly more interesting efforts in its gallery, if you ask me. I'm not sure what these people are trying to achieve - if it's to get more people into procedural graphics, an (even) more accessible set of tools would be warranted. If it's to create splendid graphics, better tools would probably be warranted (though admittedly I've only checked 10 pictures or so). On the programming-a-picture front: I always thought that this one [1] is particularly impressive (4 kilobyte Windows executable; zip includes a jpg for if you don't run Windows) [1][http://loonies.dk/demos/bin/lns-burjbabil.zip http://loonies.dk/demos/bin/lns-burjbabil.zip]

tavish1 15y ago
The difference is that this language is rule based.

Jach 15y ago

Another open source program in the same space: Structure Synth. http://structuresynth.sourceforge.net/ http://structuresynth.sourceforge.net/ (Combined with Sunflow to render can make some great images.)

mbq 15y ago

Almost like Logo (-;

RodgerTheGreat 15y ago

Reminds me of Forth Haikus: http://forthsalon.appspot.com/ http://forthsalon.appspot.com/