Vvvv
Encyclopedia
vvvv is a general purpose toolkit with a special focus on real time video synthesis and programming large media environments with physical interfaces, real-time motion graphics, audio and video. VVVV uses a data flow approach and a visual programming
interface for rapid prototyping
and developing. Applications written in vvvv are commonly called patches. Patches consist of a network of nodes. Patches can be created, edited and tested while they are running. Patches are stored on the disk in standard XML
format. VVVV is written in Borland Delphi
, plugins can be developed in the .NET Framework
in C#.
Most nodes handle data in a one dimensional array of values, called Spreads. In addition to traditional vector algebra this allows very intuitive programming of particle systems, as also rendering nodes and deal with arrays of values accordingly. If an operation has to deal with arrays of different lengths, the shorter array gets repeated to fill up the larger.
VVVV includes a feature called boygrouping, which is the ability to link several computers to behave in sync. All programming and editing can be done on one server computer, while all client computers continuously obtain the current patch and can be programmed to show up e.g. different views on the same scene.
An important feature is the ability to work with HLSL Shaders which are written in their common textual form but are embedded in the data flow language and are instantly compiled and uploaded as soon any part of their source code is changed.
With a focus on video synthesis and processing, VVVV uses the toolkit DirectX
and, as such, is available for Microsoft Windows systems only, although it is known to run stably under Parallels
and VMWare Fusion
. VVVV currently supports DirectX 9 (including PS 3 and VS 3 shader techniques).
VVVV was initially developed by the Frankfurt-based media collective MESO as an in-house tool for their own projects, but was then released on the web-page and quickly grew into something bigger. VVVV is now maintained by the VVVV group.
VVVV is free for non-commercial use and available for download at its website. Any commercial uses require a license.
Visual programming language
In computing, a visual programming language is any programming language that lets users create programs by manipulating program elements graphically rather than by specifying them textually. A VPL allows programming with visual expressions, spatial arrangements of text and graphic symbols, used...
interface for rapid prototyping
Rapid prototyping
Rapid prototyping is the automatic construction of physical objects using additive manufacturing technology. The first techniques for rapid prototyping became available in the late 1980s and were used to produce models and prototype parts. Today, they are used for a much wider range of applications...
and developing. Applications written in vvvv are commonly called patches. Patches consist of a network of nodes. Patches can be created, edited and tested while they are running. Patches are stored on the disk in standard XML
XML
Extensible Markup Language is a set of rules for encoding documents in machine-readable form. It is defined in the XML 1.0 Specification produced by the W3C, and several other related specifications, all gratis open standards....
format. VVVV is written in Borland Delphi
Borland Delphi
Embarcadero Delphi is an integrated development environment for console, desktop graphical, web, and mobile applications.Delphi's compilers use its own Object Pascal dialect of Pascal and generate native code for 32- and 64-bit Windows operating systems, as well as 32-bit Mac OS X and iOS...
, plugins can be developed in the .NET Framework
.NET Framework
The .NET Framework is a software framework that runs primarily on Microsoft Windows. It includes a large library and supports several programming languages which allows language interoperability...
in C#.
Most nodes handle data in a one dimensional array of values, called Spreads. In addition to traditional vector algebra this allows very intuitive programming of particle systems, as also rendering nodes and deal with arrays of values accordingly. If an operation has to deal with arrays of different lengths, the shorter array gets repeated to fill up the larger.
VVVV includes a feature called boygrouping, which is the ability to link several computers to behave in sync. All programming and editing can be done on one server computer, while all client computers continuously obtain the current patch and can be programmed to show up e.g. different views on the same scene.
An important feature is the ability to work with HLSL Shaders which are written in their common textual form but are embedded in the data flow language and are instantly compiled and uploaded as soon any part of their source code is changed.
With a focus on video synthesis and processing, VVVV uses the toolkit DirectX
DirectX
Microsoft DirectX is a collection of application programming interfaces for handling tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Microsoft platforms. Originally, the names of these APIs all began with Direct, such as Direct3D, DirectDraw, DirectMusic, DirectPlay,...
and, as such, is available for Microsoft Windows systems only, although it is known to run stably under Parallels
Parallels
Parallels may refer to:* Circle of latitude , imaginary east-west circles connecting all locations that share a given latitude* "Parallels", the third track from the 1977 Yes album Going for the One...
and VMWare Fusion
VMware Fusion
VMware Fusion is a virtual machine software product developed by VMware for Macintosh computers with Intel processors. Fusion allows Intel-based Macs to run x86 and x86-64 "guest" operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows, Linux, NetWare and Solaris as virtual machines simultaneously with Mac OS...
. VVVV currently supports DirectX 9 (including PS 3 and VS 3 shader techniques).
VVVV was initially developed by the Frankfurt-based media collective MESO as an in-house tool for their own projects, but was then released on the web-page and quickly grew into something bigger. VVVV is now maintained by the VVVV group.
VVVV is free for non-commercial use and available for download at its website. Any commercial uses require a license.
External links
- vvvv homepage
- Meso group, original developers of vvvv
- vvvv Blog with Screenshots of the Day
- Node 08, a forum for digital arts initiated by the vvvv community
- Node 10, the 2010 forum for digital arts initiated by the vvvv community
- VVVV.js, An open project, which aims to bring the visual programming language VVVV to your web browser.