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Ars Calculanda

Ars Calculanda is a directory of computer art that can be experienced directly in your browser. The pieces are not simple movie clips but rather programs that compute the visual effects on the screen in real-time. Because they are rendered in real-time many pieces have an interactive component or can be customized.

Some pieces will require high-end hardware for a smooth presentation. An Octane benchmark score (CPU) > 15000 and a Unity benchmark score (GPU) > 20000 is recommened. Most pieces run best inside the Chrome browser.

Note: we do not host the pieces but link to them. Unfortunately, links can be broken or change without notice. As always, use common sense when clicking on unknown links.

If you do not know where to start, try our Staff Picks.

Please send any comments or suggestions to admin@arscalculanda.com.

If you want your own pieces to be listed, please take a moment to read about how to make your piece shine on this site.


Tags and their Meaning

1kdemo, 2kdemo, 8kdemo, etc.
The program representing the artwork is smaller than n kilo-bytes (1 kilo-byte = 1024 bytes). Many artists challenge themselves to produce a maximum effect with as small a program as possible.
The website js1k.com has annual competition for 1k programs and is worth exploring.
2d
The piece is 2D in nature unlike most other pieces which are 3D. 2D pieces typically are less demanding on the hardware and run well on lower-end systems.
interactive
To fully enjoy the piece, human interaction is necessary e.g. moving the mouse or pressing buttons.
audio
The piece generates or plays sound.
fratcal
The piece was inspired by fractals.
gear
The piece was inspired by mechanical gears.
opensrc
The source code for the piece can be inspected. Either use "view-source" in your brower or use a link provided in the description.
shadertoy
The piece is hosted at shadertoy.com. This is a fantistic site and worth spending some more time exploring. All pieces there are open-source and usually require substantial CPU and GPU performance.
threejs
The piece was programmmed using the Three.js library.
babylonjs
The piece was programmmed using the Babylon.js library.
camera
The piece requires input from a camera.
math
The piece was inspired by math.
physics
The piece was inspired by some physical phenomenon.
medusa
The piece was inspired by jellyfish.
clock
The piece was inspired by clocks.
loop
The piece runs indefinitely.