89 lines
4.4 KiB
Markdown
89 lines
4.4 KiB
Markdown
# Topos: a Teletype inspired algorithmic sequencer
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Topos is an algorithmic sequencer inspired by the [Monome Teletype](https://monome.org/docs/teletype/). It is meant to be ready to use, without installation, from a web browser. Topos is still a prototype and is not ready for production use. It is not meant to be a clone of the Teletype, but rather a new take on the same concept. The goal is to provide a tool that can be used to generate music, but also to learn about live coding and algorithmic music.
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Topos can generate sound through WebAudio and/or MIDI. The sequencer works by letting the user enter short JS code snippets that are evaluated in a _sandboxed_ environment. An API is providing tools to manipulate time, transport, instruments, data, etc...
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## How does it work?
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Just like the **Teletype**, **Topos** is following a **scripting** paradigm. The user is writing short snippets of code that are evaluated in a sandboxed environment. The code is evaluated in a loop, at a given tempo. There are four types of files that can be edited:
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- **the global buffer**: used to sequence scripts and control major global events. This script is evaluated **at every clock tick**. This is, by default, _super fast_.
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- **the local buffers** are describing some musical logic/processes taking place. They are activated on demand, _once_ by any other script using the `script(n)` command.
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- **the init buffer** is used to initialise the state of the universe when you first load the app. Think of it as a space to set the tempo, to set default variables, etc...
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- **the note buffer**: used to document your projects and to take notes about your composition.
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A **universe** is a set of files (global, init, locals and note) representing a musical composition, a song, a piece, an improvisation. You can create as many universes as you want and switch between them at any time. The application is saving the state of the universe in the browser's local storage.
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To switch between universes, use the `Ctrl+B` keybinding that will open a modal. The clear button will reset the current universe to a blank slate.
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## Keybindings
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- `Ctrl+P`: start the audio playback/clock.
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- `Ctrl+S`: stop the audio playback/clock.
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- `Ctrl+G`: global buffer.
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- `Ctrl+I`: initialisation buffer.
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- `Ctrl+L`: local buffers.
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- `F1...F9`: switch to one of the 9 local buffers.
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- `Ctrl` + `F1...F9`: manual trigger of a local buffer.
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- `Ctrl+B`: switch between universes.
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- `Ctrl+Shift+V`: toggle Vim editor mode.
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To evaluate code, press `Ctrl+Enter` (no visible animation). This is true for every buffer. To stop a buffer from playing, comment your code or delete it.
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## How to install locally?
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To run the application in dev mode, you will need to have [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/en/) and [Yarn](https://yarnpkg.com/en/) installed on your computer. Then:
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- Clone the repository:
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- run `yarn install`
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- run `yarn run dev`
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To build the application for production, you will need to have [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/en/) and [Yarn](https://yarnpkg.com/en/) installed on your computer. Then:
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- Clone the repository:
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- run `yarn run build`
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- run `yarn run start`
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To build a standalone browser application using [Tauri](https://tauri.app/), you will need to have [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/en/), [Yarn](https://yarnpkg.com/en/) and [Rust](https://www.rust-lang.org/) installed on your computer. Then:
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- Clone the repository:
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- run `yarn tauri build`
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- run `yarn tauri dev`
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# Roadmap to Topos v1.0
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## Application User Interface
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- [ ] Give more information the local context of execution of every script
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- print/display the internal iterator used in each script
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- animate code to show which line is currently being executed
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## Scheduler
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- [ ] Stable / robust clock and script/event scheduler.
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- [x] Add a way to set the clock's tempo.
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- [x] Add a way to set the clock's time signature.
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- [ ] Add a way to set the clock's swing.
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- [ ] MIDI Clock In/Out support.
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- [x] Performance optimisations and metrics.
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- [ ] Add a way to save the current universe as a file.
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- [ ] Add a way to load a universe from a file.
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## User Interface
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- [x] Settings menu with all options.
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- [ ] Color themes (dark/light), other colors.
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- [x] Font size.
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- [ ] Font Family
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- [x] Vim mode.
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- [ ] Optimizations for smaller screens and mobile devices.
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- [ ] Read console log without opening the browser console.
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## Web Audio
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- [ ] Support Faut DSP integration.
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- [x] WebAudio based engine.
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