Vvvv

Infobox programming language
name = vvvv

paradigm = visual programming
year = 1998
designers = vvvv group (Joreg, Max Wolf, Sebastian Gregor, Sebastian Oschatz)
typing = strong
influenced_by = Max/MSP, Pure Data, Quartz Composer, DirectX
operating_system = Microsoft Windows
license = GPL and LGPL
website = [http://vvvv.org/tiki-index.php vvvv.org]

vvvv (commonly pronounced as 'vier vow') is a toolkit for real time video synthesis written in Borland Delphi to "facilitate the handling of large media environments with physical interfaces, real-time motion graphics, audio and video". Much like Max or Pure Data, vvvv uses a data flow approach and a visual programming interface for rapid prototyping and developing. Applications written in vvvv are commonly called patches. These patches are stored in standard XML format.

Vvvv was first created by the Frankfurt-based Meso group for their own projects, but quickly grew into something a lot bigger and is now maintained by the independent [http://vvvv.org/tiki-index.php?page=Impressum vvvv group] . Part of this group works at Meso, however.

Differently from most similar platforms that differentiate between run time and design time, however, vvvv only has one mode - runtime. This means "patches" are being ran at the same time they're been built. Vvvv does however offer a 'locked' mode which stops users editing the patch which is akin to the run mode of other patching environments.

Other unique features are also available, like "boygrouping", which is the ability to link several different computers together for faster group rendering.

With a focus on fast video synthesis and processing, vvvv runs under 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 is free for non-commercial use and available for download at its website. Commercial uses require a license.

External links

* [http://vvvv.org vvvv homepage]
* [http://www.meso.net Meso group] , original developers of vvvv
* [http://vvvv.meso.net/tiki-browse_gallery.php?galleryId=11&offset=0&sort_mode=created_desc vvvv Screenshots of the Day]
* [http://node08.vvvv.org/ Node 08] , a forum for digital arts initiated by the vvvv community