NODY2024

In this workshop, participants will learn how to use Nodysseus (https://nodysseus.io/), an open source (https://gitlab.com/ulysses.codes/nodysseus) general purpose node-based IDE and bring together experts in visual programming languages and mobile-first IDEs for an in-depth discussion.

The workshop will consist of 3 parts - a round of introductions where participants share their thoughts on visual programming, an tutorial on Nodysseus and THREE.js where participants create reusable Nodysseus graphs, and finally a jam session where small groups can collaborate on self-driven projects with Nodysseus.

In the first section of the workshop, we’ll do a round of introductions where people can share their experience with visual programming and mobile-first IDEs. This is also an opportunity to discuss how incremental computing, functional programming, and collaborative editing might pertain to visual programming languages.

Next, we’ll cover important basics like what a Nodysseus graph is, how the nodes function within the graph, and how a simple program is structured. More advanced functionality will be covered by going through the examples together. The last example will be a graph that demonstrates threejs integration, and it will serve as a basis for explorations in the rest of the workshop. There will be time for individual exploration after this section.

Finally, we’ll have a jam session where participants will collaborate with each other using Nodysseus in small groups. Using the sync capabilities of Nodyseus, the groups will collaborate on a single graph which can optionally use individually created subgraphs. The goal is to have groups present their work to other participants.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be confident in opening up Nodysseus on a computer or mobile device and experimenting with any programming ideas they might have throughout the day. They will also have a broader understanding of the role visual programming languages and mobile editing might play in the programming interfaces of the future.

Call for Participation

The workshop will consist of 3 parts - a round of introductions where participants share their thoughts on visual programming, an tutorial on Nodysseus and THREE.js where participants create reusable Nodysseus graphs, and finally a jam session where small groups can collaborate on self-driven projects with Nodysseus.

In the first section of the workshop, we’ll do a round of introductions where people can share their experience with visual programming and mobile-first IDEs. This is also an opportunity to discuss how incremental computing, functional programming, and collaborative editing might pertain to visual programming languages.

Next, we’ll make a scene using three.js. This will cover important basics like what a Nodysseus graph is, how the nodes function within the graph, and how a simple program is structured. Participants who finish quickly can experiment with using JavaScript to manipulate objects in the scene, or dive into other three.js nodes and functionality. We will also create small tools with HTML that can be used to manipulate the objects in the three.js scene. These include sliders for position, simple checkboxes to enable and disable functionality, and other small compositions of basic HTML elements.

Finally, we’ll have a jam session where participants will collaborate with eachother using Nodysseus. Together, small groups can divide up tasks and work on graphs individually which are then used by other people in the team, or they can collaborate on a single graph. The goal is to have groups present their work to other participants.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be confident in opening up Nodysseus on a computer or mobile device and experimenting with any programming ideas they might have throughout the day. They will also have a broader understanding of the role visual programming languages and mobile editing might play in the programming interfaces of the future.