Want to be a more creative software coder? Maybe you’re one of the 900,000-plus people that have been enrolled by the Institute of Coding in recent years or an existing developer who wants to explore this lesser-travelled type of coding? Creative coding is coding with an expressive, artistic aim, as opposed to the purely functional coding most of us think of.
It’s a great pastime in itself, and it can also boost your everyday coding skills too, so to help you get the benefits, in this guide, we’re going to give you the lowdown on five ways you can inject some creativity into your practice.
Get up to speed with frameworks
Frameworks allow creative coders to turn their code into something artistic, be it animation or a single frame. Using frameworks like sketch.js, D3, and three.js, you can manipulate assets, create entirely original visualisations, and code in three-dimensional visuals utilising complex shaders, camera angles, texture mapping, and much more.
Get the right hardware
Your choice of hardware will impact the bounds of your creative coding projects. For resource-intensive projects reliant on lots of 3D visuals, algorithms, or heaps of data, you’ll need to get hold of a PC with plenty of processing power, RAM, and a beefy graphics card. Conversely, if you’re new to coding and want to learn creatively via an educational platform like the BBC micro:bit, then invest in a kit instead.
Mobile or desktop?
Due to the vastly different inputs (touches versus extremely precise mouse control), and capabilities (high-powered PCs versus sensor-laden mobile devices), it’s important to decide early on in your creative coding project whether you’ll be developing for mobile or desktop users. Deciding you’re working in the wrong camp later can be immensely headache-producing!
Utilise public data sources
Creative uses of code don’t have to involve purely visual forms of creativity – what if you want to use data, commentary, or images generated by the public instead? Using APIs from platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Flickr, you have access to a huge bank of data, though if you want to get access beyond the initial few accounts offered by the apps (Instagram in particularly), you may need to get your project reviewed by the platform, which can take a little time.
Take a course
Whether you’re a hardened coding expert or completely green when it comes to the task, getting started coding creatively can be much easier with the help of a course. If you’re looking for a free course that isn’t too much of a financial commitment, check out Skill Share’s class or study the free Creative Coding course from NYU Steinhardt.
Are you learning to creatively code? Share your favourite resources and experiences in the comments section below.
