Vivace: a collaborative live coding language and platform

TL;DR

Vivace is a web-based live coding platform enabling collaborative, multi-performer performances with simple syntax, audio-video synthesis, and cross-platform compatibility, fostering a new sub-genre of live coding art.

Contribution

It introduces Vivace, a novel web-based live coding language and environment supporting real-time collaboration and multimedia synthesis, expanding live coding practices.

Findings

Supports multiple performers coding simultaneously

Enables synthesis of audio and video in live performances

Runs seamlessly on various platforms

Abstract

Live coding is a performance and creative technique based on improvised and interactive coding. Many recent endeavors have focused in live coding both because of aesthetics and as a way to alleviate performance drawbacks when the musical instrument is a computer. This paper describes the principles and the design of Vivace, a live coding language and environment built with Web technologies to be executed on web browsers. The approach is compelling by 1) allowing many performers to code simultaneously, 2) the synthesis of audio and video, 3) a very simple syntax, 4) being a multiplatform software. We also strive to contextualize Vivace by means of historical and usage summaries including a live coding sub-genre.