In short, OPENRNDR is a tool to create tools. It is an open source framework for creative coding written in Kotlin for the Java VM that simplifies writing real-time interactive software. It fully embraces its existing infrastructure of (open source) libraries, editors, debuggers and build tools. It is designed and developed for prototyping as well as the development of robust performant visual and interactive applications. It is not an application, it is a collection of software components that aid the creation of applications.
OPENRNDR
Key features
- a light weight application framework to quickly get you started
- a fast OpenGL 3.3 backed drawer written using the LWJGL OpenGL bindings
- a set of minimal and clean APIs that welcome programming in a modern style
- an extensive shape drawing and manipulation API
- asynchronous image loading
- runs on Windows, MacOS and Linux
Ecosystem
Applications written in OPENRNDR are able to communicate with third-party tools and services, either using OPENRNDR’s functionality or through the use of third-party Java libraries.
Existing use cases involve connectivity with devices such as Arduino, Philips Kinet, Microsoft Kinect 2.0, RealSense, DMX, ARTNet and Midi devices; applications that communicate through OpenSoundControl; services such as weather reports and Twitter.
Getting Started
showcase
gallery
Type/Dynamics
The interactive installation Type/Dynamics at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam interacts with and comments on the work of graphic designer Jurriaan Schrofer (1926–1990) in an effort to revitalize recent design history. The installation by LUST visualized information that continuously surrounds us and is always accessible. By searching for real-time locations currently in the news, like "Ground Zero", "Reichstag”, or "Tiananmen square”, the installation can locate the panorama images from Google Streetview, abstract them into grids and fill the grids with new information. As a visitor to the space, you are literally 'transported’ to that location and surrounded by all the news associated with that specific location. Instead of a photographic representation, the place is represented purely typographically with a host of new items currently being talked about at that location. Nothing in the gallery space stands still; all information continuously moves.
Jurriaan Schrofer’s oeuvre consists primarily of printed matter that is designed manually. In the 1960s, however, he experimented with new techniques, offset printing for instance, as a means to achieve 'moving typography’. Throughout Schrofer’s work, dynamics, or movement, is the common thread. Starting in the 1970s Schrofer, then a design researcher, explored patterns and structures inspired by the Op Art movement. He meticulously investigated strange perspectives, depth of field and typographic symbols. Although LUST and Schrofer are quite divergent, there are nevertheless some similarities. Typography is very important in the both of their work, especially the space where typography encompasses text and image simultaneously. Furthermore there is a similar use of small elements or modules that together form a bigger structure or pattern.
...Horizon Panorama
A sixty meter long Horizon panorama for the Flanders and the Netherlands Frankfurt Book Fair pavilion. In 30 minutes one whole day can be seen, from sunrise to sunset, creating a new landscape in time. The horizon, normally a line that divides water or earth and the sky, is now an area. This extended line is emphasised in the transparent zone of the screens as well as in the architecture.
...Hyperlocator
You control the control room. In Hyperlocator you get a sense of the city in one single space. Who is observing who? Every day a new hyperlocation is created, exploring a new space and unlocking its local palette.
...Icon viewer
A dynamic and interactive implementation of the famous ASCII icons for Karel Martens, running on OPENRNDR.
...
Dynamic identities
LUST created a dynamic identity for the museum, a system of paths that can change shape by reconfiguring itself; a series of small simple modular forms that form a visual language for the exhibition. By the way those elements behave they can be used for interfaces (interactive and dynamic), video, print work but also for artefacts and packages. Although the basis is modular, the forms that can come out of it can be and geometric and almost calligraphic.
As the basis for the identity is a line, they also treated the typography in that way, by using both a roman typeface that was originally made for CNC milling, and an Arabic typeface (Greta Arabic hairline). To echo the connectedness of the Arabic script, we devised a set of unexpected ligatures for the roman typeface.
The typeface of the future will be contextual and change based on a variety of signals. There is no such thing as a static face, but one that changes weight/form/pattern depending on the context in which it finds itself. It will be a connected typeface.
The typeface is based on a single path, that can be loaded with (parameterized) shapes.
...
Interactive textiles
Vlisco uses colour blocking in such a way that it gives the impression that you are looking at multiple designs. To highlight this, visitors of the Vlisco 1:1 exhibition influenced the virtual textile as if they produced wind, showing the tactile quality of the fabrics.
...case studies
What makes OPENRNDR different from other frameworks for creative coding?
Visualising machine learning processes
MORE
experiments
community
about
Background
Development of OPENRNDR was started in 2010 at LUSTlab under the name RNDR, with the idea to create an in-house framework that was versatile enough to sketch in, but at the same time be robust enough to deliver production-quality interactive media installations, that you know will also run without worries in a few years from now. It takes the creative mind set of a designer or artist, and combines that with the power of IT-grade software. As we could not find this in existing software, we had to develop this ourselves. We are convinced that there are many more people out there that crave for the same.
When LUST and LUSTlab closed doors in 2017, the newly formed studio RNDR continued development and changed the name to OPENRNDR, a precursor to its goal to distribute the software under an open source license. They translated the framework from Java 8 to Kotlin, created the guide, and developed the API documentation and launched the framework officially in June 2018.
Edwin Jakobs initiated and maintained the framework and is till date the lead developer. He is a partner at RNDR.
Made possible by
We thank the Creative Industry Fund for supporting our open sourcing efforts.
calendar
events
13-10-2018
We will be presenting OPENRNDR at the JFUTURE Java conference in the oldest & most beautiful theatre in Minsk | Organized by SPACE Production
The main track is focused on major updates of Java and popular Java frameworks. The second track is dedicated to emerging technologies and soft skills for engineers.
Janka Kupala National Theatre Minsk, Belarus
workshop
03-09-2018 — 07-09-2018A workshop using OPENRNDR at the Scuola Open Source in Bari, IT. The workshop will explore a new visual system for the identity of Spore. The visual system works as intersection between adaptability, complexity and engaging aesthetics. The resulting framework will provide an innovative way to visually solve communication designs. The participant’s ability to program (in Kotlin and OPENRNDR) is helpful, especially in later stages of the workshop where the customization of tools is addressed. It will however not be a requirement and the workshop will be organized with programming at an introductory level.
La Scuola Open Source (Bari, IT)