> starmerx.io
[github]
← cd ../experiments
[experiment] · · unstable

Turing Pattern Generator

A reaction-diffusion system running in the browser. Tweak the parameters and watch the patterns grow themselves.

webglping-pongfbo

One of the most elegant patterns in math.

What it is

The Gray-Scott reaction-diffusion model. Two chemical species react and diffuse across a grid, and after a few seconds of iteration, spots, stripes, and mazes appear on their own.

Why we built this

When writing Notes we sometimes need an “auto-generated style” image, but we don’t want to lean on AI-generated art (the licensing story is murky). This mathematical model has no copyright question, and every run is different.

How to use

  • Drag across the canvas to seed noise
  • Adjust the feed / kill rates to see different patterns
  • Export as PNG

Tech details

  • WebGL ping-pong: alternating writes between two framebuffers
  • O(60fps) on a 512×512 grid
  • Parameter sliders update live, no restart required

Known issues

  • High resolutions (>1024²) drop frames on some mobile GPUs