The Nature of Code Part 1 (Spring 2017)

Syllabus for Part 1 of Nature of Code: "Physics and Animation" at ITP Spring 2017

Class Info

• Daniel Shiffman: daniel.shiffman@nyu.edu
• Section 1: Tuesdays, 9:00-11:30am
• Section 2: Wednesdays, 9:00-11:30am
• Office Hours
• Sign up for Mailing List

Resources

• All course videos -- If you would like offline access to the videos and/or just prefer to watch them somewhere other than YouTube, let me know.
• Nature of Code Kadenze Course
• Online textbook
• p5.js code examples
• Processing (Java) code examples
• Other ports
• Further Reading
• Some assignments and materials based on Mimi Yin's Nature of Code course.

Related Reading and Watching

• Coding Math Video Series
• Generative Design with Processing
• Mathematics and Physics for Programmers
• Computational Beauty of Nature
• Form and Code

Week 1 - Introduction (Jan 24/25)

• Class Intro / Overview
  • Related and Past Projects
• Processing, p5.js, or ______________.
• Randomness, Probability, and Perlin Noise
  • Nature of Code Introduction
  • Videos I.1 - I.5
  • Perlin Noise playlist
  • p5.js examples
• Object Oriented Programming Review & Vectors
  • Nature of Code Chapter 1
  • Videos 1.1 - 1.6
  • Processing examples
  • p5.js examples
• Assignment
  • Sign up for class mailing list
  • Assignment.
• Supplemental Reading
  • Mathematics and Physics for Programmers Chapter 5
  • Computational Beauty of Nature, Introduction
  • Probability Theory

Week 2 - Build a Physics Engine (Jan 31 / Feb 1)

• Nature of Code Chapter 2
• Videos 2.1 - 2.6
• Processing examples
• p5.js examples
• Assignment.
• Supplemental Reading
  • Newtonian Physics, An Online Textbook (This is long, you may find Chapter 4 to be particularly relevant to this week's discussion.)
  • The Physics Classroom -- Newton's Laws
  • Mathematics and Physics for Programmers, Chapters 12 and 14

Week 3 - Oscillation and Particle Systems (Feb 7/8)

• Nature of Code Chapter 3: Oscillation
• Nature of Code Chapter 4: Particle Systems
• Videos 3.1 - 3.5, Videos 4.1 - 4.9
• p5.js chapter 3 examples
• p5.js chapter 4 examples
• Simple Harmonic Motion by Memo Akten
• Demo of Oscillating Movement and Sine Wave
• Supplemental reading
  • Trigonometry, What is it good for?
  • Mathematics and Physics for Programmers, Chapter 4
  • "Particle animation and rendering using data parallel computation", Karl Sims (available via NYU network/proxy)
  • "Particle Systems, a Technique for Modeling a Class of Fuzzy Objects", Reeves (available via NYU network/proxy)
  • How my Dog learned Polymorphism
  • Particle System API, by David K. McAllister
  • Particle Systems by Allen Martin ms)
• Assignment

Week 4 - Autonomous Agents (Feb 14/15)

• Nature of Code Chapter 6: Autonomous Agents
• Videos 6.1 - 6.8
• Processing examples
• p5.js examples
• Supplemental
  • Reas Process Compendium
  • Braitenberg Vehicles
  • Craig Reynolds' Steering Behaviors for Autonomous Characters
  • BetterExplained/ Dot Product + Finding The "Normal"
  • Finding the closest point on a curve.
• Homework-4: Final Project Start

Week 5 - Physics Libraries (Friday Feb 24!)

• '''Please note the makeup time for this week on Friday, Feb 24'''
• '''Both classes will meet in room 50 from 12pm-3pm'''
• Add your questions here
• Nature of Code Chapter 5: Physics Libraries
• Box2D
  • Box2D web site
  • Videos 5.1 - 5.12
  • Processing examples
  • p5.js examples
• Toxiclibs
  • Videos 5.13 - 5.16
  • Processing examples
  • p5.js examples
  • ToxicLibs
  • ToxicLibs.js
  • The Making of Nokia Friends
  • Advanced Character Physics
• Bullet
  • bRigid Processing Library
  • ammo.js Javascript port
  • simple 3d box demo
• Other libraries?

Week 6 - Catch-up and Project Workshop (Feb 28 / Mar 1 )

• More on inheritance/polymorphism
• Geometry and Texturing
• Matter.js
• Closer look at flocking and complex systems
• Preview of NOC: Intelligence and Learning

Week 7 - Project Presentations (Mar 7/8)

• Project Presentations and Documentation

Policies

• Submit assignments by the evening before class to the extent possible.
• Come prepared with questions.
• Put away screens during others' presentations.
• Participate!
• Document!
• Grading:
  • 40% Class Participation
  • 40% Quality of assignments
  • 20% Final project
• For a 2-point class, 2 or more unexcused absences is grounds for failure.