Infinite Loop Theory

The circle is the perfect shape because it never ends. In creative coding, the requestAnimationFrame loop is our heartbeat. It pulses 60 times a second (or 120, or 144), giving us a canvas that is never static, always becoming.

Recursion as Meditation

Writing a recursive function is a leap of faith. You define the base case (the exit), and then you call the function from within itself, trusting that it will eventually resolve.

const MAX_DEPTH = 6;

function drawBranch(x, y, len, angle, depth) {
  if (depth > MAX_DEPTH) return;

  // Calculate end point
  const endX = x + len * Math.cos(angle);
  const endY = y + len * Math.sin(angle);

  // Draw the line
  ctx.beginPath();
  ctx.moveTo(x, y);
  ctx.lineTo(endX, endY);
  ctx.stroke();

  // Recursive calls
  const newLen = len * 0.67;
  drawBranch(endX, endY, newLen, angle + Math.PI / 4, depth + 1);
  drawBranch(endX, endY, newLen, angle - Math.PI / 4, depth + 1);
}

There is a flow state that comes from watching these systems emerge. You tweak a variable—the angle, the length, the decay rate—and the entire structure transforms. It's gardening, not engineering.

The Loop

The loop is not just a programming construct; it's a philosophy.

• Setup: Define the initial state.
• Update: Change the state based on rules (physics, time, input).
• Draw: Render the state to the screen.
• Repeat: Do it all again, forever.