Cooperative Live Coding of Electronic Music with Troop

Abstract

Live coding is the process of generating audio or visuals using algorithms that are written, and re-written, live in front of an audience. In a typical performance the live coder will project their screen and share their code and creative processes with the audience. When playing together, a group of live coders will often share resources over a network, such as a tempo clock or lines of code, but rarely do they work together on the same material concurrently. Troop is an interactive text editor that allows multiple users to edit a text buffer simultaneously, evaluate portions of code, and create a shared and cooperative musical experience.