Eden
This application, although complex behind the scenes, is simplistic and therapeutic in its use. Eden is designed to generate, grow, and age unique self-similar trees. You tell me, what's more relaxing than watching branches, leaves, and flowers grow to a gradient background and ambient music? If you're the type to curl up by a fire and watch the embers burn, this is exactly what you need.
I created this program because I have found a personal need for a health product like this in my life, and because I have been searching for interesting areas of computer science to expand my knowledge on. When I was coming from my High School in Maryland to PennApps, I had almost no experience in JavaScript, a vague idea of LSystems, and a desire to make this project. Now, at 4am, I've learned more about both in a shorter time than I could've imagined possible.
In terms of how it actually works, there's a great deal of logic going into every aspect of this program. Firstly, this is all written in the JavaScript canvas, without any libraries, support packages, etc; the entirety of this program is written in raw JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. It is through the use of stochastic turtle based LSystems that I am able to create these tree structures. Their randomness guarantees a different tree every time, the LSystem is the method of replacement definition, and the turtle is the object that draws any one 'sentence'. Sigmoidal curves are used to model the rates of growth and decay in the trees, and produce biologically similar growth patterns.
Even if the audience is niche, I believe an application like this can be of incredible use to some, myself included. Not only this, but I am proud of the work I have done. I am proud because of all I have learned in doing it, and I am proud because I myself am happy with my product.
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