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BOIDS TOOL
Version 0.21





OVERVIEW
LICENSE
SUPPORT
BOIDS Tool is a parametric generative playground built with p5.js, based on Daniel Huang’s original Boids demo. It lets you dive into emergent flocking dynamics through real-time parameter adjustments and direct interaction. Each “boid” is a simple agent that recalculates its movement every frame by following three fundamental rules:

Separation: steer away from boids that get too close.
Alignment: match the average heading of nearby boids.
Cohesion: move toward the average position of neighboring boids.

So, to put it simply - there’s no central controller, each agent only “sees” others within its vision radius and runs these vector calculations locally.


Behavior Parameters:


  • Move Accuracy:
    Limit the number of neighbors each boid considers. Lower values make each boid “focus” on fewer peers; higher values give a fuller, but heavier, calculation.

  • Boid Vision: 
    Radius around each boid in which it looks for neighbors. A larger vision makes the flock more coherent over distance; a smaller one yields tighter local groups. High values greatly affect performance.

  • Alignment Force:
    How strongly boids steer to match the average direction of their neighbors.

  • Alignment Bias:
    An extra multiplier that boosts alignment when neighbors’ headings are already similar. Affects how stronger the boid sync with similar velocities.

  • Cohesion Force: 
    Strength of the pull toward the group’s center of mass, determining how eagerly boids cluster together.

  • Separation Force:
    Intensity of the push to avoid crowding, preventing boids from overlapping or clumping too tightly.

  • Steering Force:
    Maximum turning force per frame (how sharply a boid can adjust its direction).

  • Turning Reaction:
    Controls how quickly a boid’s orientation interpolates toward its new velocity direction (for visually smooth rotation).

  • Boid Speed.
    Minimum and maximum speed thresholds. These caps ensure boids don’t crawl too slowly or dash unrealistically fast.

  • Velocity Drag:
    A minor slowdown applied each frame. It’s like a friction or air resistance, that keeps velocities from spiraling out of control.

  • Noise Angle:
    A small random rotation added to each boid’s heading every frame. This introduces subtle wobble and natural variation.


Main Features:


  • Preset System:
    Browse a collection of ready-made behaviors and looks, save your own combinations of parameters and textures, and load them back at any time.

  • Shape Library & Mixing Mode:
    Choose from built-in squares, circles, or triangles - or flip on Mix Mode to blend all three shapes together in your flock.

  • Texture Mapping:
    Load your own textures by dropping them right onto the sketch. You can apply them as a backdrop or sample them per boid shape.

  • Color Controls:
    Choose a single solid color or set up a dynamic blend between two colors that shifts over time - driven by each boid’s speed, turning rate, or random noise. Adjust fill and/or stroke separately, with fine-tuning for opacity and line weight.

  • Flexible Exports:
    Capture high-resolution PNGs for stills,  or record MP4 loops and frame sequences (PNG/WebP) to bring your boid swarms to life in motion.

  • Interactive Controls:
    Left-click to attract the flock, right-click to push it away - dive in and steer the swarm yourself.


BOIDS Tool turns a classic demo into a versatile playground for generative art, educational demos, and visual experimentation. Explore how simple rules give rise to stunning flock dynamics.

The tool is available as a free version – fully functional but with watermarks on exported graphics, so you can thoroughly evaluate its capabilities before committing. Without a valid license key, the tools can only be used for evaluation and testing. To remove watermarks and obtain full usage rights, please purchase a license key at Gumroad:
https://antlii.gumroad.com/l/boids-license-key

By using any tool at https://antlii.work, you agree with the Terms of Use and License Agreement. For full details, including usage rights for Personal, Commercial, and Extended Licenses, examples of permitted applications, please view the complete License Agreement here:
https://antlii.work/license

Here are some technical considerations to keep in mind when using the tool:

  • Browser Performance: Simulation speed can vary widely depending on your hardware and browser. If you notice significant slowdowns, try switching to a different browser - Chrome and Firefox tend to offer the best performance.

  • Video Export: During export to video, the process may stop due to insufficient memory, especially with high resolution or long videos. If this happens, try reducing the resolution or length of the video. For large or high-resolution videos, consider exporting as a PNG sequence and later converting it to a video using the FFmpeg library.

  • MP4 Lag: When exporting to MP4 format, a library-related lag can lead to performance drops, causing the program to slow down noticeably after capturing and exporting the animation. Refreshing the page resolves this issue.

  • Mobile Support: The tool isn’t optimized for mobile devices. You’ll need at least an 800×600 display to run it reliably.

Please let me know if you're running into any issues or discover a bug while using the program.


Change Log:


0.21 (Jun 21, 2025)
  • Official Release: The tool has graduated from its work-in-progress phase and is now officially released.
  • License Key Validation: Integrated a system to verify license key types for proper activation.
  • Preset Refresh: Updated and refined the built-in presets library.

0.20 (Jun 18, 2025)
  • Enhanced Edge Behaviour: Implemented a more responsive formula to control particle repulsion.
  • Preset Loading Message: Added a “loading…” screen when switching presets to inform of processing status.
  • Fixed Stroke Scaling Bug: Resolved an issue where line thickness wasn’t correctly maintained when scaling shapes.
  • Tweaked and updated built-in presets.

0.19 (Jun 17, 2025)
  • Random Color Interpolation Mode: Added a new option that blends between two chosen colors using a random interpolation factor.
  • Mouse Force Control: Introduced a Mouse Force setting in the options panel, allowing control of the speed at which particles are affected by mouse clicks.
  • Cursor Changed: Updated the cursor on hover over the canvas to visually signal interactive capabilities.
  • New Presets Added: Included several additional built-in presets.

0.18 (Jun 16, 2025)
  • Preset Management System: Implemented full import/export functionality for program presets and added a default starter preset.
  • Implemented Export Options: You can now export static images in PNG format and animations as MP4 videos or frame sequences in PNG/WebP.
  • Popup Notification System: Introduced pop-up alerts for error handling and important messages.
  • Canvas Transparency Mode: Added a toggle to enable or disable a transparent background.
  • Pause Control: Added option to pause and resume the flocking simulation animation.
  • Drag-and-Drop Feedback: Text message appears when files are dragged over the canvas.
  • Display Options: Added customizable display preferences, such as canvas scaling and background color control.
  • UI Overhaul: Refreshed the interface with new controls and layouts to support the new features.

0.17 (Jun 15, 2025)
  • Scale Randomization: Added a new parameter that controls variability in shape sizes using random values, allowing each instance to scale differently within defined bounds.
  • Enhanced Edge Behavior: Overhauled the system that keeps shapes on-canvas. Introducing two new controls:
    Edge Offset - defines how far shapes must stay from the canvas edge before being repelled.
    Repel Easing - smooths the rebound effect, controlling how gently shapes are pushed back into the canvas area.
  • Miscellaneous minor updates.

0.16 (Jun 11, 2025)
  • Added transparency support for styles
  • Added triangle shape to the form selection
  • Released as a WIP tool

0.15 (Jun 11, 2025)
  • Added support for uploading custom images to use them as textures
  • Transformation behavior can be selected based on speed or rotation angle
  • Added a new Mixed shape type that blends multiple shape forms
  • Switched the color interpolation method from HSV to the colorLerp function
  • Updated the random system to ensure consistency with the random seed values
  • Refined global parameters update system
  • New features in UI and overall improvements

0.14 (May 19, 2025)
  • Updated dependencies location
  • Added stroke support
  • Improved image mode rendering
  • Refactor global parameters
  • Changes in random movement algorithm

0.13 (May 15, 2025)
  • Refactoring HTML structure
  • Transfer canvas and tweakpane UI in div containers
  • Updating CSS classes
  • Add mouse events behaviour

0.12 (May 14, 2025)
  • Added new render mode, using image as a texture
  • Implemented shape types selector
  • Added color mode based on particle angle
  • Included range Hue parameter for color mode

0.10-0.11 (May 10-13, 2025)
  • Initial prototype development: rebuild and migrate main functions to p5.js



Credits:


I would like to acknowledge the use of several third-party libraries and materials within this project and express my sincere gratitude to their creators for making these resources available:

  • The p5.js Creative Coding Library, a product of the collective efforts of an incredible team;
  • The Boids Demo, interactive 2D bird flocking simulation developed by Daniel Huang;
  • The Tweakpane interface library, ingeniously developed by Hiroki Kokubun;
  • The HME Library for encoding directly to H264 format, created by Trevor Sundberg;
  • The p5.capture library by tapioca24 for recording animations;
2025 ︎︎︎ ANATOLII BABII