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Node-based tools

Noodles draws inspiration from a long line of node-based tools and workflow builders.

Specifically it aims to follow in the footsteps of TouchDesigner and Houdini, two graphical programming environments commonly used in hollywood special effects and live performances.

The principle that everything is a value, and all values are reactive makes creating visuals intuitive, flexible, and repeatable. Noodles attempts to simplify the visualization creation process while exposing powerful primitives and a flexible IDE.

Some other prior art:

  • Kepler.gl - Amazing tool for creating beautiful maps in Deck.gl. Aimed at being easy to get up and running
  • Blender Geometry Nodes - Procedural animation in the Blender project. General purpose 3D tool (also used in the shader editor and compositor).
  • Cavalry - Procedural motion graphics and animation

Other node-based tools to check out:

  • N8N - Workflow builder for creating agentic workflows. Shows how nodes can orchestrate complex async operations
  • ComfyUI - Node-based tool for creating diffusion images. Large community of shared workflows and operators
  • Count - Node-based data tool for reactive data programming, emphasis on data tables and data provenance. Great reference for handling tabular data reactively
  • Observable Canvases - Each node acts as both input and output with custom UI. Aimed at repeatability and interactive dashboarding
  • Unreal Blueprints - Visual scripting for game logic. Proves node-based programming can scale to complex interactive systems
  • Rhino Grasshopper - Parametric design for architecture. Big community of addons and shared workflows shows power of extensibility
  • Nuke - Industry-standard compositor for Hollywood VFX. Gold standard for professional node-based compositing
  • Cables.gl - Creative coding and demoscene visuals in the browser. Strong community sharing workflows
  • DaVinci Resolve Fusion - Node-based compositor integrated into video editor. Shows how nodes fit into larger creative workflows
  • CARTO Workflows - Geospatial operations in node blocks on the server. Direct competitor in the geospatial viz space
  • Datablocks - Data-focused node editor for analysis and visualization
  • Geoplex Switchboard - Geospatial node tool for GIS data processing. Another geospatial reference
  • Shaderfrog - Shader editor for the browser. Clean UI for visual shader programming
  • Enso Analytics - Data-focused node editor emphasizing performance for large datasets
  • nodes.io - Visual programming platform for web services and APIs. Shows how nodes can wrap and compose external services
  • ngraph - Web node-based graph editor, also built on xyflow. Good reference implementation
  • threegn - Renders Blender Geometry Nodes projects in the browser. Brings procedural 3D to the web
  • flyde - Workflow builder for AI projects. Shows how nodes can integrate with AI APIs
  • Bitspace - Circuits for creative coding. Beautiful aesthetic and UX
  • Three Point Square - Particle systems and agent modeling with architectural focus. Procedural urban design
  • Luna Park - Browser-based visual scripting editor with a great environment
  • Node-RED - Focused on IOT apps, with a huge selection of nodes and a strong community
  • nodezator - Node wrapper UI for Python. Makes any Python function into a node
  • Notch - Real-time VFX for live shows and broadcast. Used by top VJs and live performers
  • vvvv - Visual live-programming for .NET. Strong in generative graphics and physical computing
  • Origami Studio - Design prototyping from Meta. Shows how nodes work for UI/UX design workflows
  • Substance Designer - Industry standard for procedural texture creation. Node-based material authoring at its finest
  • Nodebox - Generative design and data visualization. Simple, opinionated approach to creative coding

Plus many more...