Become a sponsor to humanbydefinition
humanbydefinition
I build and maintain open-source tools for creative coding, focused on textmode / ASCII graphics and real-time visual systems on the web.
My main project, textmode.js, is a lightweight creative coding library for rendering and animating textmode visuals in real time. It’s designed for generative art, interactive sketches, long-form visual systems, and live-coded visuals, and is used both standalone and inside live coding environments like flok.cc.
Alongside textmode.js, I maintain related tools that form a small ecosystem:
- code.textmode.art - the official documentation and examples
- textmode.export.js - image and video export utilities for textmode.js
- textmode.filters.js - shader-based image filters for textmode workflows
- p5.asciify - a stable, fully open-source ASCII rendering library for p5.js (no longer actively maintained, but available for others to build on)
All of these projects are free to use, and the core textmode.js ecosystem is actively maintained.
Why sponsorship matters
I work on these tools alongside a full-time day job. Sponsorship helps me justify the time needed to:
- maintain and improve existing libraries
- write and refine documentation and examples
- build better demos and reference sketches
- explore new features and integrations without rushing or burning out
Rather than chasing growth or monetization, my goal is to keep these tools stable, expressive, and accessible.
What I’m working towards
With sustained support, I want to:
- further improve the documentation and learning resources for textmode.js
- deepen integration with creative coding and live coding environments
- continue exploring textmode as a serious visual medium, not just an effect
If you use these tools in your own work, teaching, performances, or experiments - or if you value open, non-commercial creative software - your support directly helps keep this work going.
1 sponsor has funded humanbydefinition’s work.
Featured work
-
humanbydefinition/textmode.js
textmode.js is a lightweight creative coding library for creating real-time ASCII art on the web.
TypeScript 78 -
humanbydefinition/code.textmode.art
Official documentation for textmode.js --- a creative coding library for real-time ASCII art
Vue 2 -
humanbydefinition/textmode.export.js
textmode.export.js is an add-on library for textmode.js, adding various image and video export features.
TypeScript 2 -
humanbydefinition/textmode.filters.js
Image filters add-on library for textmode.js
GLSL 3 -
humanbydefinition/create-textmode
A zero-friction scaffolder for textmode.js.
JavaScript 1 -
humanbydefinition/p5.asciify
Apply real-time ASCII conversion to your favorite WebGL p5.js sketches instantly.
TypeScript 114
$1 a month
Select┬┴┬┴┤ʘ‿ʘ├┬┴┬┴ tiny glyph-tip: keeps textmode.js alive, tidy, and gently evolving.
$2 a month
Select(｡•̀ᴗ-)✧ helps with upkeep: little fixes, browser quirks, and keeping the grids smooth.
$4 a month
Select(づ｡◕‿‿◕｡)づ supports docs + examples so learning textmode.js feels less like spelunking.
$8 a month
Select(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ fuels core polish: performance tweaks, API cleanup, and nicer workflows.
$16 a month
Select(⌐■_■) keeps the ecosystem coherent: maintenance across docs, examples, filters, and integrations.
$32 a month
Select(ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ backs deeper maintenance sprints - chasing the weird bugs, smoothing sharp edges, keeping the grid snappy.
$64 a month
Select(ง •̀_•́)ง supports big-picture upkeep: refactors, compatibility work, and long-term stability across the ecosystem.
$128 a month
Select(⌐■_■) for studios/teams using this in real projects - helps keep the textmode ecosystem stable, expressive, and accessible.