Show HN: K-synth – A web-based array language playground for synth design
octetta.github.ioI built k-synth as an experiment to see if a minimalist, K-inspired array language could make sketching waveforms faster and more intuitive than traditional code. I’ve put together a web-based toolkit so you can try the syntax directly in the browser without having to touch a compiler:
Live Toolkit: https://octetta.github.io/k-synth/
If you visit the page, here is a quick path to an audio payoff:
- Click "patches" and choose dm-bell.ks.
- Click "run"—the notebook area will update. Click the waveform to hear the result.
- Click the "->0" button below the waveform to copy it into slot 0 at the top (slots are also clickable).
- Click "pads" in the entry area to show a performance grid.
- Click "melodic" to play slot 0's sample at different intervals across the grid.
The 'Weird' Stack:
- The Language: A simplified, right-associative array language (e.g., s for sine, p for pi).
- The Web Toolkit: Built using WASM and Web Audio for live-coding samples.
- AI Pair-Programming: I used AI agents to bootstrap the parser and web boilerplate, which let me vet the language design in weeks rather than months.
The Goal: This isn't meant to replace a DAW. It’s a compact way to generate samples for larger projects. It’s currently in a "will-it-blend" state. I’m looking for feedback from the array language and DSP communities—specifically on the operator choices and the right-to-left evaluation logic.
Source (MIT): https://github.com/octetta/k-synth I should have humbly said: I know about AMY/Tulip, PureData, ChucK, SuperCollider and they are each AWESOME!... I just wanted to try something different while developing waveforms and drum samples for another project I'm working on.