If you would like to implement a recursion and animate it, one possible strategy would be as follows:
- Within the recursive function, save the specifications of each part of the fractal as data rather than actually draw it.
- From within
setup(), call the recursive function. The data will then get saved. - Call
frameRate()to set the rate of the animation. - From
draw(), fetch the specifications for one part of the fractal during each frame, and render that part. - Call
noLoop()after all parts of the fractal have been rendered.
I like Python, and so used Python Mode to implement @josephh’s circles fractal based on the above strategy. Here’s the code:
params = [] # each item will be a list of specs for a circle
def setup():
size(400, 400)
background(255)
noFill()
frameRate(10)
recursive_circle(width / 2, height / 2, 200, 4)
def draw():
if frameCount <= len(params):
item = params[frameCount - 1]
circle(item[0], item[1], item[2])
else:
noLoop()
def recursive_circle(x, y, d, level):
# params.append([x, y, d])
if level == 0:
# base case; do nothing
pass
else:
# recursive case
recursive_circle(x - d / 2, y, d / 2, level - 1)
recursive_circle(x, y - d / 2, d / 2, level - 1)
recursive_circle(x + d / 2, y, d / 2, level - 1)
recursive_circle(x, y + d / 2, d / 2, level - 1)
params.append([x, y, d])
Here’s a screen capture of the process partway through its execution:
