Getting Started

Coda is a JavaScript library build upon a reactive programming paradigm for movement signal processing and interaction design.

If you are not familiar with Web development and JavaScript, check out JavaScript in 14 minutes (opens new window) by Jeremy Thomas for a very brief introduction. Other interesting (and more complete) ressources include:

• The web development course of the Mozilla Developer Network (opens new window),
• The Modern JavaScript Tutorial (opens new window),
• Eloquent JavaScript (opens new window),
• The FreeCodeCamp course (opens new window)

Using the live-coding editor

The easiest way to get started with coda.js is to play around the live-coding environment. Nothing needs to be installed, you just need a recent browser (Chrome or Firefox are recommended). A hosted version of the playground is available online: https://playcoda.netlify.app (opens new window).

TIP

The playground allows to interpret statements interactively. There are two shortcuts to know:

• ALT+ENTER executes the entire block where the pointer is situated
• CTRL+ENTER executes the current selection (or the current line only, if no text is selected).

WARNING

Note that the hosted version has limitations regarding the use of movement sensors, that usually require that you run the environment on your own computer.