Charming

What is Charming? ​

Charming (or Charming.js) is a free, open-source JavaScript library that creates animated and interactive SVG. Charming lets you create dynamic and expressive generative art and visualizations effortlessly. Here's a quick example that give you a sense of Charming:

js
cm.app({
  width: 200,
  height: 50,
  loop: true,
  draw: () => [
    cm.svg("circle", {
      cx: Math.abs(Math.sin(Date.now() / 1000) * 200),
      cy: 25,
      r: 20,
      stroke: "red",
      strokeWidth: 4,
    }),
  ],
}).render("#root");

Based on SVG ​

Charming provides a svg function for creating SVG elements. For example, to create a white circle on a black background:

js
cm.app({
  width: 100,
  height: 100,
  draw: [
    cm.svg("rect", {x: 0, y: 0, width: 100, height: 100, fill: "black"}),
    cm.svg("circle", {cx: 50, cy: 50, r: 40, fill: "white"}),
  ],
}).render("#root");

Please refer to Charming Mark for more information.

Fluid Transition ​

Charming makes it easier than ever to create fluid transitions. The exported transition decorators lets you apply transitions declaratively to child nodes, whether SVG or HTML. For example, you can create a circle that smoothly change colors and radius over time.

js
play = Inputs.button("Replay");
js
cm.app({
  width: 100,
  height: 100,
  use: {transition: cm.transition},
  draw: [
    cm.svg("rect", {x: 0, y: 0, width: 100, height: 100, fill: "black"}),
    cm.svg("circle", {
      cx: 50,
      cy: 50,
      r: 40,
      fill: "#4B68C9",
      transition: {
        keyframes: [
          {fill: "#E5B442", r: 0, duration: 1000},
          {fill: "#EE7A64", r: 40, duration: 2000},
        ],
      },
    }),
  ],
}).render("#root");

Incremental Updates ​

Work in progress.

js
const width = 600;
const height = 150;
let x = width / 2;
let y = height / 2;

cm.app({
  width: 600,
  height: 150,
  loop: true,
  draw: () => {
    x += cm.random(-1, 1);
    y += cm.random(-1, 1);
    x = cm.constrain(x, 0, width);
    y = cm.constrain(y, 0, height);
    return [cm.svg("circle", {cx: x, cy: y, fill: "black", r: 20})];
  },
}).render("#root");

Reactivity for Interaction ​

js
const state = cm.state({clicked: false});

cm.app({
  width: 100,
  height: 100,
  styleBackground: "black",
  draw: () => [
    cm.svg("circle", {
      cx: 50,
      cy: 50,
      r: 40,
      fill: state.clicked ? "red" : "white",
      styleCursor: "pointer",
      onClick: () => (state.clicked = !state.clicked),
    }),
  ],
}).render("#root");

A Collection of Tools ​

Charming provides a set of modular tools that you can use together or independently. For example,

Built on and learn with D3 ​

Charming is built with D3 and integrates seamlessly with it. It simplifies D3's complexity, making it more accessible and easier to learn.