Codebox/GenExpr Reference
Hello,
is there a complete Reference for Codebox and GenExpr? For a lot of small algorithms that to a specific thing it is much faster (for me) to use a gen patcher with a codebox instead of hacking together a solution using max- or gen-objects. However, it is quite frustrating that there does not seem to be a proper reference for the programming language GenExpr. The only thing I can find is this very superficial overview: https://docs.cycling74.com/max8/vignettes/gen_genexpr.
Is there an actual reference somewhere that I am missing? There is a better one for the RNBO codebox here (https://rnbo.cycling74.com/codebox), but the syntax and capabilities of the RNBO version of GenExpr are different, so it is not really of any use.
It's nice that there are tutorials, but the are no replacement for a reference. It is very annoying to skim through tutorials for hours in hopes they use an operator in a specific way or mention if it can be used in a specific way.
For example, I couldn't find a mention the existence/use of history in the codebox anywhere in the documentation and had to read these (https://cycling74.com/forums/gen~-codebox-tutorial-oscillators-part-one) posts by a forum member to find out how to use it in the codebox.
I also can't find anything on how or if it is possible to stop the gen object from outputting 0 if there is one does not assign an output value.
Is there anything anywhere that can serve as a reference for GenExpr? Or is a proper reference by Cycling74 planned at some point? Do people just use js/jit.gl.lua objects instead to do everything not done with max objects?
"Or is a proper reference by Cycling74 planned at some point?"
Lol no. My comment on this already 7-year old thread gives you an idea about what to expect there. So you have to piece it all together yourself through various sources and its a damn shame imo because the base-version of Max/Jitter have a documentation system that is unrivalled in its accessibility
One trick you can use it to click the "C" in the bottomright. It will allow you to see the genExpr code for the objects in your patch so you have an idea on how to use them.
Just piping in to say I too would love to see better docs on this, in case C74 sees it!
me too(feels like they're putting all of the development and explanation of gen~ on Graham Wakefield, hoping there's others there at C74 who have time to devote to it)
Yeah, i still need to get the book but i think its too late to expect effort from c74 itself. And i somehwat see the same pattern with MC where some functionality isn't shown at all. Can't remember the exact function or object though.
Now i know making documentation may not be "sexy" at all and it takes a lot of time and effort to do well but i'll be darned if the level of documentation of base Max/Jitter isn't something to strive for!
(c74: hit me up if its matter of time and effort. It would be nice but i won't expect a bay-area compensation... :)
i still need to get the book
but we shouldn't have to buy a book for this, either.
i won't expect a bay-area compensation... :)
they're no longer in the bay-area(and if you do contract work, companies don't pay you according to some local standard: you often work that out in a professionally-interpersonal way)
you all should try hitting them up directly, they might just have a magical window of opportunity at that particular time you contact them, let them know, in a peer2peer personal way, what you'd like to contribute and any hopes you might have for that style of relationship, ongoing: https://cycling74.com/careers
Thanks, i'll try!
they don´t sell bicycles.