Hi,

I might be teaching some kids about synthesis. The school where this might happen doesn't want me to install any software on their computers.

So can Pure Data run in a browser? or are there any ways to have people program Pure Data without installing it on a computer?

Also, can Pure Data run on a Chromebook? I think the OS is just called Google OS.

Thank you.

Nick

webpd can run patches but can't edit/view them by itself afaict https://github.com/sebpiq/WebPd
https://sebpiq.github.io/WebPd_website/

@nicnut If they are windows computers then there have always been portable versions of Pd available...... the latest here... http://puredata.info/downloads/pure-data
They can be run anywhere... so on a usb key... but they might still save preferences to the registry on the host, and the school might not let you plug in a usb key anyway.

Macs have a built-in VNC viewer that can be found through spotlight, and windows has a remote desktop application built-in.
Both should be able to connect to a vnc server running on your computer, but I don't know to what extent they can interact with your shared screen, nor whether they could all interact at the same time, but that could be an option.

Going back to the portable option, you would probably find it easier with Pd extended....... https://forum.pdpatchrepo.info/topic/11433/how-to-get-libraries-recognised-on-a-portable-installation-of-pd-for-mac/10 but of course you would be without quite a few newer vanilla objects.
A "beginner introduction" course might be ok though with Pd extended?
This thread is someone trying to do the same...... https://lists.puredata.info/pipermail/pd-list/2017-01/117388.html and uses a .bat executable in windows or a script in OSX to run from a "pen drive" as they were called a few years ago.

The vnc option is closer to your browser idea.... nothing foreign running on their OS....
David.

Ok thanks @whale-av. But using a vnc viewer they would just be watching my computer right? or having a view into my computer.
I could just use a projector and show everyone my desktop, but then no one gets any hands on learning.

I don't think chromebooks are windows either, but some kind of Google OS, maybe an Android variant.

Also, I'd rather not use extended because, hopefully, someone will take some initiative and learn Pd on their own, hopefully the latest Vanilla version

@nicnut I use vnc to see a laptop that is on-stage (vnc server) from the mix position when I am working.
I can also control it using the mouse and keyboard on my computer (vnc viewer).
I use tightvnc, and you could run that as the server on your machine (if windows) or use the built-in screen share if you have a Mac.
You will need to check how the built-in viewers work, but it is likely that the authorisations for access to your screen and for remote control will be set in your computer in the vnc server.
Maybe you can authorise their access individually, or maybe they will all have access at the same time... unsure.
Much like when a hacker needs your authorisation to "help" you by accessing your computer through team viewer (the vnc preferred by scammers).

If you can give them access one at a time then they will all learn from the mistakes of others as they see what they are doing on the projector screen mirroring your laptop, or they could open their viewers one at a time on your instruction to gain access..?
There are vnc viewers for android phones, and most likely the ipad (paying?)... and for chrome os it is a browser extension..... so it is sandboxed.
David.

@whale-av thank you for the suggestions. VNC might work. I use it to get into my raspberry Pi sometimes. I am sort of scared it might be a nightmare to set it up on a lot of computers, but maybe it's possible.

I think I might try and see if installing Pure Data on a thumbdrive is an option. that might be easier, and they can keep the thumb drives.

Don't know about it's state, but the video below says that Purr Data can run on a browser. But it seems that the URL you see in the video is not there any more. There has been some discussion on Pd's mailing list as well, IIRC, initiated by the Bela team, but I don't know if it has gone any further.

wow thank you @alexandros that looks really great. It seems to work. Maybe I can ask Purr Data people if that is available.

Hi,
Take a look at https://git.purrdata.net/jwilkes/purr-data/-/tree/emscripten/emscripten/project/purr-data
and https://purrdata.glitch.me/

@FFW said:

https://git.purrdata.net/jwilkes/purr-data/-/tree/emscripten/emscripten/project/purr-data

Wow this is amazing. I need to learn the Purr Data objects a little better, but this is pretty amazing. Thank You!