Groove Garden

A real-time algorithmic music composition game built with Java 17 and JavaFX.

Features

• 8×8 Interactive Grid: Place algorithm seeds to generate music
• Real-time Music Generation: Three algorithms working together
  • Cellular Automaton → Drum patterns
  • Euclidean Rhythm → Bass and percussion
  • Markov Chain → Melody generation
• Live Controls: Start/Stop, Tempo (60-180 BPM), Scale selection
• Real-time Scoring: Diversity, Flow, and Harmony metrics
• MIDI Export: Save your compositions

Quick Start

Requirements

• Java 17 or higher
• JavaFX support

Run

# Build
./gradlew build

# Run
./gradlew run

How to Use

1. Left-click on grid cells to activate/deactivate
2. Right-click to cycle through layers (Rhythm/Melody/Both)
3. Adjust tempo and select scale
4. Click Start to begin music generation
5. Export your composition as MIDI

Architecture

• UI: JavaFX with optimized grid rendering
• Music: MIDI engine with real-time synthesis
• Algorithms: Cellular automaton, Euclidean rhythm, Markov chains
• Performance: Cached scoring, memory monitoring, configurable settings

Configuration

The app automatically creates groove-garden.properties with customizable settings for:

• Grid size and appearance
• Music parameters (tempo, scales)
• Performance tuning
• MIDI settings

Performance Features

• Memory monitoring with automatic GC
• Optimized grid updates to reduce redraws
• Cached scoring to avoid recalculation
• Configurable update intervals

Error Handling

• User-friendly error dialogs
• MIDI device detection and fallback
• File operation error handling
• Comprehensive logging

Built with performance and stability in mind.