KeyKit - A viewgraph-style description

What is it?

Programming language - interpreted, multi-tasking, graphics, object-oriented
Specialized for MIDI algorithmic and realtime manipulation, "phrase" data type, realtime scheduling
Multi-window graphical user interface, pull-off menus and buttons, tools include multi-track editor, drum pattern editor
Entire user interface and all tools written in KeyKit and provided as source code in library, easily customized and extended

Reason for Being

Hacking - fun, programming, normal music composition, algorithmic music
learning - OS's, device drivers, graphics, user interface design, OO
personal and programmer-centric, not commercial, although current version is complete enough for non-programmers

Development History

1.0 - BASIC-like
2.0 - realtime
3.0 - grammer, rewrite, fast enough to avoid built-ins
4.0 - graphics
5.0 - first multi-window attempts, multi-tasking, fifos, tools using tasks/fifos
6.0 - object-oriented, multi-window interface rewritten, pull-off menus/buttons

Development machines

Atari ST, PC (286), UNIX (386, X11), Windows NT, Win95
Ported at various times to: Atari ST, DOS, UNIX PC, Mac, Amiga, SVR3, SVR4, SunOS, NeXT, X Windows, SGI, Amdahl, VAX, 5620, Plan 9, Windows 3.1/NT/95

Language Features

Inspired by awk
Variables need not be declared
No semicolons
#define, #include
The usual control structures and expressions

Phrase data type

Time-ordered list of MIDI "notes" - can be system-exclusives, isolated note-on, isolated note-off, or full note with duration
Constant value syntax
ph = 'c e g' # ph is a c major triad
ph = 'dc2,e,f' # ph is an arpeggio, channel 2
Structure-like manipulation of attributes :
ph.dur = 1b # all note durations = 1 beat
ph.pitch += 12 # transposed up an octave

Phrase and Note Attributes

pitch (0-127)
vol(0-127)
chan (1-16)
dur (in clicks)
time (in clicks, relative to beginning of phrase)
type (NOTE, NOTEON, NOTEOFF, MIDIBYTES, PROGRAM, PRESSURE, etc.)
length (of phrase, independent of notes in it)
attrib (string, arbitrary meaning)
flags (integer, arbitrary meaning, bit 1 == picked)

Phrase Operations

Serial concatenation
ph = ph1 + ph2
Parallel merging
ph = ph1 | ph2
Removing notes
ph = ph1 - ph2
Matching notes
ph = ph1 & ph2
Nth note
ph = ph1 % n

Phrase Operations - the "select"

ph = ph1 { ??.pitch > 60 }

ph = ph1 { ??.dur > 1b }

ph = ph1 { isonbeat(??,4b) }

ph = ph1 { ??.number < 4 }

ph = ph1 { rand(3)==0 }

ph = ph1 { isinscale(??,scale) }

ph = ph - ph { ??.type == MIDIBYTES }

Phrase Operations - Looping

# randomize volume of each note and

# construct a new phrase with the result

r = ''

for ( nt in ph ) {

nt.vol += rand(10)

r = r | nt # or r |= nt

}

# randomize volume of each note, in-place

for ( n=0; n<sizeof(ph); n++ )

ph%n.vol += rand(10)

Function values, In-line Functions

function major(k) {return(k|transpose(k,4)|transpose(k,7));}

function minor(k) { return(k|transpose(k,3)|transpose(k,7));}

function randchord() {

if ( rand(2) == 0 ) return(major) else return(minor)

}

f = randchordtype()

f('c')

randchordtype()('c')

Instead of return(major), you could use an in-line function:

return (function ? (k){return(k|transpose(k,4)|transpose(k,7));})

Other Language Features

Variable arguments - … , nargs(), argv(), varg()
Fifos
Objects
Graphics - primitive elements are:
lines, rectangles, text, windows,
phrase windows, menus

Tasks and I/O

All tasks are time-shared evenly, interleaved at the interpreted instruction level
Scheduled MIDI output events are tasks as well, but performance can't be degraded by other tasks
MIDI input is always being recorded, available in a global variable for easy and immediate processing
MIDI, mouse, and console input events can be read from special fifos
Reading a fifo (with no data waiting) blocks a task
lock() and unlock() used for exclusion and synchronization

KeyKit - the GUI

Completely implemented with KeyKit code, even pull-off menus, dragging of windows, etc.
Tools framework allows all tools to be manipulated consistently for resizing, saving/restoring state, copying

The GUI Tools

Bang, Blocks, Bounce, Chord Palette, Console, Controller, Echo, Group, Kboom, Loopy, Markov Maker, Mouse Matrix, Parameters, Peer, Prog Change, Riff, RiffRaff, Sectionalize, Tempo, Volume

Documentation

Tutorial
Tools reference manual
Hacking the user interface
Language reference manual