# hydra-synth/hydra

Livecoding networked visuals in the browser

Repository: https://github.com/hydra-synth/hydra
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/hydra-synth-hydra
Homepage: https://hydra.ojack.xyz
Language: JavaScript
License: AGPL-3.0
License Family: copyleft
Last push: 2026-04-25T13:24:14+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 68/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 79, release rhythm 35, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 3200, "days_push": 130, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: no_releases
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 2699, forks 313 (observed 2026-08-28T04:07:11.310843+00:00)

## What it is
Hydra is a browser-based livecoding environment for generating and mixing networked realtime visuals, inspired by analog modular synthesizers. It lets users chain functions to composite video sources, webcams, and generated graphics across multiple framebuffers shared between connected browsers.

## Use cases
- livecode generative visuals in the browser
- mix webcam feeds with generated graphics in realtime
- stream and route video between connected browsers
- create VJ visuals for performances
- sketch shader-like visuals with chained functions
- collaborate on shared browser visual streams

## When to avoid
- you need production-grade video editing or compositing software
- you require support for browsers other than Chrome/Chromium
- you need a stable, fully supported tool for critical projects
- you work without WebGL-capable hardware

## Facets
- artifact type: application
- maturity: experimental
- function: graphics, animation, gui, developer-tools
- domain: graphics, web-development, media
- platform: browser, cross-platform
- tags: livecoding, visuals, webgl, generative-art, video-synthesis, vj, realtime-graphics, creative-coding, web-server

## Member repositories
- hydra-synth/hydra (main) score 68

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:07:11.310843+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T02:16:07.426208+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/hydra-synth/hydra (fetched 2026-08-28T04:07:11.310843+00:00, sha 99ee94e7431b)
  - homepage: https://hydra.ojack.xyz (fetched 2026-08-29T09:59:32.401810+00:00, sha a0397ec28c09)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.