HASH Ain't Simple Hash
Adam Štěpánek
About
A hash function maps arbitrary data to a fixed-size value. Usually, that value is a mere number. However, HASH is no usual hash function. No, HASH spins up a whole new operating system and then bends and fuses together scripts — both of my own and of my fellow students — and spits out a brand new image.
NOTE
I may have bent the definition of a hash function a little. HASH doesn’t produce values of fixed-size in bytes, but in resolution.
Video
Technologies
Docker — A tool that runs other tools inside an isolated operating system.
Bash — A script interpreter.
PowerShell — Another script interpreter.
Processing — A Java library for generative sketches.
p5.js — A Processing clone written in JavaScript.
Firefox — A web browser / p5.js renderer.
Blender — A 3D modeling and rendering tool.
ImageMagick — A command-line tool that changes images.
Libman — A library manager that isn’t npm.
Xvfb — A dummy X server.
Code Snippet
My favourite piece of code from HASH: a bash function that starts a simple http server, runs Firefox on a given p5.js sketch, and waits until a valid PNG file appears.
