Ed's Website

The idea behind this program is based on ideas about how things grow. Start producing this randomly-produced fern by imagining a horizontal line across the bottom of the screen. Pixels are then 'dropped' one after another from the top of the screen to the bottom. As the pixels are falling, a random 'wind' blows the pixel from side to side. The pixel continues to fall until it either reaches the bottom of the screen, or 'lands' upon a previously dropped pixel.
Then the pixel stops, and remains, so that other pixels may land upon it.
The above picture shows a possible path taken by a pixel.

This simple algorithm creates some very natural-looking results, like growing grass, or ferns.
As time passes, the image begins to look like the above picture.

Finally, as the fractal fern is finishing, the effect looks rather like this picture.

In this program, I have provided two speeds of growth, so that you can see the individual pixels falling. Press the Space bar to toggle between quick and slow growth.