vuo

Vuo is a visual programming language and development environment designed for creating interactive media and real-time graphics. It uses a node-based dataflow model in which users place nodes on a canvas and connect their input and output ports with cables to define how data such as video frames, audio signals, or control values are processed.

Projects in Vuo are composed of graphs that describe the flow of data from inputs through processing stages to outputs. The system evaluates changes in data in real time, enabling live visuals and immediate feedback during editing and performance.

Vuo provides a library of built-in nodes for tasks including image and video processing, color and shader operations, 3D rendering, input devices, and media I/O. Users can create custom nodes by combining existing ones or extending the system with additional code, and they can organize complex networks into subgraphs for reuse.

The editor includes a graphical workspace for building graphs and a runtime engine that renders outputs such as screens, projectors, or video streams. Vuo is commonly used for live visuals, installations, projection mapping, and generative media, where rapid prototyping and real-time responsiveness are valuable.

Origin and ecosystem: The project has an active community and documentation, and Vuo emphasizes accessibility for artists and developers who prefer a visual, dataflow approach to programming. It is often mentioned alongside other node-based tools such as Quartz Composer and Pure Data as an example of graph-based multimedia authoring.