Electric Sheep

Electric Sheep

Electric Sheep is a generative screensaver software that creates abstract animations and visuals on the user's screen. It uses networked computers to collaboratively evolve algorithms for generating those animations.
Ai Tools & Services Generative Art
Electric Sheep image
screensaver animation generative abstract visuals
Electric Sheep alternatives ➤

Electric Sheep: Generative Screensaver Software

A collaborative generative screensaver software creating abstract animations and visuals on your screen, leveraging networked computers to co-evolve algorithms.

What is Electric Sheep?

Electric Sheep is a generative screensaver software for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android that creates abstract, ever-changing animations and visuals which run continuously on the user's screen when the screensaver mode is turned on. It was created by Scott Draves in 1999.

The software uses the idle computing resources of thousands of networked computers to run a collaborative distributed computing project called the Electric Sheep server. This server evolves complex fractal animations known as sheep, which users can vote on. The more popular sheep animations survive and reproduce to form new generations of sheep, while the least favored ones fade away, mimicking the process of natural selection.

Users can influence this evolutionary process by liking or disliking the different sheep they see. This helps guide the mutations taking place on the server to produce more visually appealing and complex animations over time. The software also allows users to design their own sheep which can be shared and reproduced across the network.

Overall, Electric Sheep offers a unique experience where users can enjoy ever-evolving, organic artwork on their screens driven by distributed community participation and evolution. With over 50,000 active users worldwide contributing their idle computing resources, it represents one of the largest and longest-running distributed computing visual arts projects to date.

Electric Sheep Features

Features

  1. Generates evolving abstract animations and visuals
  2. Uses genetic algorithms and crowdsourcing to evolve animations
  3. Animations are unique for each user
  4. Allows users to vote on animations to influence evolution
  5. Syncs animations across multiple devices
  6. Open source and customizable

Pricing

  • Freemium
  • Open Source

Pros

Mesmerizing, ever-changing visuals

No two users have the same experience

Promotes creativity and collaboration

Customizable and open source

Available on multiple platforms

Cons

Can be resource intensive

Requires internet connection

Limited controls over animations

Visuals may not appeal to all users

Official Links

Official Website
https://community.electricsheep.org/

The Best Electric Sheep Alternatives

Top Ai Tools & Services and Generative Art and other similar apps like Electric Sheep

Here are some alternatives to Electric Sheep:

Apophysis icon
Apophysis
Whitecap icon
Whitecap
JWildfire icon
JWildfire
Oxidizer icon
Oxidizer
Qosmic icon
Qosmic
Fractal Fr0st icon
Fractal Fr0st
Suggest an alternative ❐

Apophysis icon

Apophysis

Apophysis is a free, open-source Windows application used to create and edit fractal flames. Fractal flames are algorithmically generated abstract artworks that feature colorful, organic patterns and shapes.The program provides an intuitive graphical user interface that allows users to adjust parameters like variations, transformations, and colors to control the look...
Apophysis image
Whitecap icon

Whitecap

Whitecap is a free and open-source digital audio workstation and audio editor software for Windows. It was created to provide an easy-to-use audio editing and mixing tool with professional-grade features.Some key features of Whitecap include:Multitrack audio editing - mix and edit multiple audio tracksSupport for VST plugins - apply effects...
Whitecap image
JWildfire icon

JWildfire

JWildfire is an open-source desktop application for generating fractal art and algorithmic art. It features a graphical user interface making it easy for users to create stunning 2D and 3D fractals and other algorithmic graphics in real-time.Key features of JWildfire include:Real-time fractal and algorithmic art generation and manipulationHundreds of built-in...
Oxidizer icon

Oxidizer

Oxidizer is an open-source configuration management and automation tool designed for deploying complex applications across diverse infrastructure environments. It provides capabilities for infrastructure provisioning, application deployment, environment management, and orchestration.Key features of Oxidizer include:Flexible model-driven approach for defining infrastructure and applicationsSupport for provisioning resources across public, private, and hybrid cloudsAgentless...
Oxidizer image
Qosmic icon

Qosmic

Qosmic is an open-source quality of service (QoS) controller designed specifically for Kubernetes environments. It gives cluster administrators enhanced visibility into resource usage, performance characteristics, and service level objectives (SLOs).Key capabilities and benefits of Qosmic include:Dashboard showing pod-level CPU, memory, network I/O, and storage usage metricsAbility to define SLOs for...
Qosmic image
Fractal Fr0st icon

Fractal Fr0st

Fractal Fr0st is a powerful, free and open-source generative art application for Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems. It allows users to create stunning fractal flame images by tweaking a wide range of parameters and variables.The application features a user-friendly interface with real-time rendering, allowing you to instantly see the...
Fractal Fr0st image
Flam3 icon

Flam3

Flam3 is an open-source program for creating procedural flame fractals. It provides an intuitive graphical user interface that allows users to tweak various parameters like variations, coefficients, and transforms to generate unique abstract art. The flames are mathematically generated using iterated function systems (IFS).With Flam3, users can explore a vast...
Flam3 image