Flok enables multiple live coders to share and edit a single browser interface in real time

Flok (flok.cc) is a browser-based shared editor used in live-coding performances. A single Flok window is divided into sections; each section hosts a different performer’s code — Strudel for audio, Hydra or Punctual for visuals. Each coder’s cursor appears in a distinct colour (possibly with a pseudonymous name). Crucially, any participant can edit anyone else’s code section, or delete it entirely. The performers may be physically co-located, in adjacent rooms, or distributed worldwide across the internet. This collaborative model is central to algorave performances. The design accepts chaos as a feature: code deletion or overwrite is treated as part of the collective creative process, not an error condition. Failure and recovery are visible to the audience in real time.

Examples

During an algorave, three performers each have a section on the projected Flok screen. One is coding Strudel in Berlin, one Hydra in Tokyo, one Punctual in the same venue. The audience watches all three cursors move; one performer edits another’s drum pattern mid-set.

Assessment

Describe the key differences between performing in Flok versus performing solo with your own Strudel instance. Identify one risk and one creative opportunity that Flok’s open-edit model creates.