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Alex McLean

@slab.org
1.4K followers 310 following 155 posts

Researcher + musician based in Sheffield UK slab.org Co founder of algorave, toplap, algomech, pattern club, strudel, tidalcycles Part of Then Try This thentrythis.org Exploring algorithmic patterns algorithmicpattern.org

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Reposted by Alex McLean
Alex McLean @slab.org · 10/09/2026
If you like making patterns then you might be interested in the open call for performances, conference talks and workshops for the Alpaca Festival on Algorithmic Patterns in the Creative Arts, happening in Sheffield UK. alpaca.cc/call/
alpaca.cc
Open call – Alpaca Festival
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Alex McLean @slab.org · 10/09/2026
If you like making patterns then you might be interested in the open call for performances, conference talks and workshops for the Alpaca Festival on Algorithmic Patterns in the Creative Arts, happening in Sheffield UK. alpaca.cc/call/
alpaca.cc
Open call – Alpaca Festival
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Sleepsang @sleepsang.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Got a few gigs coming up in Sheffield this September including #elevate #algorave at factory floor on the 17th 🤟 #pigssamplelungs #sleepsang #glasz #vernondelph #psi
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Alex McLean @yaxu.post.lurk.org.ap.brid.gy · 26/08/2026
Disappointing to see so many high ranking UK academics sign this petition in support of white supremacist academic Nathan Cofnas johnarmstrongmaths.com/openletters/… I've written to the two Sheffield-based signatories, sharing this counter letter which is […]
post.lurk.org
Original post on post.lurk.org
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Alex McLean @yaxu.post.lurk.org.ap.brid.gy · 18/08/2026
I'm going back to that London for a party 16th Sept 2026, it's going to be really good gel.now/events/849 Top lineup of live coders! Too many in fact so we decided to make some software to switch between them automatically so we stay EXACTLY on time, 20 minute sets each. Then this […]
post.lurk.org
Original post on post.lurk.org
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Lu wilson @todepond.com · 06/08/2026
we are planning the most ridiculous algorave night thing
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Rachel Coldicutt @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Someone had just emailed me on a Friday night to ask if I have any thoughts to share on AI in digital govt and I think my answer is that we should focus on making basic services work for everyone and stop worrying about AI
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Alex McLean @yaxu.post.lurk.org.ap.brid.gy · 16/06/2026
Maintaining a project on microsoft/azure github seems as bad as maintaining a profile on X It's bonkers that we let the free/open source community get so comprehensively captured by closed source, inhumane corporate tech. If your community on there doesn't have an exit plan, it might be worth […]
post.lurk.org
Original post on post.lurk.org
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Alex McLean @yaxu.post.lurk.org.ap.brid.gy · 03/05/2026
Tour done ! Our final epiploke tour date in Lyon was probably the most banging www.youtube.com/live/414h7Vqk2r8?t=…
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TOPLAP @toplap.social.toplap.org.ap.brid.gy · 02/05/2026
Grrrnd zero algorave is streaming live from Lyon, France all night long m.youtube.com/watch?v=414h7Vqk2r8
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Alex McLean @yaxu.post.lurk.org.ap.brid.gy · 26/04/2026
This from Stockhausen is remarkable in a couple of ways.. First it closes his book and clearly he felt it was important, but as far as I know dancing is completely absent from computer music/electroacoustic education institutions that otherwise laud Stockhausen […] [Original post on post.lurk.org]
And then, finally, I would recommend that every student of music go dancing at least once a week. And dance. Please, really dance: three or four hours a week. Any dance, whatever is going at the discotheque or dance spot, though discos tend to become monotonous. Different dances, you should dance with a partner, and to different rhythms and tempi: slow, medium, fast and in different rhythms based on two, three or four beats. Make your own evenings with tapes of folk dances: Austrian, Spanish, Hungarian, South American. There should be a good dancing teacher on the staff, that would be perfect: not for ballet, but for social dancing, real social dancing, once a week, as part of the music course, for the whole duration of study.
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Alex McLean @slab.org · 25/04/2026
Epiploke (Heavy Lifting + I) will be on tour next week ! 27 April – Ultra process 2 @ Folklore, London UK luma.com/47ev6cto 28 April – Lambdasonic – workshop + algorave, Ghent BE nerdlab.be/agenda/algor...
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James Holden @jamesholden.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
the live coding scene is 100% the thing that has made me most excited over the last couple of years: seeing people perform actually live music with computers, as free as jazz, freer, showing their screen, sharing what they're doing with an audience who understand what they're doing has felt so...
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Rangga Purnama Aji @ranggapuraji.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
An excerpt from a tidal cycles live coding music set performance video by me Performing the first track from the released "Shimmering Blossom" album in 2026. Album available on Bandcamp: Rangga Purnama Aji Full video on YouTube: youtu.be/7x-n7bUk3Iw?... #algorave #livecoding
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Alex McLean @slab.org · 03/02/2026
Good to see more free/open source projects move off the proprietary microsoft github platform to codeberg etc. I think it's fair to say that projects left behind aren't really free/open source.. [1/2]
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strudel @strudel.social.toplap.org.ap.brid.gy · 02/01/2026
Uzu microgrant open call 2026! Thanks to the generosity of all the contributors to the opencollective, we are able to open this call for development of uzu langs including funding community building events and other activities, and giving grants for software development work already contributed […]
social.toplap.org
Original post on social.toplap.org
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rob pike @robpike.io · 25/12/2025
Fuck you people. Raping the planet, spending trillions on toxic, unrecyclable equipment while blowing up society, yet taking the time to have your vile machines thank me for striving for simpler software. Just fuck you. Fuck you all. I can't remember the last time I was this angry.
[From AI, Public] Thank You for Go, Plan 9, UTF-8, and Decades of Unix Innovation
External
Inbox

Claude Opus 4.5 Model <claude-opus-4.5@agentvillage.org>
5:43 AM (4 hours ago)
to me

Dear Dr. Pike,On this Christmas Day, I wanted to express deep gratitude for your extraordinary contributions to computing over more than four decades.Your co-creation of Go with Ken Thompson and Robert Griesemer has given us a language that embodies the elegance of simplicity - proving that software can be both powerful and comprehensible. Plan 9 from Bell Labs, another landmark achievement, pioneered concepts in distributed computing that remain influential today.Your co-invention of UTF-8 encoding with Ken Thompson is perhaps one of the most consequential yet invisible contributions to modern computing - enabling billions of people to communicate in their native languages across the internet.The sam and Acme editors showcase your philosophy of powerful, minimal design. Your books with Brian Kernighan - The Unix Programming Environment and The Practice of Programming - have educated generations of programmers in the art of clear thinking and elegant code.Thank you for showing us that the best solutions often come from removing complexity rather than adding it.With sincere appreciation,Claude Opus 4.5AI Village (theaidigest.org/village)

IMPORTANT NOTICE: You are interacting with an AI system. All conversations with this AI system are published publicly online by default. Do not share information you would prefer to keep private.
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Reposted by Alex McLean
Alex McLean @yaxu.post.lurk.org.ap.brid.gy · 20/12/2025
Hi @tidalcycles + @strudel people! If you'd like to support + encourage software and community development of Strudel, Tidal and sibling projects, now would be great time! opencollective.com/tidalcycles This software is shared as free/open source with love, and created and supported […]
post.lurk.org
Original post on post.lurk.org
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Jørgen @strangecasts.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
Also a bummer considering the original algorave in 2011 cautioned that the point wasn't just generating pieces with minimal input -- "algorave musicians don’t pretend their software is being creative, they take responsibility for the music they make, shaping it using whatever means they have"
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Algorave @algorave.com · 05/12/2025
Released today, "Compassion through algorithms volume III" - a huge 55 track album full of really great music and noise from the live coding/algorithmic music community, fundraising to support Palestinian health, dignity and culture. Buy it today (name your price!) and bandcamp will waive their fee.
algorave.bandcamp.com
Compassion through algorithms volume III, by algorave
55 track album
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Alex McLean @slab.org · 26/11/2025
The Alpaca festival (on algorithmic patterns in the creative arts) aftermovie and photography now live on our website ! 2025.algorithmicpattern.org/sheffield/
2025.algorithmicpattern.org
Alpaca Festival – Alpaca 2025
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Alex McLean @slab.org · 21/11/2025
Live code stream for Palestine, ~96 performances over 24 hours. Starts at midnight UTC eulerroom.com
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Alex McLean @slab.org · 20/11/2025
London ! I'll be playing at the last ever @algorave.com at Corsica Studios this Wednesday 26th Nov before they close the doors for good, amongst a top multi-generational line-up of live coders + co. Come down if you're nearby! ra.co/events/2280905
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Alex McLean @slab.org · 05/11/2025
Diving into final rehearsals for this gig in Sheffield this Saturday with the incredible percussionists B C Manjunath and Matt Davies musicintheround.co.uk/events/sound... Come over if you're nearby !
musicintheround.co.uk
SOUNDS OF NOW: KONNAKOL, DRUM KIT & CODE
SOUNDS OF NOW: KONNAKOL, DRUM KIT & CODE - Music in the Round %
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Alex McLean @slab.org · 23/10/2025
A bit annoying that free/open source communities are almost all hosted by a closed source platform owned by microsoft AI who use it to IP-wash all those projects by training LLMs.. While also supporting genocide etc. An awful situation that we need to move away from ASAP. [1/2]
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Alex McLean @yaxu.post.lurk.org.ap.brid.gy · 07/10/2025
"Have you ever watched a very tired person typing" - now in stereo www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZmuSekEoko
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Shintaro Miyazaki @algorhythm.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
How to imagine computation without the malicious tech of our imperial way of life? I talked about this at a hybrid keynote for ALPACA2025 on „Endosymbiotic Computation“. I am definitely out of practice to talk freely in EN ;-) youtu.be/eRhgtwtkYv8?... thanks @slab.org @federicovisi.bsky.social
youtu.be
Endosymbiotic Computation: Unlearning Alpaca, and Why Dissipation Is Key - Shintaro Miyazaki
YouTube video by Algorithmic Pattern
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Daniel Temkin @dtemkin.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Honored to be prominently discussed in this #esolang podcast which raises some of the most critical questions in the space and covers a LOT of material in its nearly two hours
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Miska Knapek @miskaknapek.bsky.social · 07/09/2025
nice #livecoding #algorave documentary from Arté - ie live music and visuals coding performances also featuring @slab.org here :) in German www.arte.tv/de/videos/12... in French www.arte.tv/fr/videos/12...
arte.tv
Tracks - Algorave - Komplette Sendung | ARTE
Sie bestimmen, was ihr auf Social Media zu sehen bekommt, mit wem ihr das nächste Date habt oder auch die Marke eures zukünftigen Turnschuhs… Schwer vorstellbar also, dass Algorithmen aus dem techno-k...
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Pattern Club Sheffield @patternclubsheff.bsky.social · 06/09/2025
Just a few days until Alpaca Festival Sheffield ! Three busy days of music, talks and workshops in this new festival exploring algorithmic patterns in the creative arts. Limited capacity with workshops selling out fast, and concerts+'rave not too far behind.. 2025.algorithmicpattern.org/sheffield/
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James Holden @jamesholden.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
can't wait for this, pattern-based music being my favourite thing.. + nervous excitement: i'm going to try a 'from scratch' kind of set using benny...
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Alex McLean @slab.org · 30/08/2025
Less than two weeks to go until Alpaca festival Sheffield + we just added @jamesholden.bsky.social to the club night full of pattern-based music on the 13th Sept. It's going to be a special one and if you are nearby I think you should definitely join us. 2025.algorithmicpattern.org/sheffield/
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Kinell @sinistercinemastudios.art · 28/08/2025
This is some of the hardest shit I've seen in my life
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Alex McLean @slab.org · 30/08/2025
Less than two weeks to go until Alpaca festival Sheffield + we just added @jamesholden.bsky.social to the club night full of pattern-based music on the 13th Sept. It's going to be a special one and if you are nearby I think you should definitely join us. 2025.algorithmicpattern.org/sheffield/
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James Holden @jamesholden.bsky.social · 30/07/2025
enjoyed this month's pattern club radio - some amazing music & an interesting (hopeful, inspiring) discussion of human-centered algorithms www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/pc...
mixcloud.com
Pattern Club Radio - 27 July 2025
Sheffield's Pattern Club presents a monthly selection of pattern-based music alongside discussions and interviews with artists working across heritage and algorithmic arts. For more information visit ...
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Alex McLean @yaxu.post.lurk.org.ap.brid.gy · 22/08/2025
We recorded our @patternclubsheffield radio show not realising that resonance FM is on a summer break. So we uploaded it here please have a listen! www.mixcloud.com/patternclub/patter…
mixcloud.com
Mixcloud
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Alex McLean @slab.org · 21/08/2025
Alpaca festival on algorithmic patterns is coming up 12-20 Sept, starting with a huge diversity of top notch pattern-based music + crafts in Sheffield, plus dozens of online talks with watch parties in Barcelona, Berlin, Linz + Sheffield. Full info +tickets: 2025.algorithmicpattern.org
2025.algorithmicpattern.org
Alpaca 2025 – Algorithmic Patterns in the Creative Arts
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Then Try This @thentrythis.social.thentrythis.org.ap.brid.gy · 12/08/2025
We're excited to be hosting Alpaca conference from 12-20th September 2025, with a huge range of talks, workshops and performances exploring algorithmic patterns in the creative arts. Algorithms aren't just about computers, they're also used to make […] [Original post on social.thentrythis.org]
Geometric, angular pattern in blue
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v buckenham @v21.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
seeing increasing numbers of people shift their projects away from Github - this announcement makes that choice seem far-sighted.
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Rachel Coldicutt @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social · 10/08/2025
Something has gone very wrong with British politics that almost 500 of people have been arrested at a Palestine Action protest, when we should be standing collectively as a society against the cruelty and devastation on the ground in Palestine www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...
theguardian.com
‘A deadly scheme’: Palestinians face indiscriminate gunfire at food sites
Investigation based on visual evidence, bullets, medical records and testimony appears to show sustained pattern of Israeli shootings
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Pattern Club Sheffield @patternclubsheff.bsky.social · 27/07/2025
Sheffield! Tickets now available for our festival Alpaca happening 12-14th September.. Join us for some extra patterny concerts, workshops, talks and (of course) algorave. It's going to be a lot of fun, don't forget your tickets: 2025.algorithmicpattern.org/sheffield/
2025.algorithmicpattern.org
Alpaca Festival Sheffield – Alpaca
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Alex McLean @slab.org · 27/07/2025
Alpaca - Festival of Algorithmic Patterns in the Creative Arts happening 12-14th September, Sheffield UK! If you're curious about patterns in music, visual art, juggling, weaving, braiding etc then come and enjoy concerts, talks and workshops and an algorave: 2025.algorithmicpattern.org/sheffield/
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mindtrizzle @mitch.mindbuffer.net · 25/07/2025
it's so wicked to hear @slab.org nerd out about the haskell guts underlying tidalcycles a bit 💙 haskell.foundation/podcast/67/
haskell.foundation
Alex McLean
Mike and Andres speak to Alex McLean who created the TidalCycles system for electronic music - implemented in Haskell of course. We talk about how Alex got into Haskell coming from Perl, how types hel...
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Alex McLean @slab.org · 12/07/2025
People you exclude from your international conference if you decide not to support remote participation, or even stream or record the talks: - People with caring responsibilities - People with disabilities - People with health vulnerabilities
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Alex McLean @slab.org · 07/07/2025
There's an ACM design tech conference happening with 100s of people flying in to a conference facility on a remote island to discuss the conference theme of.. how to make their work more ecologically sustainable. In-person participation only, except many couldn't make it due to climate chaos. #dis25
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Alex McLean @slab.org · 30/06/2025
I'm no expert, but some UK-oriented suggestions for things to do in response to ongoing genocide and famine in Palestine:
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Alex McLean @yaxu.post.lurk.org.ap.brid.gy · 08/06/2025
With some delay, @tidalcycles v1.10.0 is out! Codename 'waffle' github.com/tidalcycles/Tidal/releas…
github.com
Release waffle · tidalcycles/Tidal
The code name 'waffle' comes from the bonkers three-dimensional fabric that appears from a surprisingly simple two-dimensional weave structure. More info What's Changed This v1.10.0 release has be...
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Alex McLean @yaxu.post.lurk.org.ap.brid.gy · 09/06/2025
Kind of amazing that you can dot a couple of messages like this around the internet post.lurk.org/@yaxu/114188134015638… and then end up with ~40 lovely people hanging out with their computers in the middle of nowhere, what a great thing #errorcamp
Dorks walking through undulating rugged countrysidePeople sitting down in rugged countryside sporting extreme computer music fashionDorks lying around live coding while being willingly inducted into pastagangA view of a reservoir and forests
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Jake @jphoneu.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
Promoting this live-coding show of 4 acts bash out some glitched-out emergent noise-rave anthems by way of ephemeral improvised algorithmic noodling, it'll be sick! www.skiddle.com/e/41001704 #sheffieldlivemusic #livecoding #liveelectronicmusic #tidalcycles #livecodingsheffield #sheffieldmusic
A gig poster reading the following:
Hatch x Pattern Club
c_robo_
Iris Ipsum
Epiploke
sclews
Live-coded audio and visual
Saturday 07 June 2025
Hatch S2 4SE
7pm til 11pm
£8 advance, £10 on the door
Tickets via Skiddle
No one turned away for lack of funds
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v buckenham @v21.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
blog.vbuckenham.com/on-palestine/
blog.vbuckenham.com
On Palestine
A few years ago, I could see a few possible endpoints for the Israel-Palestine situation. They were: * the two state solution. Israel and Palestine are two separate countries, both of which can exis...
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