arboretum.cc

01. Concept

The Arboretum is a small, persistent forest of synthetic trees. Each specimen is generated from code and user input, exploring the intersection of algorithmic growth, personal choice, and archival practice.

02. How it works

Trees are grown using a stochastic L-System (Lindenmayer System). A short alphanumeric Seed controls the random number sequence, making every tree mathematically unique yet perfectly reproducible from its metadata.

[CHRONOLOGY] Controls simulated age: deeper recursion, taller and more complex structures. [ENTROPY] Introduces environmental noise, affecting branching probability, segment length, and structural irregularity. [PHOTOTROPISM] Sets the branching angle and overall growth bias in search of light (vertical, spreading, or prostrate).

03. Usage

In the DREAM_LAB, adjust the sliders, optionally sign the specimen with DREAMED_BY, then initialize the simulation. Once satisfied, you may archive a single tree to the shared forest.

Note: the same Seed and parameters will always reconstruct the same geometry and fruit palette across sessions and devices.

04. Determinism & Metadata

Unlike generative sketches that disappear on refresh, the Arboretum preserves the effective "DNA" of each tree: seed, parameters, and basic provenance. Any specimen in the Archive can be reconstructed exactly from this data.

[SEED_ID] Short alphanumeric identifier used to initialise the random number generator. This is what appears in the DREAM_LAB header. [SPECIMEN_ID] Internal, sequential database ID assigned on archive (used to order discoveries in the Archive view). [GEOLOCATION] Country code of the dreamer, derived from IP at the moment of archiving (e.g. PT, DE). No precise coordinates are stored. [PALETTE] Fruit color is deterministically derived from the Seed to support visual identification across views.

05. Conservation Policy

To maintain the diversity and value of the forest, the Arboretum enforces a 1SSP (ONE_SPECIMEN_PER_PERSON) policy. Each browser may archive a single tree; users are invited to treat that choice as a deliberate act of curation rather than a disposable interaction.

06. Technology

FRONTEND Astro + Tailwind CSS

SIMULATION p5.js (Canvas)

DATABASE Supabase (PostgreSQL)