Module types
From Impure Wiki
Modules in Impure can do many different things. They are organized into five broad categories according to the function they perform.
Knowing which type of module you need in a particular situation is the first step to find your way around Impure's libray and to be able to build spaces quickly and easily.
In this section you will find an explanation for each of these types and what they are useful for.
Contents |
Data Structures
Data Structures are identified by the color RED
Data Structures hold a piece of information of a given type. They have no inlets and only they have one outlet, which is the source from where you can read the data contained inside that "box".
There are many different kinds of Data Structures, but only some of the most basic ones can be placed as modules in an Impure space. You will be able to recognize them in the Library by the small arrow in the bottom right corner of their icons.
Those are modules you can drag into the space, and type information directly on them.
Draggable (aka typable) Data Structures are the ones that can be defined by typing or pasting a text, such a Number or a NumberList. Many Data Structures modules are not allowed to be placed on stage; that's because is not possible (so far) to define its content only by typing. In the future more Data Structures will be typable (once we define a text code for them).
Untypable Data Structures exist only as inlets and outlets. Why are there in the Library? Because Data Structures are the basic pieces and it is very important to have always access to its entire list and documentation.
If you want to place on the space a Data Structure that's not typable there are ways to do so. For instance, StringList is not typable, but you can place a String, write a text using a separator character, and then using the splitString in order to build the desired StringList.
Operators
Operators are identified by the color CYAN
Operators always have at least one inlet. They perform some kind of operation on the data that is fed to them, and return the result in the outlet.
The operators Library is the most populated (there are more than 300 operators so far)
See a list of featured operators
Visualizators
Visualizators are identified by the color MAGENTA
Visualizators build some kind of visual representation from the data they receive. There are many options available for any kind of data you can manipulate within Impure.
Different visualizations can reveal different aspects of a certain data set. Many visualizators also allow interaction, giving users the possibility to dynamically explore the data.
Some also have an outlet that makes the result of that interaction available to feed other processes in the space.
See a list of featured visualizators
Controls
Controls are identified by the color ORANGE
Controls let users interact with the space or perform some complex task (such as downloading data).
See a list of featured controls
Apis
Apis are identified by the color GREEN
Apis allow communication with many sources of information on the Internet.
Some of the most frequently used ones are: Google search, Twitter search, Twitter word historical behavior, Market data, Flickr search, Flickr sets loader, Delicious account data load, Ebay items information, Dictionary definitions, Semantic expansion, etc.
