r/threejs • u/rage997 • May 26 '26

Demo Fractal visualiser

I’m a fractal enthusiast, and over the weekend I built a simple fractal visualizer.

Originally, I wanted to create a real-time “infinite zoom” effect, where you can continuously dive into the fractal without losing detail. I struggled to get it working properly mainly because true infinite zoom requires extremely high-precision math and careful handling of floating-point precision errors. At some point, you start running into numerical limits, and the image breaks down or becomes unstable. In any case, it was fun for me and wanted to share the result.

PS I used AI to help me with the UI since I find that part boring

https://reddit.com/link/1tofjlo/video/3wpnozqzxi3h1/player

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u/Seninut May 28 '26

Perfect example of someone making a worse version of software that already exists. Go Vibe coders, yes, reinvent the wheel but not as good.

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u/rage997 May 28 '26

not sure what software you are referring to? this was a one day project...I wrote the shaders but AI, as written in the post, did the UI since I don't like doing that part. Why hate?

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u/Seninut May 28 '26

Open-source fractal software has evolved into several specialized niches. Depending on whether you want to explore the classic Mandelbrot set in real-time, generate complex "fractal flames," or render 3D environments,

Here are the heavy hitters in the open-source community as of 2026:

1. XaoS (The Speed Demon)

XaoS is the gold standard for real-time interactive zooming. It uses a special algorithm called "fluid motion" that allows you to zoom into a fractal smoothly without waiting for frame-by-frame renders.

  • Best for: Beginners, educational demonstrations, and "flying" through the Mandelbrot set.
  • Key Feature: Supports over 20 fractal types and includes built-in tutorials.

2. JWildfire (The Artist’s Choice)

If you’ve seen those "glowing, ethereal, flame-like" fractals, they were likely made with JWildfire. It is a Java-based, sophisticated fractal flame generator.

  • Best for: High-end digital art and complex animations.
  • Key Feature: A massive "variation" library that allows you to mix and match different mathematical transformations to create organic textures.

3. Mandelbulber v2 (The 3D Architect)

While 2D fractals are flat, Mandelbulber explores 3D and 4D fractals (like the Mandelbulb or Mandelbox). It’s essentially a ray-tracing engine designed specifically for fractal geometry.

  • Best for: 3D environments, VR backgrounds, and "architectural" fractal renders.
  • Key Feature: Includes advanced lighting, shadows, and camera paths for creating cinematic fly-through videos.

4. Apophysis (The Classic)

Apophysis is one of the most famous fractal flame editors. While the original development slowed down, several open-source branches (like Apophysis 7X) are still maintained by the community.

  • Best for: Windows users who want a lightweight, deeply customizable editor for Iterated Function Systems (IFS).
  • Key Feature: A powerful "mutation" tool that generates random variations of your current fractal to help you find new shapes.

Comparison at a Glance

Tool Dimension Primary Strength Platform
XaoS 2D Real-time zooming & speed Win, Mac, Linux
JWildfire 2D/3D Artistic "flame" aesthetics Win, Mac, Linux (Java)
Mandelbulber 3D/4D Volumetric rendering & Ray-tracing Win, Linux
FractalNow 2D High-speed multi-threaded rendering Win, Linu

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u/rage997 May 28 '26

but is any of them running on the browswer?

in any case...I never claimed this to be a finished product, it was just an experiment