The js1k Experience
for me
DISCLAIMER
(Hit the down button if you haven't used this before)
not a JS1K winner
not your definitive guide
to writing good javascript
you may experience javascript
in a different light
you may start getting
OCD tendencies
you may write less readable code
not* how we write code in Zopim**
(*although we are encouraged to try wacky stuff)
(**yeah shameless plug!)
JS1k
Rules
1024 bytes or less (in Javascript)
Must run in Browsers (Firefox, Chrome and Opera)
Demo must with provided shim
Anything for golfing
Should just work
JS1K Shim
<body> <canvas id="c"></canvas> <script> var b = document.body; var c = document.getElementsByTagName('canvas')[0]; var a = c.getContext('2d'); document.body.clientWidth; // fix bug in webkit: http://qfox.nl/weblog/218 // start of submission // SCRIPT // end of submission // </script> </body>
My Story
Have been a fan of js1k, never a participant
Decided to do a Tiny Wings clone
The Process
(*you can be happy for every byte saved)
(** look at the crazy hour man!)
My (not so great) Results
(*Tiny Wings took half a year to produce,
what was I thinking I could do in a few days?)
My Ninja Training
Bouncing Beholder
Autumn evening
The training
Start by look for my favorite js1k entries
Bytes* Saving tricks
(remember 1024 bytes, not characters)
Variables
Use Single variables when possible
var j=0; var k=0; // before
var j=0, k=0; // after
var j=k=0; // better
j=k=0; // best
Actually, not necessary when using minifiers
Reuse Variables in function paramters
function (a, b, c, d) { c = a + b; //.. }
Abuse Globals
Loops
Infinite Loops
while (true); // usual
while (1); // better
for (;;); // best
Incremental Loops
for (i=0;i<number;i++) // usual
for (i=number;i--;) // best
Combine loops
for (i=0;i<number;i++);
for (i=0;i<number/2;i++);
vs
for (i=0;i<number;i++) {
if (i%2) {}
}
Functions
Reduce functions since they take up extra 11 bytes each.
function(){}
012345678901
However, with JSCrush, they could be compressed. Reuse function signatures for more savings with compression.
x=function(a,b,c,d,e){
y=function(a,b,c,d,e){
becomes xF,yF where F = function(a,b,c,d,e)
No need for names, if function is used once
setInterval(function(a,b,c,d,e){ // blabla });
Conditions
Assign and check
a=b;if(a){} // before
if(a=b){} // after
Booleans converisons
if (a==null) {} // before
if (!a){} // after
Short-circuit operators
if (a) doSomething() // usual
a && doSomething() // after
if (!a) doSomething()
a || doSomething()
Data
Split when appropriate
["apple", "banana", "orange", "pineapples"] // before
"apple0banana0orange0pineapples.split(0) // after
Use Maths / Procedural Generation if possible
Long Strings
'zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz' // before
for(a="",i=30;i--;)a+='z' // after
a=Array(30).join('z') // better
Other Tricks
For extra Canvas
d = document.createElement('canvas') // before
d = a.cloneNode(); // after
Setting Canvas Size
a.width = window.innerWidth // before
a.width = innerWidth // after
Short Canvas Functions
for(i in a)(function(i){a[i[0]+(i[6]||'')]=(''+a[i])[27]?a[i]:function(_){a[i]=_}})(i)
a.globalComposite='destination-over' // before
a.gC('destination-over') // after
Colors
c.strokeColor = 'white' // before
c.strokeColor = '#fff' // after
Numbers
Flooring Numbers
Math.floor(x) // before
x = ~~x // after
Large Numbers
million=1000000 // before
million=1e6 // after
Rounding Numbers
Math.round(a) // before
a+.5|0 // after
Closure Optimizations
Use ADVANCED_OPTIMIZATIONS
java -jar compiler/compiler.jar --externs externs.js --compilation_level ADVANCED_OPTIMIZATIONS --js source.js --js_output_file output.js
Strip away var declarations
var a,b,c,d,e; a=10,b=....
a=10,b=....
Remove Final Semicolon
bla;bla;bla; // before
bla;bla;bla // after
Strip away leading zeros
0.5 // before
.5 // after
Creating Repeats
If exact values of constants are not critical, round them to the same numbers for maximum compression
var a = 7, b = 7, c = 7;
Remove Math.PIs
ctx.arc(x, y, r, 0, 2 * Math.PI); // before
ctx.arc(x, y, r, 0, 7); // after
Use global alpha instead of rgba
JSCrush
Originally another entry on js1k, compresses maybe 10% or more of the already minified source
Most entries are currently compressed with JSCrush
Super optimized for js1k entries - both encoders and decoders are below 1k!
JSCrush got some competition from RegPack this round, which saves even more bytes! Winnings entries are packed with RegPack this time.
Workflow
3 Easy Steps
1. Write Code
(no more than few hundred lines)
2. Run
3. Minify, Crush, Repeat
2. Run
3. Minify, Crush, Repeat
Online Version
1. write / Run Code in jsBin
2. Minification
3. JSCrush
Offline Version
Sublime
Git
JS1k Tools
(Nodejs Script + Minify / Uglify + JSCrush)
Freshly Announced
Winning Entries
js1k Spring 2013 finalists
#1 Strange crystals II by Philippe Deschaseaux @ehouais
#2 Furbee, get out of that tunnel ASAP by Roman Cortes @romancortes
#3 3013 The 䕵 space-time fracture by Mathieu 'p01' Henri @p01
#4 Synth Sphere by Noah Weninger@gleurop
#5 Pointillism by Benjamin Bill Planche @b_aldream
#6 3D City Tour by Jani Ylikangas
#7 Comanche by Siorki @Siorki
#8 Color Factors by Pablo Caro @hugoware
#9 Winter Wrap Up by Arne @veubeke
#10 Psychedelic animation by Piotr Stosur
from https://gist.github.com/zz85/5522800
Strange Crystals II
Other Entries
Kinda resonate with this list too
But for true gems, check out the raw entries yourself
Closing Thoughts
js1k is no small thing
its like a marathon
where its better to have weeks of preparations
but everyone's a winner when they finish
it's gonna be lots of fun, ... pain... and interesting learning experiences
leaving with a quote by the current winner...
Philippe Deschaseaux
"IMHO best compression scheme: imagination+time+math skills."
https://twitter.com/ehouais/status/313943128962908160
Thank you!
Email: zz85nus @ gmail.com
(more reference and links after this slide)
Links
JS1K Site
List of js1k 2013 spring finalists
js1k people to follow on twitter
Tools
Js1k Tools
JSCrush
RegPack
Closure online
Recommended Readings
Byte Saving Techniques
How to create Tiny Wings like game
(some techniques I used for my entry)
More...
(check out his entire blog and his notebook 1k entry!)
(from creator of Fubree and other intensive graphical js1ks)
Plenty More literature
The js1k Experience
By Joshua Koo
The js1k Experience
A short talk about JS1K I gave at Meetup JS Singapore (http://www.meetup.com/Singapore-JS/events/116409232/) on May 6, 2013
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