BulletHell Dev's Best Friend

The Algorithmic Danmaku Synthesizer

BulletHell Dev's Best Friend is more than just a shmup—it is a high-octane laboratory for generative design. It bridges the gap between hardcore bullet hell gameplay and algorithmic art, allowing you to "play" mathematics as lethal projectiles.

Powered by the industry-standard BulletML and a custom Math-to-Motion Engine, this tool lets you visualize mathematical beauty (Bytebeat, Floatbeat, and Polar Geometry) as complex bullet barrages in real-time.

✨ New Feature: The Pattern Synthesizer

Stop writing XML by hand. Start conducting math. We have integrated a massive library of 100+ Algorithmic Presets derived from the famous "Bytebeat" music scene and classical geometry.

Visual Categories:

• Geometric Shapes (Solid): Uses a new "Burst Mode" to instantly draw crisp Polygons, Stars, and Diamonds using polar coordinate math.
• 3D Wireframes: Simulates 3D rotation to project Spheres, Cubes, Torus Knots, and Helix structures onto the 2D playfield.
• Bytebeat & Glitch: Visualizes raw C-style audio formulas as chaotic, digital "noise" patterns (Sierpinski triangles, bitwise fractals).
• Organic Nature: Generates flowing patterns resembling Ferns, Spiderwebs, Flowers, and Weather systems.

🎛️ The Workflow: Mix, Mutate, Lock

Treat the engine like a music synthesizer. Tweak the chaos until it feels right.

• M (Mix): Instantly inject a fresh, random pattern from your selected category.
• N (Mutate): "Bend" the code. Slightly randomize the numbers in the current formula to evolve the shape without breaking its structure.
• F (Lock): Found a pattern you love? Lock it. The boss will respawn with that exact pattern instantly, allowing you to practice against it or refine the code in the editor.

🎮 Gameplay Features

• Dynamic Boss AI: The enemy adapts to you, using smart evasion and deploying Void Shields.
• Panic Mode: At low health, the boss enters a desperate frenzy (50% speed boost).
• Tactical Turrets: Your ship utilizes physics-based PD Turrets with predictive deflection to intercept incoming fire.
• High Performance: Optimized rendering engine ensures smooth 60FPS even with thousands of bullets on screen.

🛠️ Controls & Shortcuts

Gameplay

• Mouse / Arrow Keys: Move Ship
• Left Click / Z: Main Fire
• Right Click / X: Homing Missiles
• Shift: Focus Mode (Slow movement + Hitbox display)
• V: Hyper Mode
• Q: Kill Boss (Instant Respawn)

Pattern Synthesizer

• M: Mix (Load random preset from current category)
• N: Mutate (Randomize numbers in current code)
• F: Lock/Unlock Pattern (Prevents auto-switch on death)
• 3 / 4: Cycle Preset Category
• 1 / 2: Previous / Next File
• R: Reload Current Code

Live Code Editor (Toggle with 'T')

• F2: Save & Run
• F3: Math Generator (Convert text formula to XML)
• F4: Open Preset Menu
• F5: Mutate Code
• F6: Shuffle Category

📚 Credits & References

This project is built on the shoulders of giants in the generative art, demoscene, and shmup communities.

Core Technology

• BulletML: The standard markup language for bullet barrages, created by Kenta Cho (ABA Games).
• Pygame: The underlying multimedia library.

Algorithmic Math (Bytebeat/Floatbeat) The core of the "Shape Engine" maps time-domain audio formulas to polar visual coordinates (Time = Angle, Amplitude = Radius).

• Countercomplex: The original "Algorithmic Symphonies" blog post by viznut.
• Dollchan Bytebeat: The definitive repository for Bytebeat formulas. Many presets (Sierpinski, Ryg's Scatter, 42 Melody) were adapted from this community.

Procedural Generation

• Sprite_generator: Based on the Pixel Sprite Generator algorithm by Dave Bollinger.
• Background Nebula: Adapted from the Chromanin generative art tool by Carsten Waechter (ported to Construct2 by Pode).