Demo (computer programming): Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 17:15, 24 February 2006

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[[Image:DemoSample.jpg|thumb|A frame part of an animation displayed in real time.]]

A '''demo''' is a non-interactive multimedia presentation made within the computer [[subculture]] known as [[Demoscene]]. Demos are the main way for [[demogroup|demosceners]] to demonstrate their abilities in [[programming]] ("code"), [[music]] ("zik"), [[drawing]] ("gfx"), and/or [[3D modeling]]. The key technical difference between a classical animation and a demo is that the display of a demo is computed in real time (like people performing a play compared to showing a movie), making computing power considerations the biggest challenge. For now demos are mostly composed of [[3D animation]]s mixed with [[2D computer graphics|2D]] effects and [[full screen effect]]s.

The boot block demos of the 1980s, demos that were created to fit within the small (generally 1024 to 4096 bytes) first block of the [[floppy disk]] that was to be loaded into [[Random Access Memory|RAM]], were typically created so that [[software cracking|software crackers]] could boast of their accomplishment prior to the loading of the game. What began as a type of electronic [[graffiti]] on cracked software became, however, an art form unto itself, and demo makers continue to push themselves to the limits of their abilities by making these short demos to this day.

Notable [[List of demoscene groups|demo groups]] in the past included the [[Future Crew]], [[Renaissance (demogroup)|Renaissance]], the [[Silents]], [[Cascada (demo group)|Cascada]], [[Witan (demo group)|Witan]], [[Triton (demogroup)|Triton]], or in the present days, [[Farbrausch]], [[mfx]] or [[Kewlers]].

For a more self-explaining definition, see [http://www.pouet.net Pouet.net] for one of the most active [[Demoscene]] repositories.