Mercury
Minimal, human-readable language for algorithmic electronic music live coding.
| Language | Mercury (DSL) |
|---|---|
| Category | Live coding |
| License | GPL-3.0 |
| Platforms | Web macOS Windows Linux |
| Install | Use the free browser playground (no install) or clone into Max 8 |
| First released | 2019 |
| Maintained | Yes |
| Links | Website · Source |
Strengths
- Very readable, low-barrier syntax
- Free zero-install web playground
- Actively maintained with docs
Limitations
- Native version tied to Max/MSP (paid)
- Deliberately constrained vs general-purpose languages
Best for
Beginners and performers wanting a clean, approachable live-coding language.
Minimal example
set tempo 89
new sample kick_909 time(1/4)
list melody random(16 0 24)
new synth saw note(melody) time(1/16) shape(4 100)