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What is Fract’ol?

Fract’ol is a graphical fractal explorer built in C using the MiniLibX graphics library. It provides an interactive window for visualizing and exploring the mathematical beauty of fractals, specifically the Mandelbrot and Julia sets.

Mandelbrot Set

Explore the iconic fractal with infinite complexity

Julia Set

Discover beautiful variations with custom parameters

Interactive Controls

Zoom, pan, and adjust rendering in real-time

Custom Colors

Vibrant psychedelic color schemes included

Key Features

Renders fractals at 2000x1500 resolution with smooth color gradients and precise mathematical calculations
Navigate the fractal landscape with keyboard and mouse controls, adjusting zoom level and position on the fly
Control the level of detail by adjusting iteration depth, revealing more intricate patterns as you increase precision
Switch between Mandelbrot and Julia sets, each offering unique visual characteristics and exploration opportunities

Quick Start

Get started with Fract’ol in just a few minutes:
1

Clone and Build

Clone the repository and compile the project with make
2

Run the Program

Launch Mandelbrot or Julia fractals from the command line
3

Explore

Use mouse scroll to zoom and arrow keys to navigate

Installation Guide

Follow the complete installation and setup instructions

Technical Highlights

  • C Programming: Built from scratch in C for performance and control
  • MiniLibX Graphics: Leverages the lightweight graphics library for efficient rendering
  • Complex Number Math: Implements mathematical operations for fractal generation
  • Event-Driven Architecture: Responsive keyboard and mouse event handling
  • Optimized Algorithms: Escape-time algorithm with customizable iteration limits

Get Involved

Fract’ol is part of the 42 School curriculum project. Explore the source code and documentation to understand fractal mathematics and computer graphics programming.

View Source Code

Browse the complete codebase on GitHub

Technical Reference

Dive into the architecture and implementation details

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love