The Howdy Glossary

Design By Numbers (DBN) is an educational programming language developed by John Maeda at the MIT Media Lab in the late 1990s. It was designed to make coding accessible to artists and designers, allowing them to create images through code. Emphasizing simplicity, immediacy, and interactivity, DBN enables learners to see instant graphical outcomes of their efforts. While it is not widely used in practical applications today, DBN's legacy has significantly influenced contemporary tools that integrate coding with creative problem-solving.

DBN offers features tailored specifically for artists and designers exploring programming. Developed as a successor to Logo and Turtle Graphics, it provides immediate graphical feedback on code, promoting creative experimentation and hands-on learning of computational concepts. This focus on visual output distinguishes DBN from traditional programming languages and makes it particularly appealing for individuals in creative fields seeking to incorporate coding into their work. The emphasis on real-time visualization underscores its influence on contemporary tools that advocate for coding as a component of creative processes.

Despite competition from platforms like Processing and p5.js—both aimed at making coding accessible within the context of visual arts—DBN maintains unique qualities such as its historical focus on direct visual outcomes. Created by John Maeda at MIT Media Lab with an emphasis on simplicity and interactivity, DBN's pioneering role in blending coding with artistic practices remains significant. Its impact can be seen in modern tools promoting creativity through technology, cementing its position as a foundational platform that fosters the integration of programming into art and design disciplines.