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TouchDesigner VS Preact.js

Compare TouchDesigner VS Preact.js and see what are their differences

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TouchDesigner logo TouchDesigner

TouchDesigner is a visual development platform that equips you with the tools you need to create stunning realtime projects and rich user experiences.

Preact.js logo Preact.js

Preact is a fast 3kB alternative to React with the same modern API. Components & Virtual DOM.
  • TouchDesigner Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-03
  • Preact.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-11

TouchDesigner features and specs

  • Versatility
    TouchDesigner can be used for a wide range of applications including real-time graphics, interactive installations, live performances, and data visualization.
  • Real-Time Capabilities
    It excels at creating and manipulating visuals in real-time, making it ideal for live events and performances.
  • Node-Based Workflow
    The software uses a node-based visual programming language, which is intuitive and flexible, allowing for easy manipulation and connection of different elements.
  • High Customizability
    Users can create highly custom visuals and interactions tailored specifically to their needs.
  • Community and Resources
    A strong community of users and a wealth of tutorials, forums, and documentation are available to help new users learn and troubleshoot.
  • Compatibility
    Supports a broad array of input and output devices, as well as different file formats, making it highly interoperable with other tools and technologies.
  • Free Non-Commercial Version
    A non-commercial version is available for free, allowing users to learn and experiment without incurring costs.

Possible disadvantages of TouchDesigner

  • Steep Learning Curve
    The software is complex and can be difficult for beginners to master due to its vast capabilities and depth.
  • Performance Demands
    Creating complex projects can be resource-intensive, requiring powerful hardware to run smoothly.
  • Cost for Commercial Use
    While the non-commercial version is free, the commercial licenses can be expensive, which may be a barrier for smaller studios or individuals.
  • Limited Traditional Documentation
    While there are many community resources, the official documentation can be somewhat lacking in detail for more advanced functions.
  • Specialized Skill Set
    Expertise in TouchDesigner does not always translate directly to other software tools, meaning skills learned can be somewhat isolated.
  • Version Compatibility
    Projects created in different versions may not always be compatible, which can be a problem for long-term projects or collaborations.

Preact.js features and specs

  • Size
    Preact is very small in size (about 3KB gzipped), which makes it easy to load and faster to execute, resulting in improved performance and quicker load times.
  • Compatibility
    Preact is largely compatible with React, allowing developers to switch to Preact with minimal code changes. This makes it easier to adopt for projects already using React.
  • Performance
    Due to its small size and efficient design, Preact offers excellent performance, especially on low-powered devices and in applications with heavy user interactions.
  • Ecosystem
    Preact can work with many tools and libraries that are designed for React, giving developers access to a rich ecosystem of resources.
  • Community
    Preact has an active and growing community that provides support, plugins, and third-party tools, making it easier for developers to find solutions and share knowledge.

Possible disadvantages of Preact.js

  • Feature Set
    While Preact covers most of the core React features, it lacks some of the advanced functionality present in React, which may require additional workarounds or third-party libraries.
  • Learning Curve
    For developers coming from a non-React background, learning Preact might involve a learning curve, particularly because of its similarities and subtle differences with React.
  • Tooling Compatibility
    Although many tools designed for React can work with Preact, some might not be directly compatible, requiring additional configuration or patches.
  • Community Size
    While Preact has a supportive community, it is smaller compared to the massive React community, which can result in fewer available resources and third-party packages.
  • Maturity
    Preact, being newer and less widely adopted than React, might not have the same level of battle-tested reliability for all use cases, especially for large scale applications.

TouchDesigner videos

+ Add

Make mind bending, interactive 3D projects with TouchDesigner and Python

More videos:

  • Review - TouchDesigner Experiments
  • Tutorial - Particle Displacement – TouchDesigner Tutorial 7

Preact.js videos

+ Add

JS frameworks are replaceable

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to TouchDesigner and Preact.js)

TouchDesigner

Preact.js

3D
100 100%
3D
0% 0
Javascript UI Libraries
0 0%
Javascript UI Libraries
100% 100
Interactive Presentations
100 100%
Interactive Presentations
0% 0
JavaScript Framework
0 0%
JavaScript Framework
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare TouchDesigner and Preact.js

TouchDesigner Reviews

7 Best Projection Mapping Software 2024 (#1 Video Mapper)
Other options include Resolume Arena, which excels in live performances and offers an ultra-fast video player for real-time video mixing. Resolume Avenue, a sister program to Arena, also provides a reliable visual programming environment with an audio processing engine. HeavyM, on the other hand, is suitable for beginners and small-scale events, offering an online library of...
Source: contentmavericks.com
Exploring the top 10 World of LCD Projector Mapping Softwares
TouchDesigner stands out for its immense versatility and its ability to handle interactive multimedia projects. This node-based visual programming environment enables users to create complex projection mapping setups, combining real-time graphics, audio, and video processing. With its robust community support, TouchDesigner is an excellent choice for those seeking to push...
Source: www.sam-inspire.com
Top 7 Alternatives to MadMapper – Amplify Your Projection Mapping Projects!
TouchDesigner is a powerful visual development platform that enables artists and designers to create interactive installations, immersive experiences, and projection mapping projects. It offers a node-based interface, real-time rendering capabilities, and support for various media types. TouchDesigner is widely used in the media and entertainment industry for its versatility...
Source: www.uubyte.com
5+ best video mapping software for PC
TouchDesigner’s suite of features and open customization makes each project possible, with multiple solutions to tackle every job, whether small or large in ways that fit each scenario and budget.
Source: windowsreport.com
Top 5 VJ Softwares In 2021
TouchDesigner is a node based visual programming language for real time interactive multimedia content, developed by the Toronto-based company Derivative. It’s been used by artists, programmers, creative coders, software designers, and performers to create performances, installations, and fixed media works.
Source: www.themusicscool.in

Preact.js Reviews

Top JavaScript Frameworks in 2025
PreactJS is a JavaScript library that is said to be the fast 3Kb alternative to ReactJS using the same modern API. It implements the fastest virtual DOM compared to other frameworks in the market. Moreover, it is one of the smallest libraries in terms of size.
Source: solguruz.com
20 Next.js Alternatives Worth Considering
Preact is like React’s little sibling, smaller in size but with the same familiar moves. It’s cutting down the fluff and zipping through tasks with less overhead. When performance budgets are tight, Preact wiggles in perfectly.
Source: tms-outsource.com
20 Best JavaScript Frameworks For 2023
Preact is built with the same core principle of React – A component-based approach with Virtual DOM while completely compatible with React. It can even use React packages without compromising on speed, performance, and leaner size. In instances where the full potential of React isn’t necessary, most developers even use React during development and switch to Preact for...
Source: www.lambdatest.com
Top 15 jQuery Alternatives To Know
ReactJS is a powerful JavaScript library to create user interfaces. Developers can design easy views at each stage in the application and there is regular update and rendering for the actual components whenever there is any data alteration. It is component-driven and creates encapsulated components that manage their own state.
Source: www.spec-india.com
Top 5 JavaScript Frameworks To Learn in 2021
But according to the graph above, we can notice a decrease in interest in Preact. This might result from having many similar frameworks with the same specs, like react-lite, Inferno, etc. However, knowing a framework like Preact will be useful for your development journey.
Source: enlear.academy

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Preact.js should be more popular than TouchDesigner. It has been mentiond 93 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

TouchDesigner mentions (31)

  • Ask HN: What Are You Working On? (October 2024)
    Will it be something like TouchDesigner[1] ? I never used it myself, but I follow a lot of creative types who make music visualizations, and art installations with it. I can't find it on Github though, maybe repo is private ? [1] https://derivative.ca/. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • NestDrop Midnight Edition v23.15 - PRO VERSION FREE DOWNLOAD
    ⇒ Resolume ⇒ NestMap ⇒ TouchDesigner ⇒ MadMapper ⇒ Any other software listed on the Spout website. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • After Effects for live broadcasting?
    Touchdesigner: https://derivative.ca/. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Lighting Software with programmable effects?
    Touch Designer is an object oriented environment with a range of ways to manipulate data and plugins for external control (ie - artNET, sACN, dmx dongles) - it is somewhat OS agnostic / MAC/PC. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Method For Generating Graphical Representations from data?
    Python ranges from "decent" to "awesome" and "cutting edge" across a range of use cases. I would put graphics on the bottom tier of Python's strengths. You should look for something built for graphics. My go to is TouchDesigner by Derivative (derivative.ca). They offer a free license, it's all node based for real-time graphics processing, you can generate images with it, and you can script anything in... Source: about 2 years ago
View more

Preact.js mentions (93)

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing TouchDesigner and Preact.js, you can also consider the following products

Resolume - Resolume is an application for live video performances.

Svelte - Cybernetically enhanced web apps

MadMapper - The Mapping Software

Vue.js - Reactive Components for Modern Web Interfaces

Pure Data - Pd (aka Pure Data) is a real-time graphical programming environment for audio, video, and graphical...

Inferno - An extremely fast React-like javascript library for building modern user interfaces.

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