Guide · Open source
How to use WebGL-Fluid-Simulation: play, clone and study it
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
WebGL-Fluid-Simulation is an open-source interactive fluid simulation that runs in your web browser. It uses WebGL, so your graphics processor does the calculations, and you push colored fluid around by moving the pointer or touching the screen. This guide shows you how to open the live demo, how to get the code, and what the project is good for.
WebGL Fluid SimulationPavelDoGreat/WebGL-Fluid-Simulation · ★ 16.8k · MIT Install options & downloads Quick start
- 1Open the demo. Visit the homepage linked in the README to run the simulation without installing anything.
- 2Try it on your device. Move the pointer on a computer or touch and drag on a phone or tablet to push the colored fluid.
- 3Clone the repository. Run git clone https://github.com/PavelDoGreat/WebGL-Fluid-Simulation to get the source code.
- 4Read the WebGL code. Open the cloned files and study how the simulation is implemented in JavaScript and WebGL.
- 5Compare related projects. Look at mharrys/fluids-2d and haxiomic/GPU-Fluid-Experiments to see other approaches.
- 6Check the license. Review the MIT license in the repository before reusing any code.
What WebGL-Fluid-Simulation does
The project is a browser-based fluid simulation. You move the pointer or touch the screen to push colored fluid around and watch it swirl. The README says it works on mobile as well as desktop.
It is best understood as a visual demo. The README does not claim physically accurate results, so treat it as something to look at and play with rather than a scientific tool.
Open the live demo in your browser
The fastest way to try it is the hosted version linked from the README. No installation is needed. Open the page on a computer or on a phone or tablet, then drag or tap to interact with the fluid.
If the page does not respond, your browser or device may not support WebGL. The README does not list supported browsers, so check that your browser has WebGL enabled.
- Desktop: move the mouse pointer over the canvas to push the fluid.
- Mobile or tablet: touch and drag across the screen.
Get the code with git clone
If you want to study or change the code, clone the repository. The README gives this command. Git must be installed on your machine first.
After cloning, the project is a JavaScript codebase using WebGL. The README does not list any other prerequisites or build steps, so check the repository files for how to run it locally.
git clone https://github.com/PavelDoGreat/WebGL-Fluid-SimulationUse it as a reference for GPU fluid code
Developers can read the source as a working WebGL example and adapt the parts they need. The README credits Nvidia's GPU Gems chapter on fast fluid dynamics simulation on the GPU as a reference.
Two related projects are cited in the README and are useful for comparison: mharrys/fluids-2d and haxiomic/GPU-Fluid-Experiments.
- Read the WebGL code to see how fluid state is updated on the GPU.
- Compare against mharrys/fluids-2d and haxiomic/GPU-Fluid-Experiments.
- Check the MIT license before reusing code in your own project.
Know the limits before you rely on it
The simulation is a visual demo. It is a good fit for learning how fluids look and move in a hands-on way, but it is not a source of scientific-grade results.
Very old browsers and devices without WebGL support are not covered by the README, so they may not run the demo.
What people use it for
- Watching fluid swirl on a phone or tablet without installing an app
- Learning how fluid motion can be visualized with a GPU
- Using the source as a starting WebGL example for a personal project
- Comparing its approach with other GPU fluid projects
Frequently asked questions
Is WebGL-Fluid-Simulation free to use?
The code is available under the MIT license, as stated in the README. Check the LICENSE file in the repository for the full terms before reusing it.
Does WebGL-Fluid-Simulation work on mobile?
Yes. The README says it works on mobile, and you can touch the screen to push the fluid around. The live demo is linked from the README.
How do I install WebGL-Fluid-Simulation?
The README lists no install steps beyond cloning the repository with git clone https://github.com/PavelDoGreat/WebGL-Fluid-Simulation. The main way to use it is the browser demo, which needs no installation.
What do I need to run it?
The README lists no prerequisites. You need a browser with WebGL support to run the demo. The README does not name specific supported browsers.
Is WebGL-Fluid-Simulation accurate enough for science?
No. The README describes it as a visual demo and does not claim physical accuracy. Use a scientific fluid solver for research-grade results.
What are alternatives to WebGL-Fluid-Simulation?
The README points to mharrys/fluids-2d and haxiomic/GPU-Fluid-Experiments as related projects. Both are useful for comparing approaches to fluid simulation.
New agent skills, repos and AI tools — every week
The best new skills and open-source projects, the fastest-growing repos, and one free prompt. Five minutes to read. Unsubscribe anytime.
Our verdict
WebGL-Fluid-Simulation suits anyone who wants to play with fluid motion in a browser, including on a phone, or who wants a working WebGL example to study. If you need physically accurate fluid results, or your device lacks WebGL support, pick a scientific solver or one of the related projects instead.
Install options & downloads