Scrawl-canvas is a JavaScript library that simplifies the creation of responsive, interactive, and accessible HTML5 canvas elements. It targets web developers building complex 2D graphical displays, animations, and interactive applications, offering a more manageable alternative to the native Canvas API.

How It Works

Scrawl-canvas abstracts the complexities of the Canvas API by providing factory functions for creating a wide array of graphic artifacts and effects. It implements a flexible protocol for positioning, displaying, and animating these elements. A key design choice is its focus on making canvas elements responsive to their environment and fully interactive, allowing individual graphical objects to handle events, unlike the native API where events are tied to the canvas element itself.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Installation: npm install scrawl-canvas or yarn add scrawl-canvas. Can also be used via CDN or by downloading a zip package.
• Dependencies: No external dependencies. TypeScript definitions are included.
• Resources: Local development requires yarn install or npm install.
• Links: Website: scrawl-v8.rikweb.org.uk, Documentation: scrawl-v8.rikweb.org.uk/documentation, Demos: scrawl-v8.rikweb.org.uk/demonstrations.

Highlighted Details

• Enhances canvas accessibility for keyboard and assistive technology users.
• Enables direct event handling on individual canvas objects (e.g., click, hover, drag).
• Supports TypeScript with comprehensive .d.ts definition files.
• Modular design allows for reusable code modules for specific effects.

Maintenance & Community

• Developed by Rik Roots.
• Discord channel available for community interaction.
• Actively maintained with version 8.15.0 released May 21, 2025.

Licensing & Compatibility

• The README does not explicitly state a license. The repository structure suggests it may be MIT or similar, but this requires verification. Compatibility for commercial use is not specified.

Limitations & Caveats

• The codebase does not include unit testing frameworks, relying on visual inspection of demo tests for integration and UI testing.
• The license is not explicitly stated in the README, which could be a concern for commercial adoption.