Breathing Particles: C# console visualization

Program.cs

List<Particle> particles = new List<Particle>();
int width = Math.Max(20, Console.WindowWidth - 1);
int height = Math.Max(10, Console.WindowHeight - 1);

Console.CursorVisible = false;
for (int i = 0; i < 40; i++)
    particles.Add(new Particle(Random.Shared.Next(width), Random.Shared.Next(height)));

while (!Console.KeyAvailable)
{
    Console.Clear();
    foreach (var p in particles)
    {
        ApplyForces(p);
        p.X = (p.X + p.VelX + width) % width;
        p.Y = (p.Y + p.VelY + height) % height;
        Console.SetCursorPosition((int)p.X, (int)p.Y);
        Console.ForegroundColor = p.Color;
        Console.Write(p.Symbol);
    }
    Thread.Sleep(15);
}

/// <summary>
/// Applies oscillating attraction/repulsion forces to create a pulsing effect
/// </summary>
/// <param name="p">The particle to apply forces to</param>
void ApplyForces(Particle p)
{
    double centroidX = width / 2, centroidY = height / 2;
    double dist = Math.Sqrt(Math.Pow(p.X - centroidX, 2) + Math.Pow(p.Y - centroidY, 2));
    
    // Create oscillating force based on time
    double time = Environment.TickCount / 1300.0;
    double oscillation = Math.Sin(time * 0.56);
    double factor = (oscillation * 0.07);
    
    p.VelX += (centroidX - p.X) * factor;
    p.VelY += (centroidY - p.Y) * factor;
    p.VelX *= 0.97;
    p.VelY *= 0.97;
}

/// <summary>
/// Represents a particle in the simulation with position, velocity, appearance, and color
/// </summary>
class Particle
{
    public double X, Y, VelX, VelY;
    public char Symbol;
    public ConsoleColor Color;
    
    /// <summary>
    /// Creates a new particle at the specified position with random velocity and appearance
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="x">Initial X coordinate</param>
    /// <param name="y">Initial Y coordinate</param>
    public Particle(double x, double y)
    {
        X = x; Y = y;
        VelX = (Random.Shared.NextDouble() * 0.56 - 0.28);
        VelY = (Random.Shared.NextDouble() * 0.56 - 0.28);
        Symbol = "●★♦■◆▲"[Random.Shared.Next(6)];
        Color = (ConsoleColor)Random.Shared.Next(9, 15);
    }
}

Particles2.mov

Particle system that creates a hypnotic "breathing" effect as particles pulse toward and away from the center. This cross-platform console application uses 40 lines of C# and runs on Windows and macOS. The particles oscillate between attraction and repulsion states, creating patterns with minimal code.

Learn about:

• Particle simulations
• Sine wave oscillations
• Emergent behavior
• Console-based graphics

No external dependencies - just C# with top-level statements.