From 1987 Mandelbrot Code to Real-Time Metal Rendering
Ever since I first read about fractals in the early 1980s, I’ve been captivated.
There was something magical — almost poetic — about the idea that infinitely complex structures could emerge from such simple equations.
The concept that mathematics could create something so organic, so endlessly detailed, felt like discovering the secret language of nature itself. I was hooked.
The 1987 Experiment
In 1987, I wrote my very first Mandelbrot renderer in the C programming language on an IBM PC with VGA graphics running PC-DOS.
It was advanced for its time — supporting zooming, color mapping, adjustable iterations, and even direct coordinate entry so I could jump to precise locations in the set.
Of course, the hardware was primitive by today’s standards. Rendering a single image could take hours. I’d often leave the program running overnight, eager to see what new structure had emerged by morning. Each pixel line would crawl onto the screen, revealing intricate shapes that felt almost alive.
That first image — painstakingly plotted pixel by pixel — was mesmerizing.
It wasn’t just computation; it was a glimpse into infinite beauty born from a few lines of math.
Fast Forward to Today: Mandelbrot Metal
Decades later, that same fascination still drives me. Only now, I have tools and computing power I could never have imagined back then.
My latest project, Mandelbrot Metal, is a real-time, GPU-accelerated fractal explorer for iPhone and iPad, built using Apple’s Metal® framework and SwiftUI.
It can render the Mandelbrot set — and related fractals — instantly, with smooth zooming down to magnifications beyond 10¹⁶✖️ (will be increased going forward). You can pan, explore, and capture images in full 3D-shaded color at ultra-high resolution.
What once took all night now happens in real time.
The Beauty of Precision and Power
Mandelbrot Metal isn’t just a visualization tool; it’s a celebration of mathematical recursion, precision, and modern computing.
The app combines:
- ⚙️ Real-time GPU rendering for fluid, ultra-deep exploration up to 10¹⁶x
- 🧮 High-precision CPU fallback for extreme magnifications
- 🎨 Over 150 curated color palettes, including over 50, 768-step ultra-wide palettes
- 📍 Direct coordinate entry, letting users revisit or share exact locations
- 🔖 Bookmarks and capture/export tools for creating and sharing fractal art
When I see it running today — rendering billions of iterations per second on a handheld device — I can’t help but think back to that old IBM PC humming away in 1987. The same passion still drives it. Only the canvas has changed.
From Past to Present
What started as a late-night experiment decades ago has become a lifelong creative journey.
The core formula — z = z² + c — hasn’t changed.
What’s changed is everything around it: the hardware, the speed, and the sheer possibility.
Now, instead of typing in coordinates and waiting hours, we can explore infinity with a single swipe — seeing complexity unfold faster than the human mind can process.
If you’ve ever wondered what infinity looks like — or how mathematics becomes art — I invite you to explore Mandelbrot Metal.
It’s more than an app. It’s a bridge between 1987 and today — a testament to curiosity, computation, and creativity.
See It in Action
🌀 Mandelbrot Metal on the App Store →
Explore the infinite. Zoom into the impossible. And see how far we’ve come since 1987.