A particle is a function of its age, not a thing that is stepped (#73)

The asset type `particles` is placeable and carries a graph at the same time —
`behavior` was the blueprint. Because a continuous emitter gives birth to particle n
at time n/rate, the whole field is a function of the clock rather than of the frames:
no ring-buffer bookkeeping, exact time jumps, reproducibility as a measurable property.

compile.ts follows compileShader's frame but emits JS closures into a Float64Array
instead of GLSL, and without eval; a node with two consumers is evaluated once.
Drawing is one Pixi ParticleContainer per source, so one draw call.

Collision, wind and braking in flight are out for good — that is the price of the
formula model, not an omission.

The tab count goes from nine to ten, which is exactly the case #84 was built for one
day earlier: at 1280 px the row no longer holds every tab, so guard 14b now asks for
hidden.length > 0 instead of === 0.

src/core/commands/assetCommands.ts

@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ export function buildAsset(type: AssetType, name: string, id = newId()): Asset {
       return { ...base, type: 'shader', graph: createEmptyGraph() };
     case 'font':
       return { ...base, type: 'font', file: '' };
+    case 'particles':
+      return { ...base, type: 'particles', graph: createEmptyGraph() };
   }
 }
 

src/core/graph/NodeContext.ts

@@ -26,6 +26,11 @@ export interface EntityHandle {
   z: number;
   props: PropertyBag;
   parent: EntityHandle | null;
+  /**
+   * Counts the Emit pulses a particle source has been given. Kept off `props` for the reason the
+   * animation clock is: what the world writes back to the model must not grow an override per frame.
+   */
+  emits?: number;
 }
 
 /** Position, rotation, scale and mirror of every ancestor applied, nearest last. */

src/core/graph/NodeRegistry.ts

@@ -19,10 +19,11 @@ export interface PortDef {
 }
 
 /**
- * `state` and `shader` are the categories no behavior graph offers: their nodes are the states of
- * a state machine and the GLSL of a shader asset.
+ * `state`, `shader` and `particles` are the categories no behavior graph offers: their nodes are the
+ * states of a state machine, the GLSL of a shader asset and the motion of one particle.
  */
-export type NodeCategory = 'event' | 'flow' | 'data' | 'variable' | 'action' | 'state' | 'shader';
+export type NodeCategory =
+  'event' | 'flow' | 'data' | 'variable' | 'action' | 'state' | 'shader' | 'particles';
 
 /**
  * How a loop node asks for one of its exec outputs to be run repeatedly: `port` carries the body,

src/core/graph/nodes/action/Emit.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+import type { NodeDef } from '../../NodeRegistry';
+import { asEntity } from '../../values';
+import { exec, obj } from '../shared';
+
+export const Emit: NodeDef = {
+  type: 'Emit',
+  label: 'Emit',
+  category: 'action',
+  description:
+    'Starts a particle source over: a Burst source throws another burst, a Continuous one begins its stream again at the first particle.',
+  inputs: [exec(), obj('source')],
+  outputs: [exec()],
+  params: [],
+  run: (_ctx, inputs) => {
+    const target = asEntity(inputs.source);
+    if (target) target.emits = (target.emits ?? 0) + 1;
+    return { next: 'exec' };
+  },
+};

src/core/graph/nodes/index.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { type NodeDef, registerNode } from '../NodeRegistry';
 import { Destroy } from './action/Destroy';
+import { Emit } from './action/Emit';
 import { Log } from './action/Log';
 import { Move } from './action/Move';
 import { RestartGame } from './action/RestartGame';
@@ -88,6 +89,7 @@ import { RunBehavior } from './flow/RunBehavior';
 import { Sequence } from './flow/Sequence';
 import { SetState } from './flow/SetState';
 import { StateBranch } from './flow/StateBranch';
+import { PARTICLE_NODES } from '../../particles/nodes';
 import { SHADER_NODES } from '../../shader/nodes';
 import { State } from '../stateMachine';
 import { Variables } from './variable/Variables';
@@ -182,13 +184,15 @@ export const BUILT_IN_NODES: readonly NodeDef[] = [
   SetPosition,
   Spawn,
   Destroy,
+  Emit,
   Log,
   StopGame,
   RestartGame,
 ];
 
 for (const def of BUILT_IN_NODES) registerNode(def);
-// Registered so a machine's or a shader's graph loads and draws, but not built in: no behavior
-// graph offers them.
+// Registered so a machine's, a shader's or a particle graph loads and draws, but not built in: no
+// behavior graph offers them.
 registerNode(State);
 for (const def of SHADER_NODES) registerNode(def);
+for (const def of PARTICLE_NODES) registerNode(def);

src/core/model/Asset.ts

@@ -110,6 +110,16 @@ export interface FontAsset extends AssetBase {
   file: string;
 }
 
+/**
+ * The graph is the motion of one particle: every output of its `Output` node is a function of the
+ * particle's age and its own random number (see `core/particles/compile.ts`). A placed object is
+ * the source that emits them; how many and for how long are its properties.
+ */
+export interface ParticlesAsset extends AssetBase {
+  type: 'particles';
+  graph: Graph;
+}
+
 export type Asset =
   | SpriteAsset
   | CameraAsset
@@ -122,13 +132,16 @@ export type Asset =
   | AnimationAsset
   | StateMachineAsset
   | ShaderAsset
-  | FontAsset;
+  | FontAsset
+  | ParticlesAsset;
 
 /** The assets edited as a node graph – what the graph canvas and the graph commands work on. */
-export type GraphAsset = BehaviorAsset | StateMachineAsset | ShaderAsset;
+export type GraphAsset = BehaviorAsset | StateMachineAsset | ShaderAsset | ParticlesAsset;
+
+const GRAPH_TYPES: ReadonlySet<AssetType> = new Set(['behavior', 'statemachine', 'shader', 'particles']);
 
 export function isGraphAsset(asset: Asset): asset is GraphAsset {
-  return asset.type === 'behavior' || asset.type === 'statemachine' || asset.type === 'shader';
+  return GRAPH_TYPES.has(asset.type);
 }
 
 export function isSceneAsset(asset: Asset): asset is SceneAsset {

src/core/model/AssetTypes.ts

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ export const ASSET_TYPES = [
   'statemachine',
   'shader',
   'font',
+  'particles',
 ] as const;
 
 export type AssetType = (typeof ASSET_TYPES)[number];
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ export const ASSET_TYPE_LABELS: Record<AssetType, string> = {
   statemachine: 'State machine',
   shader: 'Shader',
   font: 'Font',
+  particles: 'Particles',
 };
 
 /**

src/core/particles/compile.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,165 @@
+import { edgesInto, findNode, type Graph, type GraphNode } from '../graph/Graph';
+import { nodeDef, type PortDef } from '../graph/NodeRegistry';
+import type { FlatDef } from '../properties/PropertySchema';
+import {
+  isParticlePropertyNode,
+  isValidParticlePropertyName,
+  particleParamDefs,
+  propertyNameOf,
+} from '../properties/particles';
+import {
+  isParticleNodeDef,
+  PARTICLE_OUTPUT,
+  PARTICLE_OUTPUTS,
+  PARTICLE_TIME,
+  type ParticleEnv,
+  type ParticleExpr,
+  type ParticleOutputKey,
+} from './nodes';
+
+/** What one particle is drawn with, everything relative to its source. */
+export type ParticleOut = Record<ParticleOutputKey, number>;
+
+export interface CompiledParticles {
+  /** The rows the graph adds to every source placed from this asset, in node order. */
+  params: FlatDef<'number'>[];
+  /** A Time node reaches the Output: the whole field moves, not just the particles in it. */
+  time: boolean;
+  /** Fills `out` with the seven values for this particle. */
+  evaluate(env: ParticleEnv, out: ParticleOut): void;
+}
+
+export interface ParticlesBuild {
+  /** Null while the graph has a problem – the source then emits nothing. */
+  compiled: CompiledParticles | null;
+  /** Per node id, what keeps the graph from compiling. */
+  problems: Record<string, string>;
+  /** One line for the tab: empty once compiled. */
+  reason: string;
+}
+
+/**
+ * What the motion depends on and nothing else: node ids, types, params and declared ports, and
+ * which port feeds which. Positions and folding are the editor's, so a moved node does not compile
+ * again – the same rule the shader fingerprint follows (#65).
+ */
+export function particlesFingerprint(graph: Graph): string {
+  return JSON.stringify({
+    nodes: graph.nodes.map((n) => [n.id, n.type, n.params, n.ports ?? null]),
+    edges: graph.edges.map((e) => [e.from.node, e.from.port, e.to.node, e.to.port]),
+  });
+}
+
+/**
+ * A particle graph to one function per output: every node reachable from the Output becomes one
+ * local per output, in dependency order, so a node feeding two others is evaluated once per
+ * particle. There is no interpreter and no eval – the compiler composes closures.
+ */
+export function compileParticles(graph: Graph): ParticlesBuild {
+  const problems: Record<string, string> = {};
+  const problem = (node: GraphNode, text: string) => {
+    if (!(node.id in problems)) problems[node.id] = text;
+  };
+
+  const names = new Set<string>();
+  for (const node of graph.nodes) {
+    if (!isParticlePropertyNode(node)) continue;
+    const name = propertyNameOf(node);
+    if (!isValidParticlePropertyName(name))
+      problem(node, 'Name must be one word: letters, digits, _ – and not one of the source’s own rows');
+    else if (names.has(name)) problem(node, `Another property is named "${name}"`);
+    names.add(name);
+  }
+
+  const params = particleParamDefs(graph);
+  const paramIndex = (name: string) => params.findIndex((row) => row.key === name);
+
+  const ops: ParticleExpr[] = [];
+  const emitted = new Map<string, Record<string, ParticleExpr>>();
+  const visiting = new Set<string>();
+
+  const emitNode = (node: GraphNode): Record<string, ParticleExpr> | null => {
+    const done = emitted.get(node.id);
+    if (done) return done;
+    if (visiting.has(node.id)) {
+      problem(node, 'Feeds itself');
+      return null;
+    }
+    const def = nodeDef(node.type);
+    if (!def || !isParticleNodeDef(def)) {
+      problem(node, 'Not a particle node');
+      return null;
+    }
+    visiting.add(node.id);
+    const inputs: Record<string, ParticleExpr> = {};
+    let complete = true;
+    for (const port of def.inputs) {
+      const expr = input(node, port);
+      if (expr) inputs[port.key] = expr;
+      else complete = false;
+    }
+    visiting.delete(node.id);
+    if (!complete) return null;
+    const outputs: Record<string, ParticleExpr> = {};
+    for (const [key, expr] of Object.entries(
+      def.emit(inputs, node.params, { nodeId: node.id, paramIndex }),
+    )) {
+      const slot = ops.length;
+      ops.push(expr);
+      outputs[key] = (_env, locals) => locals[slot]!;
+    }
+    emitted.set(node.id, outputs);
+    return outputs;
+  };
+
+  /** What feeds an input: the edge's source, the typed-in value, or what the node says (`unfed`). */
+  const input = (node: GraphNode, port: PortDef): ParticleExpr | null => {
+    const edge = edgesInto(graph, node.id, port.key)[0];
+    if (edge) {
+      const source = findNode(graph, edge.from.node);
+      const outputs = source && emitNode(source);
+      return outputs?.[edge.from.port] ?? null;
+    }
+    if (port.field) {
+      const typed = Number(node.params[port.key] ?? port.default ?? 0);
+      const value = Number.isFinite(typed) ? typed : 0;
+      return () => value;
+    }
+    const def = nodeDef(node.type);
+    const unfed = def && isParticleNodeDef(def) ? def.unfed?.[port.key] : undefined;
+    return unfed ?? (() => 0);
+  };
+
+  const output = graph.nodes.find((n) => n.type === PARTICLE_OUTPUT);
+  if (!output) return { compiled: null, problems, reason: 'No Output node' };
+  const outputDef = nodeDef(PARTICLE_OUTPUT)!;
+  const reads: ParticleExpr[] = [];
+  for (const key of PARTICLE_OUTPUTS) {
+    const port = outputDef.inputs.find((p) => p.key === key)!;
+    const expr = input(output, port);
+    if (!expr) break;
+    reads.push(expr);
+  }
+
+  const first = graph.nodes.find((n) => n.id in problems);
+  if (first || reads.length !== PARTICLE_OUTPUTS.length)
+    return { compiled: null, problems, reason: first ? problems[first.id]! : 'Cannot compile' };
+
+  const locals = new Float64Array(ops.length);
+  const time = graph.nodes.some((n) => n.type === PARTICLE_TIME && emitted.has(n.id));
+  const compiled: CompiledParticles = {
+    params,
+    time,
+    evaluate(env, out) {
+      // In dependency order, so every local a later op reads is already filled.
+      for (let i = 0; i < ops.length; i++) locals[i] = ops[i]!(env, locals);
+      for (let i = 0; i < PARTICLE_OUTPUTS.length; i++) out[PARTICLE_OUTPUTS[i]!] = reads[i]!(env, locals);
+    },
+  };
+  return { compiled, problems, reason: '' };
+}
+
+/** A particle whose graph says nothing: at the source, full size, the source's own colour. */
+export function emptyParticleOut(): ParticleOut {
+  return { x: 0, y: 0, scaleX: 1, scaleY: 1, rotation: 0, color: 0xffffff, alpha: 1 };
+}

src/core/particles/emission.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+import type { EmitMode } from '../properties/particles';
+
+/** What the source's own rows say about how many particles there are and for how long. */
+export interface EmitterSettings {
+  mode: EmitMode;
+  /** Continuous: particles per second. */
+  rate: number;
+  /** Burst: how many go out at once. */
+  count: number;
+  /** Seconds one particle lives. */
+  lifetime: number;
+  /** The most that may be alive at once; the oldest are the ones dropped. */
+  max: number;
+}
+
+/** Which particles are alive, as a range of indices – `to < from` is none. Both ends inclusive. */
+export interface LiveRange {
+  from: number;
+  to: number;
+}
+
+export const NO_PARTICLES: LiveRange = { from: 0, to: -1 };
+
+/**
+ * When particle `index` was born, in seconds since the source started. A continuous source emits on
+ * a fixed grid – particle n is born at n/rate – which is what makes the whole field a function of
+ * time rather than of how many frames have gone by. A burst is every particle at once.
+ */
+export function birthTime(settings: EmitterSettings, index: number): number {
+  if (settings.mode === 'burst') return 0;
+  return settings.rate > 0 ? index / settings.rate : 0;
+}
+
+/**
+ * The particles alive at `time`. `emitUntil` is how far the source was still emitting: switched off,
+ * it stops taking in new ones while the ones in flight live out their lives.
+ */
+export function liveRange(settings: EmitterSettings, time: number, emitUntil = time): LiveRange {
+  const { lifetime, max } = settings;
+  if (lifetime <= 0 || max < 1 || time < 0) return NO_PARTICLES;
+  if (settings.mode === 'burst') {
+    const count = Math.min(Math.floor(settings.count), Math.floor(max));
+    if (count < 1 || time >= lifetime || emitUntil < 0) return NO_PARTICLES;
+    return { from: 0, to: count - 1 };
+  }
+  const rate = settings.rate;
+  if (rate <= 0) return NO_PARTICLES;
+  const newest = Math.floor(Math.min(time, emitUntil) * rate);
+  if (newest < 0) return NO_PARTICLES;
+  // Born no earlier than one lifetime ago: `n/rate > time - lifetime`.
+  const oldest = Math.max(0, Math.floor((time - lifetime) * rate) + 1);
+  if (oldest > newest) return NO_PARTICLES;
+  return { from: Math.max(oldest, newest - Math.floor(max) + 1), to: newest };
+}
+
+export function liveCount(range: LiveRange): number {
+  return Math.max(0, range.to - range.from + 1);
+}

src/core/particles/nodes.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,523 @@
+import type { NodeDef, PortDef } from '../graph/NodeRegistry';
+import { type PropertyBag, textOf } from '../model/Properties';
+import { flatDef } from '../properties/PropertySchema';
+import {
+  PARTICLE_PROPERTY,
+  PROPERTY_DEFAULT_PARAM,
+  PROPERTY_MAX_PARAM,
+  PROPERTY_MIN_PARAM,
+  PROPERTY_NAME_PARAM,
+  propertyNameOf,
+} from '../properties/particles';
+
+/** What one particle is, at one moment: everything a graph may read about it. */
+export interface ParticleEnv {
+  /** 0 at birth, 1 at the end of its lifetime. */
+  age: number;
+  /** The same, in seconds – what the formulas of a fall are written in. */
+  ageSeconds: number;
+  /** Seconds since the source started emitting; the same for every particle alive. */
+  time: number;
+  /** Which particle this is, counting up from the first the source ever emitted. */
+  index: number;
+  /** Fixed for the particle's whole life: what makes two of them differ. */
+  seed: number;
+  /** The source's own Color row, which is what an unconnected colour output reads. */
+  color: number;
+  /** The values of the graph's Property nodes, in the order the compiler declared them. */
+  params: readonly number[];
+}
+
+/**
+ * One output of one node, as a function of the particle. `locals` holds the outputs already
+ * computed this evaluation, so a node feeding two others is evaluated once (see `compile.ts`).
+ */
+export type ParticleExpr = (env: ParticleEnv, locals: Float64Array) => number;
+
+/** What a node may need beyond its inputs: which node it is, and where its parameter's value lands. */
+export interface ParticleEmitContext {
+  nodeId: string;
+  /** The slot in `env.params` this graph's parameter of that name was given. */
+  paramIndex(name: string): number;
+}
+
+/**
+ * A node of a particle graph. It never runs as a behavior does: `emit` builds the function each of
+ * its outputs is. Every value is a number – a colour is a packed 0xRRGGBB one, as everywhere else
+ * in the project.
+ */
+export interface ParticleNodeDef extends NodeDef {
+  category: 'particles';
+  emit(
+    inputs: Record<string, ParticleExpr>,
+    params: PropertyBag,
+    ctx: ParticleEmitContext,
+  ): Record<string, ParticleExpr>;
+  /** What an input with nothing to type on reads while unconnected; without it, zero. */
+  unfed?: Record<string, ParticleExpr>;
+}
+
+export function isParticleNodeDef(def: NodeDef): def is ParticleNodeDef {
+  return def.category === 'particles' && 'emit' in def;
+}
+
+export const PARTICLE_OUTPUT = 'ParticleOutput';
+export const PARTICLE_RANDOM = 'ParticleRandom';
+export const PARTICLE_TIME = 'ParticleTime';
+
+/** The seven things a particle is drawn with – every output of the Output node. */
+export const PARTICLE_OUTPUTS = ['x', 'y', 'scaleX', 'scaleY', 'rotation', 'color', 'alpha'] as const;
+
+export type ParticleOutputKey = (typeof PARTICLE_OUTPUTS)[number];
+
+const DEG = Math.PI / 180;
+const NUMBER_STEP = 0.1;
+
+/**
+ * A particle's own random number, 0..1: fixed for its whole life, and different per node, so the
+ * direction and the speed of one particle are not the same draw. Mixing `salt` in is what separates
+ * the nodes; the node's id is hashed into it, so an edit elsewhere in the graph does not reshuffle it.
+ */
+export function random01(seed: number, salt: number): number {
+  let h = (seed ^ salt) >>> 0;
+  h = Math.imul(h ^ (h >>> 16), 0x45d9f3b) >>> 0;
+  h = Math.imul(h ^ (h >>> 16), 0x45d9f3b) >>> 0;
+  h = (h ^ (h >>> 16)) >>> 0;
+  return h / 0x100000000;
+}
+
+export function hashId(id: string): number {
+  let h = 0x811c9dc5;
+  for (let i = 0; i < id.length; i++) h = Math.imul(h ^ id.charCodeAt(i), 0x01000193) >>> 0;
+  return h >>> 0;
+}
+
+const numberOut = (key: string): PortDef => ({ key, label: key, type: 'number' });
+
+/** A number input with an inline value, so a constant needs no node of its own. */
+const numberIn = (key: string, value: number, step = NUMBER_STEP): PortDef => ({
+  key,
+  label: key,
+  type: 'number',
+  default: value,
+  field: { key, label: key, kind: 'number', default: value, step },
+});
+
+/** A number input carrying a colour: the field is a swatch, the value a packed 0xRRGGBB. */
+const colorIn = (key: string, value = 0xffffff): PortDef => ({
+  key,
+  label: key,
+  type: 'number',
+  default: value,
+  field: flatDef(key, 'color', { label: key, value }),
+});
+
+const constant =
+  (value: number): ParticleExpr =>
+  () =>
+    value;
+
+function source(type: string, label: string, key: string, description: string, read: ParticleExpr) {
+  const def: ParticleNodeDef = {
+    type,
+    label,
+    category: 'particles',
+    description,
+    inputs: [],
+    outputs: [numberOut(key)],
+    params: [],
+    emit: () => ({ [key]: read }),
+  };
+  return def;
+}
+
+export const ParticleAge = source(
+  'ParticleAge',
+  'Age',
+  'age',
+  'How far through its life this particle is: 0 when it is born, 1 when it dies.',
+  (env) => env.age,
+);
+
+export const ParticleAgeSeconds = source(
+  'ParticleAgeSeconds',
+  'Age in seconds',
+  'seconds',
+  'How long this particle has been alive, in seconds – the t of a formula of motion.',
+  (env) => env.ageSeconds,
+);
+
+export const ParticleTimeNode = source(
+  PARTICLE_TIME,
+  'Time',
+  'seconds',
+  'Seconds since the source started emitting. The same for every particle alive, so it drifts them together.',
+  (env) => env.time,
+);
+
+export const ParticleIndex = source(
+  'ParticleIndex',
+  'Index',
+  'index',
+  'Which particle this is, counting up from the first one the source emitted: a fan or a ring instead of a scatter.',
+  (env) => env.index,
+);
+
+/** Two Randoms give one particle two different draws – that is what the node id in the salt is for. */
+export const ParticleRandom: ParticleNodeDef = {
+  type: PARTICLE_RANDOM,
+  label: 'Random',
+  category: 'particles',
+  description:
+    'A number drawn once per particle and kept for its whole life. Two Random nodes draw differently, so direction and speed can scatter apart.',
+  inputs: [numberIn('min', 0), numberIn('max', 1)],
+  outputs: [numberOut('value')],
+  params: [],
+  emit: ({ min, max }, _params, ctx) => {
+    const salt = hashId(ctx.nodeId);
+    return {
+      value: (env, locals) => {
+        const lo = min!(env, locals);
+        return lo + random01(env.seed, salt) * (max!(env, locals) - lo);
+      },
+    };
+  },
+};
+
+/**
+ * The offset gravity has added by now: ½·g·t². Written as a node because a formula, unlike a
+ * simulation, has to say the whole fall rather than the force behind it.
+ */
+export const ParticleGravity: ParticleNodeDef = {
+  type: 'ParticleGravity',
+  label: 'Gravity',
+  category: 'particles',
+  description:
+    'How far a steady pull has moved the particle by now, down being positive: ½ × strength × age². Add it to the offset.',
+  inputs: [numberIn('strength', 800, 10)],
+  outputs: [numberOut('x'), numberOut('y')],
+  params: [],
+  emit: ({ strength }) => ({
+    x: constant(0),
+    y: (env, locals) => 0.5 * strength!(env, locals) * env.ageSeconds * env.ageSeconds,
+  }),
+};
+
+/** The offset a constant speed has added by now: v₀·t, aimed by an angle in degrees. */
+export const ParticleStartVelocity: ParticleNodeDef = {
+  type: 'ParticleStartVelocity',
+  label: 'Start velocity',
+  category: 'particles',
+  description:
+    'How far the particle has flown at a steady speed: angle in degrees (0 is right, 90 is down), speed in pixels per second.',
+  inputs: [numberIn('angle', 0, 1), numberIn('speed', 200, 10)],
+  outputs: [numberOut('x'), numberOut('y')],
+  params: [],
+  emit: ({ angle, speed }) => ({
+    x: (env, locals) => Math.cos(angle!(env, locals) * DEG) * speed!(env, locals) * env.ageSeconds,
+    y: (env, locals) => Math.sin(angle!(env, locals) * DEG) * speed!(env, locals) * env.ageSeconds,
+  }),
+};
+
+export const ParticleNumber: ParticleNodeDef = {
+  type: 'ParticleNumber',
+  label: 'Number',
+  category: 'particles',
+  description: 'A constant number.',
+  inputs: [],
+  outputs: [numberOut('value')],
+  params: [{ key: 'value', label: 'Value', kind: 'number', default: 0, step: NUMBER_STEP }],
+  emit: (_inputs, params) => ({ value: constant(Number(params.value ?? 0) || 0) }),
+};
+
+export const ParticleColor: ParticleNodeDef = {
+  type: 'ParticleColor',
+  label: 'Color',
+  category: 'particles',
+  description: 'A constant colour.',
+  inputs: [],
+  outputs: [numberOut('color')],
+  params: [flatDef('value', 'color', { label: 'Value', value: 0xffffff })],
+  emit: (_inputs, params) => ({ color: constant(Number(params.value ?? 0xffffff) || 0) }),
+};
+
+/** `name` is a row on every source placed from this asset, and a value here. */
+export const ParticleProperty: ParticleNodeDef = {
+  type: PARTICLE_PROPERTY,
+  label: 'Property',
+  category: 'particles',
+  description: 'A number the source sets: a property row on the placed source, and a value here.',
+  inputs: [],
+  outputs: [numberOut('value')],
+  params: [
+    flatDef(PROPERTY_NAME_PARAM, 'text', { label: 'Name', value: 'value' }),
+    { key: PROPERTY_DEFAULT_PARAM, label: 'Default', kind: 'number', default: 0, step: NUMBER_STEP },
+    { key: PROPERTY_MIN_PARAM, label: 'Min', kind: 'number', default: 0, step: NUMBER_STEP },
+    { key: PROPERTY_MAX_PARAM, label: 'Max', kind: 'number', default: 1, step: NUMBER_STEP },
+  ],
+  derivePorts: ({ node }) => ({ label: propertyNameOf(node) || ParticleProperty.label }),
+  emit: (_inputs, params, ctx) => {
+    // The slot is bound once, here: reading it per particle would cost a lookup by name each time.
+    const slot = ctx.paramIndex(paramNameOf(params));
+    return { value: slot < 0 ? constant(0) : (env) => env.params[slot] ?? 0 };
+  },
+};
+
+/**
+ * Where the particle is, how big, how turned and what colour – all of it relative to the source.
+ * An unconnected input leaves that part of the particle as it would be without a graph.
+ */
+export const ParticleOutput: ParticleNodeDef = {
+  type: PARTICLE_OUTPUT,
+  label: 'Output',
+  category: 'particles',
+  description:
+    'What the particle looks like: x and y offset it from the source, the scales multiply its size, rotation turns it, colour tints it and alpha fades it.',
+  inputs: [
+    { key: 'x', label: 'x', type: 'number', inline: false },
+    { key: 'y', label: 'y', type: 'number', inline: false },
+    { key: 'scaleX', label: 'scaleX', type: 'number', inline: false },
+    { key: 'scaleY', label: 'scaleY', type: 'number', inline: false },
+    { key: 'rotation', label: 'rotation', type: 'number', inline: false },
+    { key: 'color', label: 'color', type: 'number', inline: false },
+    { key: 'alpha', label: 'alpha', type: 'number', inline: false },
+  ],
+  outputs: [],
+  params: [],
+  unfed: {
+    x: constant(0),
+    y: constant(0),
+    scaleX: constant(1),
+    scaleY: constant(1),
+    rotation: constant(0),
+    color: (env) => env.color,
+    alpha: constant(1),
+  },
+  emit: () => ({}),
+};
+
+function arithmetic(
+  type: string,
+  label: string,
+  description: string,
+  bDefault: number,
+  op: (a: number, b: number) => number,
+): ParticleNodeDef {
+  return {
+    type,
+    label,
+    category: 'particles',
+    description,
+    inputs: [numberIn('a', bDefault === 1 ? 1 : 0), numberIn('b', bDefault)],
+    outputs: [numberOut('result')],
+    params: [],
+    emit: ({ a, b }) => ({ result: (env, locals) => op(a!(env, locals), b!(env, locals)) }),
+  };
+}
+
+export const ParticleAdd = arithmetic('ParticleAdd', 'Add', 'a + b.', 0, (a, b) => a + b);
+export const ParticleSubtract = arithmetic('ParticleSubtract', 'Subtract', 'a − b.', 0, (a, b) => a - b);
+export const ParticleMultiply = arithmetic('ParticleMultiply', 'Multiply', 'a × b.', 1, (a, b) => a * b);
+/** Division by zero would give Infinity, which draws as nothing at all; it reads as 0 instead. */
+export const ParticleDivide = arithmetic('ParticleDivide', 'Divide', 'a ÷ b; ÷ 0 is 0.', 1, (a, b) =>
+  b === 0 ? 0 : a / b,
+);
+
+function unary(type: string, label: string, description: string, fn: (v: number) => number) {
+  const def: ParticleNodeDef = {
+    type,
+    label,
+    category: 'particles',
+    description,
+    inputs: [numberIn('value', 0)],
+    outputs: [numberOut('result')],
+    params: [],
+    emit: ({ value }) => ({ result: (env, locals) => fn(value!(env, locals)) }),
+  };
+  return def;
+}
+
+export const ParticleSin = unary(
+  'ParticleSin',
+  'Sin',
+  'The sine of an angle in degrees: a wave between −1 and 1, one full turn every 360.',
+  (v) => Math.sin(v * DEG),
+);
+export const ParticleCos = unary(
+  'ParticleCos',
+  'Cos',
+  'The cosine of an angle in degrees: the same wave as Sin, a quarter turn ahead.',
+  (v) => Math.cos(v * DEG),
+);
+export const ParticleSqrt = unary(
+  'ParticleSqrt',
+  'Sqrt',
+  'The square root: rises fast at first and then slows down, which is how smoke drifts up. Below 0 it is 0.',
+  (v) => (v > 0 ? Math.sqrt(v) : 0),
+);
+export const ParticleAbs = unary(
+  'ParticleAbs',
+  'Abs',
+  'The distance from 0, sign dropped: −0.3 becomes 0.3.',
+  Math.abs,
+);
+export const ParticleFloor = unary(
+  'ParticleFloor',
+  'Floor',
+  'Rounds down to a whole number: 2.75 becomes 2.',
+  Math.floor,
+);
+export const ParticleFract = unary(
+  'ParticleFract',
+  'Fract',
+  'The part after the decimal point: a rising value becomes a sawtooth from 0 to 1.',
+  (v) => v - Math.floor(v),
+);
+
+export const ParticleMin: ParticleNodeDef = {
+  type: 'ParticleMin',
+  label: 'Min',
+  category: 'particles',
+  description: 'The smaller of two numbers.',
+  inputs: [numberIn('a', 0), numberIn('b', 0)],
+  outputs: [numberOut('result')],
+  params: [],
+  emit: ({ a, b }) => ({ result: (env, locals) => Math.min(a!(env, locals), b!(env, locals)) }),
+};
+
+export const ParticleMax: ParticleNodeDef = {
+  type: 'ParticleMax',
+  label: 'Max',
+  category: 'particles',
+  description: 'The larger of two numbers.',
+  inputs: [numberIn('a', 0), numberIn('b', 0)],
+  outputs: [numberOut('result')],
+  params: [],
+  emit: ({ a, b }) => ({ result: (env, locals) => Math.max(a!(env, locals), b!(env, locals)) }),
+};
+
+export const ParticleClamp: ParticleNodeDef = {
+  type: 'ParticleClamp',
+  label: 'Clamp',
+  category: 'particles',
+  description: 'Holds a value between min and max: below min it is min, above max it is max.',
+  inputs: [numberIn('value', 0), numberIn('min', 0), numberIn('max', 1)],
+  outputs: [numberOut('result')],
+  params: [],
+  emit: ({ value, min, max }) => ({
+    result: (env, locals) => Math.min(Math.max(value!(env, locals), min!(env, locals)), max!(env, locals)),
+  }),
+};
+
+export const ParticleMix: ParticleNodeDef = {
+  type: 'ParticleMix',
+  label: 'Mix',
+  category: 'particles',
+  description: 'Blends from a to b: t = 0 is a, t = 1 is b, beyond that it carries on.',
+  inputs: [numberIn('a', 0), numberIn('b', 1), numberIn('t', 0.5)],
+  outputs: [numberOut('result')],
+  params: [],
+  emit: ({ a, b, t }) => ({
+    result: (env, locals) => {
+      const from = a!(env, locals);
+      return from + (b!(env, locals) - from) * t!(env, locals);
+    },
+  }),
+};
+
+/**
+ * Colours are packed numbers, so blending them is a channel-by-channel job a plain Mix cannot do –
+ * mixing 0xff0000 and 0x0000ff as numbers would run through green.
+ */
+export const ParticleMixColor: ParticleNodeDef = {
+  type: 'ParticleMixColor',
+  label: 'Mix color',
+  category: 'particles',
+  description: 'Blends two colours channel by channel: t = 0 is a, t = 1 is b. A flame fading to smoke.',
+  inputs: [colorIn('a', 0xffffff), colorIn('b', 0x000000), numberIn('t', 0.5)],
+  outputs: [numberOut('color')],
+  params: [],
+  emit: ({ a, b, t }) => ({
+    color: (env, locals) => mixColor(a!(env, locals), b!(env, locals), t!(env, locals)),
+  }),
+};
+
+export function mixColor(a: number, b: number, t: number): number {
+  const k = t < 0 ? 0 : t > 1 ? 1 : t;
+  const channel = (shift: number) => {
+    const from = (a >> shift) & 0xff;
+    const value = Math.round(from + (((b >> shift) & 0xff) - from) * k);
+    return (value < 0 ? 0 : value > 255 ? 255 : value) << shift;
+  };
+  return channel(16) | channel(8) | channel(0);
+}
+
+export const ParticleStep: ParticleNodeDef = {
+  type: 'ParticleStep',
+  label: 'Step',
+  category: 'particles',
+  description: '0 while value is below edge, 1 from edge on: a hard cut.',
+  inputs: [numberIn('edge', 0.5), numberIn('value', 0)],
+  outputs: [numberOut('result')],
+  params: [],
+  emit: ({ edge, value }) => ({
+    result: (env, locals) => (value!(env, locals) < edge!(env, locals) ? 0 : 1),
+  }),
+};
+
+/** Negative bases have no real power, so the value is held at 0 there, as the shader's Pow does. */
+export const ParticlePow: ParticleNodeDef = {
+  type: 'ParticlePow',
+  label: 'Pow',
+  category: 'particles',
+  description:
+    'value to the power of exponent: 2 squares it, 0.5 is the square root. Below 0 the value counts as 0.',
+  inputs: [numberIn('value', 0), numberIn('exponent', 2)],
+  outputs: [numberOut('result')],
+  params: [],
+  emit: ({ value, exponent }) => ({
+    result: (env, locals) => Math.pow(Math.max(value!(env, locals), 0), exponent!(env, locals)),
+  }),
+};
+
+/** Every node a particle graph offers. Registered by `graph/nodes`, offered by no behavior palette. */
+export const PARTICLE_NODES: readonly ParticleNodeDef[] = [
+  ParticleAge,
+  ParticleAgeSeconds,
+  ParticleTimeNode,
+  ParticleIndex,
+  ParticleRandom,
+  ParticleGravity,
+  ParticleStartVelocity,
+  ParticleOutput,
+  ParticleProperty,
+  ParticleNumber,
+  ParticleColor,
+  ParticleAdd,
+  ParticleSubtract,
+  ParticleMultiply,
+  ParticleDivide,
+  ParticleMin,
+  ParticleMax,
+  ParticleClamp,
+  ParticleMix,
+  ParticleMixColor,
+  ParticleSin,
+  ParticleCos,
+  ParticleSqrt,
+  ParticleAbs,
+  ParticleFloor,
+  ParticleFract,
+  ParticleStep,
+  ParticlePow,
+];
+
+/** The name a Property node placed from the palette gets: `value`, then `value2`, `value3` … */
+export function nextParticlePropertyName(taken: ReadonlySet<string>): string {
+  if (!taken.has('value')) return 'value';
+  for (let n = 2; ; n++) if (!taken.has(`value${n}`)) return `value${n}`;
+}
+
+export function paramNameOf(params: PropertyBag): string {
+  return textOf(params[PROPERTY_NAME_PARAM] ?? '');
+}

src/core/properties/PropertySchema.ts

@@ -23,6 +23,20 @@ import { findAssetOf, type Project } from '../model/Project';
 import type { SceneObject } from '../model/SceneObject';
 import { flatListOf, listItemOf } from './listItems';
 import { FONT_KEY } from './fonts';
+import {
+  BURST_COUNT_KEY,
+  EMITTING_KEY,
+  LIFETIME_KEY,
+  MAX_PARTICLES_KEY,
+  MODE_KEY,
+  MODE_OPTIONS,
+  MOVE_WITH_SOURCE_KEY,
+  PARTICLE_COLOR_KEY,
+  PARTICLE_SIZE_KEY,
+  PARTICLE_TEXTURE_KEY,
+  particleParamDefs,
+  RATE_KEY,
+} from './particles';
 import { SHADER_KEY, shaderOf, shaderParamDefs } from './shaders';
 
 /**
@@ -109,7 +123,13 @@ export const TRANSFORM_PROPS: PropertySchema = [
 ];
 
 /** Cameras and behaviors are placed by the chain but have no look of their own to turn or size. */
-const TRANSFORM_TYPES: ReadonlySet<AssetType> = new Set(['sprite', 'text', 'collider', 'container']);
+const TRANSFORM_TYPES: ReadonlySet<AssetType> = new Set([
+  'sprite',
+  'text',
+  'collider',
+  'container',
+  'particles',
+]);
 
 export function hasTransformProps(type: AssetType): boolean {
   return TRANSFORM_TYPES.has(type);
@@ -192,6 +212,28 @@ const ASSET_SCHEMAS: Record<AssetType, PropertySchema> = {
   shader: [],
   // The typeface itself is intrinsic data on the asset (see FontAsset), not a property.
   font: [],
+  // How many particles and for how long; what one of them does is the asset's graph, whose Property
+  // nodes add their rows after these – see `schemaForBag`.
+  particles: [
+    { key: EMITTING_KEY, label: 'Emitting', kind: 'boolean', default: true },
+    { key: MODE_KEY, label: 'Mode', kind: 'enum', default: 'continuous', options: MODE_OPTIONS },
+    { key: RATE_KEY, label: 'Rate', kind: 'number', default: 20, min: 0, step: 1 },
+    { key: BURST_COUNT_KEY, label: 'Burst count', kind: 'number', default: 20, min: 0, step: 1, decimals: 0 },
+    { key: LIFETIME_KEY, label: 'Lifetime', kind: 'number', default: 1, min: 0.01, step: 0.1 },
+    {
+      key: MAX_PARTICLES_KEY,
+      label: 'Max particles',
+      kind: 'number',
+      default: 500,
+      min: 1,
+      step: 50,
+      decimals: 0,
+    },
+    { key: PARTICLE_SIZE_KEY, label: 'Size', kind: 'number', default: 16, min: 0.1, step: 1 },
+    { key: PARTICLE_TEXTURE_KEY, label: 'Texture', kind: 'texture', default: '' },
+    { key: PARTICLE_COLOR_KEY, label: 'Color', kind: 'color', default: 0xffffff },
+    { key: MOVE_WITH_SOURCE_KEY, label: 'Move with source', kind: 'boolean', default: false },
+  ],
   collider: [
     {
       key: 'shape',
@@ -260,6 +302,8 @@ export function schemaForObject(project: Project, asset: Asset, object: SceneObj
 function schemaForBag(project: Project, asset: Asset, bag: PropertyBag): PropertySchema {
   if (asset.type === 'behavior') return [...FULL_SCHEMAS.behavior, ...asset.variables];
   if (asset.type === 'sprite') return [...FULL_SCHEMAS.sprite, ...shaderParamRows(project, shaderOf(bag))];
+  // Unlike a sprite's shader, a source's graph is its own asset's, so no id has to be looked up.
+  if (asset.type === 'particles') return [...FULL_SCHEMAS.particles, ...particleParamDefs(asset.graph)];
   return FULL_SCHEMAS[asset.type];
 }
 

src/core/properties/bounds.ts

@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ const TEXT_DEFAULTS = defaultsFor('text');
 /** Symbol sizes in world units. */
 export const BEHAVIOR_SYMBOL = 28;
 export const CONTAINER_SYMBOL = 24;
+export const PARTICLES_SYMBOL = 24;
 
 /** Rough width of one character relative to the font size, for a plain sans. */
 const CHAR_WIDTH = 0.55;
@@ -59,6 +60,10 @@ export function footprintOf(type: AssetType, props: PropertyBag): { w: number; h
       return { w: BEHAVIOR_SYMBOL, h: BEHAVIOR_SYMBOL };
     case 'container':
       return { w: CONTAINER_SYMBOL, h: CONTAINER_SYMBOL };
+    // The particles themselves are drawn wherever the graph puts them; what can be grabbed and
+    // framed is the source, which is a point with a handle around it.
+    case 'particles':
+      return { w: PARTICLES_SYMBOL, h: PARTICLES_SYMBOL };
     default:
       return cameraFrame(props);
   }

src/core/properties/particles.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+import type { Graph, GraphNode } from '../graph/Graph';
+import { type PropertyBag, textOf } from '../model/Properties';
+import { type FlatDef, isValidFieldName } from './PropertySchema';
+
+/** The node of a particle graph that declares a parameter: a row on every source placed from the asset. */
+export const PARTICLE_PROPERTY = 'ParticleProperty';
+export const PROPERTY_NAME_PARAM = 'name';
+export const PROPERTY_DEFAULT_PARAM = 'default';
+export const PROPERTY_MIN_PARAM = 'min';
+export const PROPERTY_MAX_PARAM = 'max';
+
+/** The rows a particle source has of its own, before the ones its graph declares. */
+export const EMITTING_KEY = 'emitting';
+export const MODE_KEY = 'mode';
+export const RATE_KEY = 'rate';
+export const BURST_COUNT_KEY = 'count';
+export const LIFETIME_KEY = 'lifetime';
+export const MAX_PARTICLES_KEY = 'maxParticles';
+export const PARTICLE_SIZE_KEY = 'size';
+export const PARTICLE_TEXTURE_KEY = 'texture';
+export const PARTICLE_COLOR_KEY = 'color';
+export const MOVE_WITH_SOURCE_KEY = 'moveWithSource';
+
+export type EmitMode = 'continuous' | 'burst';
+
+export const MODE_OPTIONS: { value: EmitMode; label: string }[] = [
+  { value: 'continuous', label: 'Continuous' },
+  { value: 'burst', label: 'Burst' },
+];
+
+export function emitModeOf(props: PropertyBag): EmitMode {
+  return textOf(props[MODE_KEY] ?? '') === 'burst' ? 'burst' : 'continuous';
+}
+
+export function isParticlePropertyNode(node: GraphNode): boolean {
+  return node.type === PARTICLE_PROPERTY;
+}
+
+export function propertyNameOf(node: GraphNode): string {
+  return textOf(node.params[PROPERTY_NAME_PARAM] ?? '');
+}
+
+/**
+ * A parameter's name is a property key on the source, so it has to be an identifier – and not one of
+ * the source's own rows, which would put two rows of that name in one inspector.
+ */
+export function isValidParticlePropertyName(name: string): boolean {
+  return isValidFieldName(name) && !RESERVED_KEYS.has(name);
+}
+
+const RESERVED_KEYS: ReadonlySet<string> = new Set([
+  EMITTING_KEY,
+  MODE_KEY,
+  RATE_KEY,
+  BURST_COUNT_KEY,
+  LIFETIME_KEY,
+  MAX_PARTICLES_KEY,
+  PARTICLE_SIZE_KEY,
+  PARTICLE_TEXTURE_KEY,
+  PARTICLE_COLOR_KEY,
+  MOVE_WITH_SOURCE_KEY,
+]);
+
+/**
+ * The parameters a particle graph declares, in node order: one number row per `Property` node with
+ * a usable name. A second node of the same name declares nothing new – both read the one value.
+ */
+export function particleParamDefs(graph: Graph): FlatDef<'number'>[] {
+  const rows: FlatDef<'number'>[] = [];
+  const seen = new Set<string>();
+  for (const node of graph.nodes) {
+    if (!isParticlePropertyNode(node)) continue;
+    const name = propertyNameOf(node);
+    if (!isValidParticlePropertyName(name) || seen.has(name)) continue;
+    seen.add(name);
+    rows.push(propertyRow(name, node.params));
+  }
+  return rows;
+}
+
+function propertyRow(name: string, params: PropertyBag): FlatDef<'number'> {
+  const min = numberParam(params, PROPERTY_MIN_PARAM, 0);
+  const max = numberParam(params, PROPERTY_MAX_PARAM, 1);
+  const row: FlatDef<'number'> = {
+    key: name,
+    label: name,
+    kind: 'number',
+    default: numberParam(params, PROPERTY_DEFAULT_PARAM, 0),
+    min,
+    step: niceStep(max > min ? max - min : 1),
+  };
+  // A max at or below the min would pin the value; treated as "no max" instead.
+  return max > min ? { ...row, max } : row;
+}
+
+function numberParam(params: PropertyBag, key: string, fallback: number): number {
+  const n = Number(params[key]);
+  return Number.isFinite(n) ? n : fallback;
+}
+
+function niceStep(range: number): number {
+  return 10 ** Math.floor(Math.log10(range)) / 20;
+}

src/core/store/serialize.ts

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import {
   nodeDef,
   STATE,
 } from '../graph';
+import { isParticleNodeDef } from '../particles/nodes';
 import { isShaderNodeDef } from '../shader/nodes';
 import type { Asset, TextureFrame } from '../model/Asset';
 import { isAssetType } from '../model/AssetTypes';
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@ import {
   type StructFieldDef,
   variableDef,
 } from '../properties/PropertySchema';
+import { particleParamDefs } from '../properties/particles';
 import { SHADER_KEY, shaderParamDefs } from '../properties/shaders';
 
 /**
@@ -64,6 +66,7 @@ export function deserializeProject(raw: unknown, fallbackId = ''): Project {
   const rawProps = new Map<string, Record<string, unknown>>();
   const shaderGraphs = new Map<string, Graph>();
   const shaderRows = new Map<string, PropertyDef[]>();
+  const particleGraphs = new Map<string, Graph>();
   for (const a of rawAssets) {
     if (typeof a.id !== 'string' || !a.id || !isAssetType(a.type)) continue;
     rawProps.set(a.id, asRecord(a.props));
@@ -71,6 +74,12 @@ export function deserializeProject(raw: unknown, fallbackId = ''): Project {
       const vars = normalizeVariables(a.variables);
       variables.set(a.id, vars);
       schemas.set(a.id, [...COMMON_PROPS, ...vars]);
+    } else if (a.type === 'particles') {
+      // A source's rows end with its own graph's parameters, so the graph is needed before the
+      // overrides of the objects placed from it can be coerced.
+      const graph = normalizeGraph(a.graph, isParticleNodeDef);
+      particleGraphs.set(a.id, graph);
+      schemas.set(a.id, [...schemaFor('particles'), ...particleParamDefs(graph)]);
     } else {
       if (a.type === 'shader') {
         const graph = normalizeGraph(a.graph, isShaderNodeDef);
@@ -115,6 +124,8 @@ export function deserializeProject(raw: unknown, fallbackId = ''): Project {
       assets.push({ id, type, name, props, graph: normalizeGraph(a.graph, (def) => def.type === STATE) });
     } else if (type === 'shader') {
       assets.push({ id, type, name, props, graph: shaderGraphs.get(id) ?? createEmptyGraph() });
+    } else if (type === 'particles') {
+      assets.push({ id, type, name, props, graph: particleGraphs.get(id) ?? createEmptyGraph() });
     } else if (type === 'texture') {
       assets.push({ id, type, name, props, ...normalizeTexture(a, takenIds) });
     } else if (type === 'font') {

src/editor/Editor.ts

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import { HierarchyPanel } from './panels/HierarchyPanel';
 import { Toolbar } from './panels/Toolbar';
 import { type PlayHost, PlaySession, type WorldSnapshot } from './PlaySession';
 import { ProjectSession } from './ProjectSession';
+import { ParticlesEditor } from './particles/ParticlesEditor';
 import { ShaderEditor } from './shader/ShaderEditor';
 import { StateMachineEditor } from './statemachine/StateMachineEditor';
 import { installShortcuts } from './shortcuts';
@@ -29,7 +30,16 @@ import { TextureEditor } from './texture/TextureEditor';
 import { installFileImport } from './fileImport';
 
 export type CentreTab =
-  'scene' | 'graph' | 'statemachine' | 'shader' | 'game' | 'texture' | 'animation' | 'container' | 'list';
+  | 'scene'
+  | 'graph'
+  | 'statemachine'
+  | 'shader'
+  | 'particles'
+  | 'game'
+  | 'texture'
+  | 'animation'
+  | 'container'
+  | 'list';
 
 const TAB_ORDER = [
   'scene',
@@ -37,6 +47,7 @@ const TAB_ORDER = [
   'graph',
   'statemachine',
   'shader',
+  'particles',
   'texture',
   'animation',
   'container',
@@ -49,6 +60,7 @@ const TAB_LABELS: Record<CentreTab, string> = {
   graph: 'Behavior',
   statemachine: 'State machine',
   shader: 'Shader',
+  particles: 'Particles',
   texture: 'Texture',
   animation: 'Animation',
   container: 'Container',
@@ -61,6 +73,7 @@ const TAB_OF_ASSET: Partial<Record<AssetType, CentreTab>> = {
   behavior: 'graph',
   statemachine: 'statemachine',
   shader: 'shader',
+  particles: 'particles',
   texture: 'texture',
   animation: 'animation',
   container: 'container',
@@ -87,6 +100,7 @@ export class Editor implements PlayHost {
   readonly graphEditor: GraphEditor;
   readonly stateMachineEditor: StateMachineEditor;
   readonly shaderEditor: ShaderEditor;
+  readonly particlesEditor: ParticlesEditor;
   readonly textureEditor: TextureEditor;
   readonly animationEditor: AnimationEditor;
   readonly containerEditor: ContainerEditor;
@@ -129,6 +143,7 @@ export class Editor implements PlayHost {
     this.graphEditor = new GraphEditor(state);
     this.stateMachineEditor = new StateMachineEditor(state);
     this.shaderEditor = new ShaderEditor(state);
+    this.particlesEditor = new ParticlesEditor(state);
     this.textureEditor = new TextureEditor(state);
     this.animationEditor = new AnimationEditor(state);
     this.containerEditor = new ContainerEditor(state);
@@ -175,6 +190,7 @@ export class Editor implements PlayHost {
       graph: this.graphEditor,
       statemachine: this.stateMachineEditor,
       shader: this.shaderEditor,
+      particles: this.particlesEditor,
       texture: this.textureEditor,
       animation: this.animationEditor,
       container: this.containerEditor,
@@ -233,7 +249,9 @@ export class Editor implements PlayHost {
           ? 'statemachine'
           : state.selectedShaderId
             ? 'shader'
-            : 'graph';
+            : state.selectedParticlesId
+              ? 'particles'
+              : 'graph';
         if (this.tab !== tab) this.showTab(tab);
       }
       if (s?.kind === 'frame' && this.tab !== 'texture') this.showTab('texture');
@@ -305,6 +323,7 @@ export class Editor implements PlayHost {
     this.gameView.animate();
     this.console.refresh();
     if (this.tab === 'animation') this.animationEditor.tick(dt);
+    if (this.tab === 'particles') this.particlesEditor.tick();
   }
 
   private measureFps(dt: number): void {

src/editor/debugHook.ts

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { resolveObjects } from '../core/model/instance';
 import { findObjectHolder } from '../core/model/Project';
 import type { FrameRect } from '../core/model/texture';
 import { activeDrag, Button, ui, Widget } from '../ui';
+import { particleLibrary } from '../viewport/ParticleLibrary';
 import { shaderLibrary } from '../viewport/ShaderLibrary';
 import { textureLibrary } from '../viewport/TextureLibrary';
 import type { CentreTab, Editor } from './Editor';
@@ -280,6 +281,26 @@ export function installDebugHook(app: Application, state: EditorState, editor: E
       center: () => centreOf(editor.stateMachineEditor.canvas),
       snapping: () => editor.stateMachineEditor.canvas.snapEnabled,
     },
+    particles: {
+      current: () => editor.particlesEditor.currentAssetId,
+      pickerAt: () => centreOf(editor.particlesEditor.picker),
+      info: () => editor.particlesEditor.shownInfo,
+      nodeAt: (nodeId: string) => editor.particlesEditor.canvas.nodeGlobal(nodeId),
+      nodeLabel: (nodeId: string) => editor.particlesEditor.canvas.nodeLabel(nodeId),
+      nodeRect: (nodeId: string) => editor.particlesEditor.canvas.nodeRect(nodeId),
+      nodeProblem: (nodeId: string) => editor.particlesEditor.canvas.nodeProblem(nodeId),
+      canvasRect: () => editor.particlesEditor.canvas.canvasRect(),
+      emptySpot: () => editor.particlesEditor.canvas.emptySpotGlobal(),
+      center: () => centreOf(editor.particlesEditor.canvas),
+      /** The strip below the graph: how many particles it draws and which second it stands at. */
+      preview: () => ({
+        count: editor.particlesEditor.preview.count,
+        time: Math.round(editor.particlesEditor.preview.time * 100) / 100,
+        holding: editor.particlesEditor.preview.holding,
+      }),
+      /** Jumps the preview to a second – exact, because a particle is a function of its age. */
+      hold: (at: number | null) => editor.particlesEditor.preview.hold(at),
+    },
     shader: {
       current: () => editor.shaderEditor.currentAssetId,
       pickerAt: () => centreOf(editor.shaderEditor.picker),
@@ -425,6 +446,17 @@ export function installDebugHook(app: Application, state: EditorState, editor: E
     },
     /** Holds the shader clock at `at` seconds, so a Time shader's pixels can be measured; null releases it. */
     shaderTime: (at: number | null) => shaderLibrary.freezeTime(at),
+    /** The same for particle time, kept apart so one can be held without the other. */
+    particleTime: (at: number | null) => particleLibrary.freezeTime(at),
+    particleCompiles: () => particleLibrary.compiles,
+    /** Every source's clock back to zero on the current (usually frozen) second. */
+    particlesRestart: () => {
+      viewport.restartParticles(particleLibrary.now());
+      gameView.restartParticles(particleLibrary.now());
+    },
+    /** What a source is drawing in the scene tab, or in the game view while playing. */
+    particlesOf: (objectId: string, where: 'scene' | 'game' = 'scene', limit = 8) =>
+      (where === 'game' ? gameView : viewport).particleInfo(objectId, limit),
     /** Graphs compiled so far; a moved node must not add one (#65). */
     shaderCompiles: () => shaderLibrary.compiles,
     /** Which views redraw every tick because a Time shader is on screen. */

src/editor/graph/GraphCanvas.ts

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import {
 } from '../../core/graph';
 import type { GraphAsset } from '../../core/model/Asset';
 import { graphLookup } from '../../core/model/graphLookup';
+import { particleLibrary } from '../../viewport/ParticleLibrary';
 import { shaderLibrary } from '../../viewport/ShaderLibrary';
 import { findAsset, findGraphAsset } from '../../core/model/Project';
 import { type Trace, TRACE_FADE } from '../../runtime/systems/BehaviorSystem';
@@ -219,8 +220,13 @@ export class GraphCanvas extends Widget {
     }
     const seen = new Set<string>();
     const lookup = graphLookup(this.state.project);
-    // A shader node's problem is the compiler's, not a call's.
-    const shaderProblems = asset.type === 'shader' ? shaderLibrary.buildFor(asset).problems : null;
+    // In a compiled graph a node's problem is the compiler's, not a call's.
+    const compilerProblems =
+      asset.type === 'shader'
+        ? shaderLibrary.buildFor(asset).problems
+        : asset.type === 'particles'
+          ? particleLibrary.buildFor(asset).problems
+          : null;
     for (const node of asset.graph.nodes) {
       const def = resolveDef(node, asset.graph, lookup);
       if (!def) continue;
@@ -233,8 +239,8 @@ export class GraphCanvas extends Widget {
         this.views.set(node.id, view);
         this.nodeLayer.addChild(view);
       }
-      const problem = shaderProblems
-        ? (shaderProblems[node.id] ?? null)
+      const problem = compilerProblems
+        ? (compilerProblems[node.id] ?? null)
         : callProblem(node, lookup, asset.id);
       view.sync(node, asset.graph, this.state.project, def, problem);
     }

src/editor/graph/NodeView.ts

@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ export function categoryColor(category: NodeCategory): number {
       return c.categoryState;
     case 'shader':
       return c.categoryShader;
+    case 'particles':
+      return c.categoryParticles;
   }
 }
 

src/editor/graph/paletteEntries.ts

@@ -15,7 +15,14 @@ import type { GraphAsset } from '../../core/model/Asset';
 import { graphLookup } from '../../core/model/graphLookup';
 import type { PropertyBag } from '../../core/model/Properties';
 import type { Project } from '../../core/model/Project';
+import {
+  isParticlePropertyNode,
+  PARTICLE_PROPERTY,
+  PROPERTY_NAME_PARAM as PARTICLE_NAME_PARAM,
+  propertyNameOf,
+} from '../../core/properties/particles';
 import { nextPropertyName, PROPERTY_NAME_PARAM, SHADER_PROPERTY } from '../../core/properties/shaders';
+import { nextParticlePropertyName, PARTICLE_NODES, PARTICLE_OUTPUT } from '../../core/particles/nodes';
 import { SHADER_NODES, SHADER_OUTPUT } from '../../core/shader/nodes';
 
 /**
@@ -48,9 +55,19 @@ export function paletteEntries(project: Project, asset: GraphAsset): PaletteEntr
       return { id: def.type, hint: def.category, def, params };
     });
   }
+  if (asset.type === 'particles') {
+    const hasOutput = asset.graph.nodes.some((n) => n.type === PARTICLE_OUTPUT);
+    const taken = new Set(asset.graph.nodes.filter(isParticlePropertyNode).map(propertyNameOf));
+    return PARTICLE_NODES.filter((def) => def.type !== PARTICLE_OUTPUT || !hasOutput).map((def) => {
+      const params: PropertyBag =
+        def.type === PARTICLE_PROPERTY ? { [PARTICLE_NAME_PARAM]: nextParticlePropertyName(taken) } : {};
+      return { id: def.type, hint: def.category, def, params };
+    });
+  }
   const entries: PaletteEntry[] = [];
   for (const def of allNodeDefs()) {
-    if (def.type === RUN_BEHAVIOR || def.category === 'state' || def.category === 'shader') continue;
+    if (def.type === RUN_BEHAVIOR || def.category === 'state') continue;
+    if (def.category === 'shader' || def.category === 'particles') continue;
     if (isTerminalType(def.type) && terminalNode(asset.graph, def.type)) continue;
     entries.push({ id: def.type, hint: def.category, def, params: {} });
   }

src/editor/particles/ParticlePreview.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+import { Container, Graphics, Texture } from 'pixi.js';
+import type { ParticlesAsset } from '../../core/model/Asset';
+import { translation } from '../../core/model/matrix';
+import type { PropertyBag } from '../../core/model/Properties';
+import { defaultsFor } from '../../core/properties/PropertySchema';
+import { type Size, Theme, Widget } from '../../ui';
+import { ParticleField } from '../../viewport/particles';
+import { particleLibrary } from '../../viewport/ParticleLibrary';
+
+const MIN_HEIGHT = 40;
+
+/**
+ * The asset's own particles, emitted from the middle of the strip by a source with the type's
+ * default rows. It is the one place a formula graph can be judged: the numbers say nothing. The
+ * picture is deliberately a plain square – which texture a source throws belongs to the placed
+ * object, not to the asset the tab is showing.
+ */
+export class ParticlePreview extends Widget {
+  private readonly bg = new Graphics();
+  private readonly content = new Container();
+  private readonly clip = new Graphics();
+  private readonly field = new ParticleField();
+  private asset: ParticlesAsset | null = null;
+  /** Null: the preview runs on the library clock. A number: it stands at that second. */
+  private held: number | null = null;
+
+  constructor() {
+    super();
+    this.minHeight = MIN_HEIGHT;
+    this.content.addChild(this.field.container);
+    this.content.mask = this.clip;
+    this.addChild(this.bg, this.content, this.clip);
+  }
+
+  override measure(): Size {
+    return { w: Math.max(this.minWidth, 100), h: Math.max(this.minHeight, MIN_HEIGHT) };
+  }
+
+  show(asset: ParticlesAsset | null): void {
+    this.asset = asset;
+    this.invalidate();
+  }
+
+  /** Seconds the shown source has been emitting, whether held or running. */
+  get time(): number {
+    return this.held ?? Math.max(0, this.field.elapsed(particleLibrary.now()));
+  }
+
+  get holding(): boolean {
+    return this.held !== null;
+  }
+
+  hold(at: number | null): void {
+    this.held = at;
+    this.invalidate();
+  }
+
+  restart(): void {
+    this.field.restart(particleLibrary.now());
+    this.invalidate();
+  }
+
+  /** How many particles the preview is drawing – what the checks read. */
+  get count(): number {
+    return this.field.count;
+  }
+
+  override redraw(): void {
+    const c = Theme.colors;
+    // A ground of its own and a rule along the top: on the graph's own background the strip was
+    // invisible as a thing, and a particle standing still read as a node that had lost its box.
+    this.bg.clear().rect(0, 0, this.w, this.h).fill(c.panel);
+    this.bg.rect(0, 0, this.w, 1).fill(c.border);
+    this.clip.clear().rect(0, 0, this.w, this.h).fill(0xffffff);
+    this.field.container.visible = this.asset !== null;
+    if (!this.asset) return;
+    const build = particleLibrary.buildFor(this.asset);
+    const rows = build.compiled?.params ?? [];
+    const props = previewProps(rows);
+    const params = rows.map((row) => Number(props[row.key] ?? row.default));
+    // The source sits in the middle of the strip; a fountain then has room above and below it.
+    const m = translation(this.w / 2, this.h / 2);
+    this.field.sync(build.compiled, props, params, m, Texture.WHITE, this.clock());
+  }
+
+  /** Holding at second t means handing the field a clock that reads exactly t since it started. */
+  private clock(): number {
+    const now = particleLibrary.now();
+    if (this.held === null) return now;
+    return now - this.field.elapsed(now) + this.held;
+  }
+
+  override destroy(): void {
+    this.field.destroy();
+    super.destroy();
+  }
+}
+
+/** A source as the asset alone describes it: the type's defaults, the graph's parameters at theirs. */
+function previewProps(params: readonly { key: string; default: number }[]): PropertyBag {
+  const props = defaultsFor('particles');
+  for (const row of params) props[row.key] = row.default;
+  return props;
+}

src/editor/particles/ParticlesEditor.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+import type { Asset, ParticlesAsset } from '../../core/model/Asset';
+import { LIFETIME_KEY } from '../../core/properties/particles';
+import { defaultsFor } from '../../core/properties/PropertySchema';
+import { particleLibrary } from '../../viewport/ParticleLibrary';
+import { Button, clamp, HStack, Label, Slider, Spacer, Splitter, Theme } from '../../ui';
+import { AssetTabEditor } from '../AssetTabEditor';
+import { GraphCanvas } from '../graph/GraphCanvas';
+import { SnapToggle } from '../graph/SnapToggle';
+import type { EditorState } from '../state';
+import { ParticlePreview } from './ParticlePreview';
+
+/** Room kept for "N parameters", or for the reason the graph does not compile. */
+const INFO_WIDTH = 220;
+/** How far the time slider reaches: three lifetimes, so a particle's whole arc fits with room after. */
+const SPAN_LIFETIMES = 3;
+const MIN_SPAN = 2;
+/** The strip can be dragged shut to its bar and open to half a tall window. */
+const MIN_PREVIEW = 60;
+const MAX_PREVIEW = 500;
+
+/**
+ * The nodes of one particle asset, above a strip that actually emits them. A formula graph cannot be
+ * read as a picture, so the tab shows one – and because every particle is a function of its age, the
+ * slider can jump to any second exactly, without simulating the way there.
+ */
+export class ParticlesEditor extends AssetTabEditor<ParticlesAsset, GraphCanvas> {
+  readonly preview = new ParticlePreview();
+  private readonly snap = new SnapToggle(() => this.canvas);
+  private readonly slider = new Slider(0, 0, MIN_SPAN, 140);
+  private readonly holdButton = new Button('Hold', { onClick: () => this.toggleHold() });
+  private readonly timeLabel = new Label('0.00 s', { style: 'small' });
+  readonly splitter = new Splitter('y');
+  private span = MIN_SPAN;
+  private previewHeight = 180;
+
+  constructor(state: EditorState) {
+    super(state, { noun: 'Particles', infoWidth: INFO_WIDTH });
+    this.slider.onChange = (value) => {
+      this.preview.hold(value);
+      this.syncTime();
+    };
+    this.mount(new GraphCanvas(state, 'particles'), this.snap.widgets);
+    // The clock belongs to the strip, not to the asset, so its controls sit above the strip: the
+    // header is already carrying the picker, Snap, Fit and the readout.
+    const bar = new HStack({ gap: Theme.gap, padding: Theme.padding, align: 'center' });
+    bar.minHeight = Theme.controlHeight + Theme.padding * 2;
+    bar.add(new Label('Preview', { style: 'muted' }));
+    bar.add(this.holdButton);
+    bar.add(this.slider);
+    bar.add(this.timeLabel);
+    bar.add(new Button('Restart', { onClick: () => this.preview.restart() }));
+    bar.add(new Spacer(), 1);
+    // Draggable like the console: how much of the tab is graph and how much is picture is a matter
+    // of what is being worked on, and on a short window a fixed strip eats the canvas.
+    this.splitter.onDrag = (delta) => {
+      this.previewHeight = clamp(this.previewHeight - delta, MIN_PREVIEW, MAX_PREVIEW);
+      this.preview.minHeight = this.previewHeight;
+      this.relayout();
+    };
+    this.add(this.splitter);
+    this.add(bar);
+    this.preview.minHeight = this.previewHeight;
+    this.add(this.preview);
+    state.on('mode', () => this.refresh());
+  }
+
+  /** Called every frame while the tab is showing: the strip is a moving picture. */
+  tick(): void {
+    this.preview.invalidate();
+    if (!this.preview.holding) this.syncTime();
+  }
+
+  private toggleHold(): void {
+    this.preview.hold(this.preview.holding ? null : this.preview.time);
+    this.holdButton.setText(this.preview.holding ? 'Run' : 'Hold');
+    this.syncTime();
+  }
+
+  private syncTime(): void {
+    const time = this.preview.time;
+    this.timeLabel.setText(`${time.toFixed(2)} s`);
+    if (!this.preview.holding) this.slider.setValue(time % this.span);
+  }
+
+  protected override selectedId(): string {
+    return this.state.selectedParticlesId ?? '';
+  }
+
+  protected override isMine(asset: Asset): asset is ParticlesAsset {
+    return asset.type === 'particles';
+  }
+
+  protected override infoText(asset: ParticlesAsset): string {
+    const build = particleLibrary.buildFor(asset);
+    if (!build.compiled) return build.reason;
+    const count = build.compiled.params.length;
+    return `${count} ${count === 1 ? 'parameter' : 'parameters'}`;
+  }
+
+  protected override syncExtras(asset: ParticlesAsset | null): void {
+    this.snap.setEnabled(Boolean(asset));
+    this.preview.show(asset);
+    const lifetime = Number(defaultsFor('particles')[LIFETIME_KEY] ?? 1);
+    this.span = Math.max(MIN_SPAN, lifetime * SPAN_LIFETIMES);
+    this.slider.setRange(0, this.span);
+  }
+}

src/editor/state.ts

@@ -376,7 +376,12 @@ export class EditorState {
     return this.selectedGraphId('shader');
   }
 
-  private selectedGraphId(type: 'behavior' | 'statemachine' | 'shader'): string | null {
+  /** The particle asset the selection refers to: the asset, a placed source, or one of its nodes. */
+  get selectedParticlesId(): string | null {
+    return this.selectedGraphId('particles');
+  }
+
+  private selectedGraphId(type: 'behavior' | 'statemachine' | 'shader' | 'particles'): string | null {
     const s = this.selection;
     if (!s) return null;
     if (s.kind === 'frame') return null;

src/editor/viewport/WorldViewport.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,12 @@
-import { Container, type FederatedPointerEvent, Graphics, type Mesh, Text, TextStyle } from 'pixi.js';
+import {
+  Container,
+  type FederatedPointerEvent,
+  Graphics,
+  type Mesh,
+  Text,
+  Texture,
+  TextStyle,
+} from 'pixi.js';
 import { isSymbolType } from '../../core/model/AssetTypes';
 import { type Extent, scaleOf } from '../../core/model/matrix';
 import { sortByZ, type Vec2, textOf } from '../../core/model/Properties';
@@ -8,6 +16,10 @@ import type { EditorState } from '../state';
 import { type Size, Theme, Widget } from '../../ui';
 import { fontLibrary } from '../../viewport/FontLibrary';
 import type { DrawItem } from '../../viewport/items';
+import { hashId } from '../../core/particles/nodes';
+import { ParticleField } from '../../viewport/particles';
+import { particleLibrary } from '../../viewport/ParticleLibrary';
+import { SHEET_EDGE } from '../../core/shader/nodes';
 import { shaderLibrary } from '../../viewport/ShaderLibrary';
 import { type ShaderSource, wornShader } from '../../viewport/shaders';
 import {
@@ -39,6 +51,8 @@ export abstract class WorldViewport extends Widget {
   private readonly texts = new Map<string, Text>();
   /** Pictures of sprite items: siblings as well, each right under its node. */
   private readonly sprites = new Map<string, Mesh>();
+  /** The drawn particles of each source, one container – and one draw call – per source. */
+  private readonly fields = new Map<string, ParticleField>();
   private visibleCount = 0;
   private animated = false;
   protected lastItems: DrawItem[] = [];
@@ -99,6 +113,40 @@ export abstract class WorldViewport extends Widget {
     return { rendering: this.currentView() !== null, visibleItems: this.visibleCount };
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The particles of one source as drawn, in world units, oldest first – what a check reads instead
+   * of guessing from pixels. `limit` keeps a stream of 500 from becoming 500 lines of JSON.
+   */
+  particleInfo(
+    objectId: string,
+    limit = 8,
+  ): {
+    count: number;
+    drawn: { x: number; y: number; scaleX: number; alpha: number; tint: number }[];
+  } | null {
+    const field = this.fields.get(objectId);
+    if (!field || !field.container.visible) return null;
+    return {
+      count: field.count,
+      drawn: field.container.particleChildren.slice(0, limit).map((p) => ({
+        x: Math.round(p.x * 100) / 100,
+        y: Math.round(p.y * 100) / 100,
+        scaleX: Math.round(p.scaleX * 1000) / 1000,
+        alpha: Math.round(p.alpha * 1000) / 1000,
+        tint: p.tint,
+      })),
+    };
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Starts every source's clock over at `now`. With particle time frozen this is what makes a
+   * measurement exact: freeze, restart, move the clock to the second wanted, read.
+   */
+  restartParticles(now: number): void {
+    for (const field of this.fields.values()) field.restart(now);
+    this.redraw();
+  }
+
   /** True after a redraw that drew a sprite wearing a Time shader: the picture moves by itself. */
   get animates(): boolean {
     return this.animated;
@@ -179,8 +227,9 @@ export abstract class WorldViewport extends Widget {
       const size = footprintOf(item.type, item.props);
       const extent = footprintExtent(item.type, item.props, item.m);
       // A switched-off object is not drawn at all, in the scene view as in the game; it is
-      // selected and switched back on from the hierarchy panel.
-      const onScreen = item.enabled && rectsIntersect(extent, bounds);
+      // selected and switched back on from the hierarchy panel. A source is never culled by its
+      // own little square: its particles may be anywhere on screen while it is not.
+      const onScreen = item.enabled && (item.type === 'particles' || rectsIntersect(extent, bounds));
       let node = this.nodes.get(item.id);
       if (!node) {
         node = new Graphics();
@@ -195,6 +244,7 @@ export abstract class WorldViewport extends Widget {
       this.syncDecorations(item, onScreen, view.scale, extent);
       this.syncText(item, onScreen, view.scale);
       this.syncSprite(item, onScreen, size, shaders);
+      this.syncParticles(item, onScreen);
       if (!onScreen) continue;
       this.visibleCount++;
       drawItem(node, item, size, view.scale * scaleOf(placementOf(item.type, item.m)));
@@ -207,6 +257,8 @@ export abstract class WorldViewport extends Widget {
       const sprite = this.sprites.get(id);
       if (sprite) disposeSpriteMesh(sprite);
       this.sprites.delete(id);
+      this.fields.get(id)?.destroy();
+      this.fields.delete(id);
       node.destroy();
       this.nodes.delete(id);
       this.disposeDecorations(id);
@@ -230,9 +282,46 @@ export abstract class WorldViewport extends Widget {
       if (node) this.objects.addChild(node);
       const text = this.texts.get(item.id);
       if (text) this.objects.addChild(text);
+      const field = this.fields.get(item.id);
+      if (field) this.objects.addChild(field.container);
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The particles of one source. Their positions are world units, like everything else under
+   * `objects`, so the container itself carries no transform: the source's own goes into each
+   * particle, which is what lets one stay where it was born while its source flies on.
+   */
+  private syncParticles(item: DrawItem, onScreen: boolean): void {
+    let field = this.fields.get(item.id);
+    if (item.type !== 'particles' || !item.particles || !onScreen) {
+      if (field) field.container.visible = false;
+      return;
+    }
+    if (!field) {
+      field = new ParticleField();
+      this.fields.set(item.id, field);
+      this.objects.addChild(field.container);
+    }
+    field.container.visible = true;
+    // A source is a moving picture by definition, so the view keeps redrawing while one is on screen.
+    this.animated = true;
+    const build = particleLibrary.buildFor(item.particles);
+    const compiled = build.compiled;
+    const params = compiled ? compiled.params.map((row) => Number(item.props[row.key] ?? row.default)) : [];
+    const texture = item.texture ? textureLibrary.get(item.texture, SHEET_EDGE) : null;
+    field.sync(
+      compiled,
+      item.props,
+      params,
+      item.m,
+      texture ?? Texture.WHITE,
+      particleLibrary.now(),
+      item.emits,
+      hashId(item.id),
+    );
+  }
+
   private syncSprite(item: DrawItem, onScreen: boolean, size: Size, shaders: ShaderSource): void {
     let sprite = this.sprites.get(item.id);
     if (item.type !== 'sprite' || !onScreen) {

src/runtime/Entity.ts

@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ export interface Entity {
   parent: Entity | null;
   /** The animation a sprite wears and how far it is; kept out of `props`, which the world writes back. */
   animation?: AnimationClock;
+  /** How often an `Emit` node has restarted this particle source; out of `props` for the same reason. */
+  emits?: number;
 }
 
 export interface AnimationClock {

src/ui/Theme.ts

@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ export const Theme = {
     categoryAction: 0x2f6fd6,
     categoryState: 0x8e5ad6,
     categoryShader: 0x1f8f8f,
+    categoryParticles: 0xc26a1f,
     portExec: 0xffffff,
     portNumber: 0x6fcf97,
     portBoolean: 0xe57373,

src/ui/index.ts

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ export { Button, type ButtonOptions } from './widgets/Button';
 export { Dropdown } from './widgets/Dropdown';
 export { Checkbox } from './widgets/Checkbox';
 export { Panel } from './widgets/Panel';
+export { Slider } from './widgets/Slider';
 export { Splitter } from './widgets/Splitter';
 export { ScrollContainer } from './widgets/ScrollContainer';
 export { type DropSpot, ListView, type ListItem, type PickModifiers } from './widgets/ListView';

src/ui/widgets/Slider.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+import { type FederatedPointerEvent, Graphics } from 'pixi.js';
+import { clamp, centreY } from '../math';
+import { Theme } from '../Theme';
+import { Widget } from '../Widget';
+
+const TRACK_HEIGHT = 4;
+const KNOB_RADIUS = 6;
+
+/** A value picked by dragging along a track. Reports every step of the drag, not just the end. */
+export class Slider extends Widget {
+  private readonly bar = new Graphics();
+  private dragging = false;
+  onChange?: (value: number) => void;
+
+  constructor(
+    private value = 0,
+    private min = 0,
+    private max = 1,
+    width = 160,
+  ) {
+    super();
+    this.focusable = true;
+    this.cursor = Theme.hoverCursor;
+    this.minWidth = width;
+    this.minHeight = Theme.controlHeight;
+    this.addChild(this.bar);
+    this.trackHover();
+    this.on('pointerdown', (e: FederatedPointerEvent) => {
+      this.dragging = true;
+      this.pick(e);
+      e.stopPropagation();
+    });
+    this.on('globalpointermove', (e: FederatedPointerEvent) => {
+      if (this.dragging) this.pick(e);
+    });
+    this.onPointerRelease(() => {
+      this.dragging = false;
+      this.invalidate();
+    });
+  }
+
+  /** Does not fire `onChange`, unlike a drag. */
+  setValue(value: number): void {
+    const next = clamp(value, this.min, this.max);
+    if (next === this.value) return;
+    this.value = next;
+    this.invalidate();
+  }
+
+  setRange(min: number, max: number): void {
+    this.min = min;
+    this.max = max > min ? max : min + 1;
+    this.setValue(this.value);
+    this.invalidate();
+  }
+
+  get currentValue(): number {
+    return this.value;
+  }
+
+  private pick(e: FederatedPointerEvent): void {
+    const span = Math.max(1, this.w - KNOB_RADIUS * 2);
+    const at = clamp((e.global.x - this.getGlobalPosition().x - KNOB_RADIUS) / span, 0, 1);
+    const next = this.min + at * (this.max - this.min);
+    if (next === this.value) return;
+    this.value = next;
+    this.invalidate();
+    this.onChange?.(next);
+  }
+
+  override redraw(): void {
+    const c = Theme.colors;
+    const y = centreY(this.h, TRACK_HEIGHT);
+    const span = Math.max(1, this.w - KNOB_RADIUS * 2);
+    const at = KNOB_RADIUS + ((this.value - this.min) / (this.max - this.min)) * span;
+    this.bar.clear();
+    this.bar.rect(KNOB_RADIUS, y, span, TRACK_HEIGHT).fill(c.control);
+    this.bar.rect(KNOB_RADIUS, y, at - KNOB_RADIUS, TRACK_HEIGHT).fill(c.accent);
+    this.bar
+      .circle(at, this.h / 2, KNOB_RADIUS)
+      .fill(this.hovered || this.dragging ? c.controlHover : c.control)
+      .stroke({ width: 1, color: this.focused ? c.accent : c.border });
+  }
+}

src/viewport/ParticleLibrary.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+import type { ParticlesAsset } from '../core/model/Asset';
+import { compileParticles, type ParticlesBuild, particlesFingerprint } from '../core/particles/compile';
+
+/**
+ * Compiled particle graphs, one per asset, recompiled when the graph's content changes – the same
+ * contract the `ShaderLibrary` keeps, with a clock of its own so a test can hold particle time
+ * still without freezing the shaders too.
+ */
+export class ParticleLibrary {
+  private readonly builds = new Map<string, { fingerprint: string; build: ParticlesBuild }>();
+  /** How often a graph went through the compiler – what the checks read to prove a move did not. */
+  compiles = 0;
+  private readonly started = performance.now();
+  private frozenAt: number | null = null;
+
+  /** Seconds since the library came up – the clock every source's age is measured on. */
+  now(): number {
+    return this.frozenAt ?? (performance.now() - this.started) / 1000;
+  }
+
+  freezeTime(at: number | null): void {
+    this.frozenAt = at;
+  }
+
+  get frozen(): number | null {
+    return this.frozenAt;
+  }
+
+  buildFor(asset: ParticlesAsset): ParticlesBuild {
+    const fingerprint = particlesFingerprint(asset.graph);
+    const cached = this.builds.get(asset.id);
+    if (cached && cached.fingerprint === fingerprint) return cached.build;
+    this.compiles += 1;
+    const build = compileParticles(asset.graph);
+    this.builds.set(asset.id, { fingerprint, build });
+    return build;
+  }
+}
+
+export const particleLibrary = new ParticleLibrary();

src/viewport/items.ts

@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@ import { treeOrder } from '../core/model/hierarchy';
 import { resolvedHolder } from '../core/model/instance';
 import type { Mat } from '../core/model/matrix';
 import type { PropertyBag } from '../core/model/Properties';
-import { findAsset, type ObjectHolder, type Project } from '../core/model/Project';
+import type { ParticlesAsset } from '../core/model/Asset';
+import { findAsset, findAssetOf, type ObjectHolder, type Project } from '../core/model/Project';
 import { fontFileOf } from '../core/model/font';
 import { resolveTexture, type TextureRef } from '../core/model/texture';
 import { enabledAlongChain } from '../core/properties/enabled';
@@ -34,6 +35,10 @@ export interface DrawItem {
   texture: TextureRef | null;
   /** The typeface file a text wears, resolved here for the same reason; `''` is the default one. */
   font: string;
+  /** The asset a particle source emits from, for the same reason again: it carries the graph. */
+  particles: ParticlesAsset | null;
+  /** How often an `Emit` node has restarted this source; a change is what makes it start over. */
+  emits: number;
 }
 
 interface DrawList {
@@ -41,6 +46,12 @@ interface DrawList {
   background: number;
 }
 
+/** Both kinds of object that name a picture in `texture`: the sprite that wears it and the source
+ * that throws it. */
+function wearsPicture(type: AssetType): boolean {
+  return type === 'sprite' || type === 'particles';
+}
+
 /**
  * A scene or a container template, in tree order – the tie-break for equal `z` – at the editor
  * positions, with the content of placed containers resolved in. A container has no background of
@@ -70,8 +81,10 @@ export function collectHolderItems(
       props,
       parentId: object.parentId,
       enabled: true,
-      texture: asset.type === 'sprite' ? resolveTexture(project, props) : null,
+      texture: wearsPicture(asset.type) ? resolveTexture(project, props) : null,
       font: asset.type === 'text' ? fontFileOf(project, fontOf(props)) : '',
+      particles: asset.type === 'particles' ? asset : null,
+      emits: 0,
     });
   }
   const byId = new Map(items.map((i) => [i.id, i]));
@@ -104,8 +117,10 @@ export function collectWorldItems(world: World): DrawList {
       parentId: e.parent?.objectId ?? '',
       enabled: true,
       // Resolved per frame on purpose: a `Properties` node may swap `texture`, an animation runs.
-      texture: e.type === 'sprite' ? resolveTexture(world.project, e.props, animationTime(e)) : null,
+      texture: wearsPicture(e.type) ? resolveTexture(world.project, e.props, animationTime(e)) : null,
       font: e.type === 'text' ? fontFileOf(world.project, fontOf(e.props)) : '',
+      particles: e.type === 'particles' ? (findAssetOf(world.project, e.assetId, 'particles') ?? null) : null,
+      emits: e.emits ?? 0,
     }));
   return { items, background: world.backgroundColor };
 }

src/viewport/particles.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,179 @@
+import { Particle, ParticleContainer, type Texture } from 'pixi.js';
+import { type CompiledParticles, emptyParticleOut, type ParticleOut } from '../core/particles/compile';
+import { birthTime, type EmitterSettings, liveRange } from '../core/particles/emission';
+import type { ParticleEnv } from '../core/particles/nodes';
+import { type Mat, scaleOf } from '../core/model/matrix';
+import { booleanOf, type PropertyBag } from '../core/model/Properties';
+import {
+  BURST_COUNT_KEY,
+  emitModeOf,
+  EMITTING_KEY,
+  LIFETIME_KEY,
+  MAX_PARTICLES_KEY,
+  MOVE_WITH_SOURCE_KEY,
+  PARTICLE_COLOR_KEY,
+  PARTICLE_SIZE_KEY,
+  RATE_KEY,
+} from '../core/properties/particles';
+
+const DEG = Math.PI / 180;
+
+export function emitterSettings(props: PropertyBag): EmitterSettings {
+  return {
+    mode: emitModeOf(props),
+    rate: numberOf(props[RATE_KEY], 20),
+    count: numberOf(props[BURST_COUNT_KEY], 20),
+    lifetime: numberOf(props[LIFETIME_KEY], 1),
+    max: Math.max(1, numberOf(props[MAX_PARTICLES_KEY], 500)),
+  };
+}
+
+function numberOf(value: unknown, fallback: number): number {
+  const n = Number(value);
+  return Number.isFinite(n) ? n : fallback;
+}
+
+/**
+ * One particle source as it is drawn: a Pixi `ParticleContainer`, which puts all of them in a single
+ * draw call, plus the little state a formula cannot hold – when emission started and, for particles
+ * left behind in the world, where their source stood when they were born.
+ */
+export class ParticleField {
+  readonly container = new ParticleContainer<Particle>({
+    dynamicProperties: { position: true, vertex: true, rotation: true, color: true, uvs: false },
+  });
+  private readonly out: ParticleOut = emptyParticleOut();
+  private readonly pool: Particle[] = [];
+  /** Seconds, on the library's clock, at which this source last started emitting. */
+  private startedAt: number | null = null;
+  /** How far it was still taking in new particles: frozen while `emitting` is off. */
+  private emittedUntil = 0;
+  /** The source's transform when each particle was born, kept per index modulo the capacity. */
+  private born: Mat[] = [];
+  private capacity = 0;
+  private highest = -1;
+  /** The Emit count last seen; a change is a request to start over. */
+  private emits = -1;
+
+  constructor() {
+    this.container.eventMode = 'none';
+  }
+
+  /** Seconds the source has been emitting; -1 before it ever started. */
+  elapsed(now: number): number {
+    return this.startedAt === null ? -1 : now - this.startedAt;
+  }
+
+  /** Starts the clock over: a burst goes out again, a continuous stream begins at particle 0. */
+  restart(now: number): void {
+    this.startedAt = now;
+    this.emittedUntil = 0;
+    this.reset();
+  }
+
+  private reset(): void {
+    this.highest = -1;
+    this.born = [];
+    this.capacity = 0;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Brings the drawn particles up to `now`. Everything about one particle comes out of `compiled`;
+   * the only thing read from a frame is how far the clock has moved.
+   */
+  sync(
+    compiled: CompiledParticles | null,
+    props: PropertyBag,
+    params: readonly number[],
+    m: Mat,
+    texture: Texture,
+    now: number,
+    emits = 0,
+    /** Mixed into every particle's seed, so two sources of one asset do not scatter identically. */
+    salt = 0,
+  ): void {
+    const emitting = booleanOf(props[EMITTING_KEY] ?? true);
+    if (this.emits !== emits) {
+      // Not on the first sight of a source: that would throw its first burst away again.
+      if (this.emits >= 0) this.restart(now);
+      this.emits = emits;
+    }
+    if (this.startedAt === null) this.startedAt = now;
+    const time = now - this.startedAt;
+    if (emitting) this.emittedUntil = time;
+
+    const settings = emitterSettings(props);
+    const range = compiled ? liveRange(settings, time, this.emittedUntil) : { from: 0, to: -1 };
+    const capacity = Math.max(1, Math.floor(settings.max));
+    if (capacity !== this.capacity) {
+      this.capacity = capacity;
+      this.born = [];
+      this.highest = -1;
+    }
+    // Stepping back in time (the tab's slider) leaves birth places that no longer belong to anyone.
+    if (range.to < this.highest) this.highest = range.from - 1;
+    for (let i = Math.max(this.highest + 1, range.from); i <= range.to; i++) this.born[i % capacity] = m;
+    this.highest = Math.max(this.highest, range.to);
+
+    const moves = booleanOf(props[MOVE_WITH_SOURCE_KEY] ?? false);
+    const size = Math.max(0.01, numberOf(props[PARTICLE_SIZE_KEY], 16));
+    const sourceColor = numberOf(props[PARTICLE_COLOR_KEY], 0xffffff);
+    const baseW = texture.width || 1;
+    const baseH = texture.height || 1;
+    const env: ParticleEnv = {
+      age: 0,
+      ageSeconds: 0,
+      time,
+      index: 0,
+      seed: 0,
+      color: sourceColor,
+      params,
+    };
+
+    // The shader samples the container's own texture, not each particle's, so it has to be set here.
+    this.container.texture = texture;
+    const particles = this.container.particleChildren;
+    particles.length = 0;
+    if (compiled)
+      for (let index = range.from; index <= range.to; index++) {
+        const ageSeconds = time - birthTime(settings, index);
+        env.index = index;
+        env.seed = index ^ salt;
+        env.ageSeconds = ageSeconds;
+        env.age = settings.lifetime > 0 ? ageSeconds / settings.lifetime : 0;
+        compiled.evaluate(env, this.out);
+        const place = moves ? m : (this.born[index % capacity] ?? m);
+        const p = this.take(particles.length, texture);
+        p.texture = texture;
+        p.x = place.a * this.out.x + place.c * this.out.y + place.tx;
+        p.y = place.b * this.out.x + place.d * this.out.y + place.ty;
+        const scale = scaleOf(place);
+        p.scaleX = (size * this.out.scaleX * scale) / baseW;
+        p.scaleY = (size * this.out.scaleY * scale) / baseH;
+        p.rotation = this.out.rotation * DEG + Math.atan2(place.b, place.a);
+        p.tint = this.out.color;
+        p.alpha = this.out.alpha;
+        particles.push(p);
+      }
+    this.container.update();
+  }
+
+  /** Particles are reused rather than rebuilt: a stream of 500 would otherwise allocate 500 a frame. */
+  private take(slot: number, texture: Texture): Particle {
+    let p = this.pool[slot];
+    if (!p) {
+      p = new Particle({ texture, anchorX: 0.5, anchorY: 0.5 });
+      this.pool[slot] = p;
+    }
+    return p;
+  }
+
+  /** How many are drawn right now – what the checks read. */
+  get count(): number {
+    return this.container.particleChildren.length;
+  }
+
+  destroy(): void {
+    this.container.destroy();
+  }
+}

src/viewport/symbols.ts

@@ -84,6 +84,9 @@ export function drawItem(
   node.clear();
   node.hitArea = null;
   switch (item.type) {
+    // A source draws nothing of its own – what is seen of it are its particles. It still owns the
+    // square around its position, so it can be clicked and dragged like anything else.
+    case 'particles':
     case 'sprite':
       node.hitArea = new Rectangle(-size.w / 2, -size.h / 2, size.w, size.h);
       return;