UI patterns for data composition

Question

More specifically, I would like to create an interface which

1. Takes input from one or multiple sources.
2. Makes it possible to process on these inputs
3. Provides a way to capture the output.

One way I figured would be using something similar to Blender's composition nodes (https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&q=blender+compositing)

Now to my question,

• Are there any other recognized UI patterns which solves what I am attempting?
• Is there a more general name for the pattern used for Blender's composition nodes?

Answer 1

Takes input from one or multiple sources.

Makes it possible to process on these inputs

Provides a way to capture the output.

This sounds general enough to be simply computer programming, but it sounds like you want a GUI visual based programming language. There are many visual programming languages. Many of these VPLs, particularly of the dataflow variety, that could satisfy those 3 requirements you list, but none of them well established outside of rather specialized communities.

Here are some examples:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb483088.aspx

http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/

http://www.zaluum.com/

http://www.codemorphis.com/

http://osw.sourceforge.net/

Answer 2

Are there any other recognized UI patterns which solves what I am attempting?

Could your interface be related to Generative Design and Generative Modelling?

Another CAD Program Grasshopper for Rhino3D uses this type of interface as well.

Is there a more general name for the pattern used for Blender's composition nodes?

I don't know the pattern's name of such an interface but I can see how it could easily allow users to use any combination of "1." and "2." multiple times without a sequential order. As per your "3." It's up to you to find the best way to represent the output for your users.