The Bulka AI agent

Bulka AI is a built-in music assistant that helps you make music with code. The agent knows Strudel/TidalCycles and can write, edit and run code for you.

Features

• Providers to choose from: free OVHcloud with no key, OpenAI, Anthropic (Claude), Google Gemini, Z.AI, OpenRouter, local models (LM Studio / Ollama) and an external agent over MCP
• Full real-time streaming: answers appear as they are written
• Visible thinking: for models with extended thinking, the reasoning is shown
• Dynamic model list: models are loaded straight from the providers’ APIs
• Selection aware: select code and the agent focuses on it
• Docs search: the agent knows Strudel and can search the reference

Where is the agent?

The AI agent lives in the right panel of the editor. Open the Chat tab (chat icon) in the side panel to the right of the code editor.

Setting up an API key

Paid providers need an API key from one of them:

1. Open the Chat tab in the side panel
2. If no key is set, the settings panel opens automatically
3. Pick a provider (OpenAI, Anthropic or Google)
4. Enter your API key
5. Press Save

Where to get an API key?

• OpenAI: platform.openai.com/api-keys
• Anthropic: console.anthropic.com
• Google Gemini: aistudio.google.com/apikey

All keys are stored only locally in your browser.

Supported models

The model list is loaded automatically from each provider’s API.

Providers:

• OpenAI — GPT-5.2, GPT-5.1, GPT-5.1-Codex-Max
• Anthropic — Claude Opus 4.5, Claude Sonnet 4.5, Claude Haiku 4.5
• Google — Gemini 3 Pro, Gemini 2.5 Flash, Gemini 2.5 Pro
• Free (OVHcloud) — no API key, works straight from the browser (more)

What can the agent do?

Making music

Just describe what you want to make:

• “Make a simple beat with a kick and a snare”
• “Make a relaxing ambient track”
• “Write a drum and bass pattern at 174 BPM”

Editing code

The agent can change existing code:

• “Add a bass to the current track”
• “Make the hi-hats faster”
• “Add reverb to all instruments”

Explaining code

If it is unclear what the code does:

• “Explain what the current code does”
• “What does .lpf(800) mean?”

Working with a selection

Select part of the code in the editor and the agent works only with that fragment:

• “Change this fragment”
• “Add an effect to the selection”

Finding code

The agent can find and select the fragment you need:

• “Show where the volume is set”
• “Find where the bass is defined”

Hydra visuals

The agent can add visuals:

• “Add a Hydra visual”
• “Make a visual in sync with the music”

Agent tools

The agent uses dedicated tools to work with the editor:

Tool	Description
readCode()	Read the current code from the editor
setFullCode(code)	Replace all the code (for a new track)
editCode(search, replace)	Find and replace a code fragment
appendCode(code)	Append code at the end
playMusic()	Start playback
stopMusic()	Stop playback
searchDocs(query)	Search the Strudel docs
highlightCode(search)	Select a code fragment in the editor
getAvailablePacks() / getBankSamples(bank)	Which sounds and packs are loaded
getExamples(category)	Code examples by genre
getConsole()	Console logs for debugging
startRecording() / stopRecording() / recordSeconds(n)	Record what plays to WAV

Quick commands

The chat has quick command buttons:

• Simple beat — make a basic rhythm
• Add bass — add a bass line
• Explain code — get an explanation of the current code
• Add effect — add reverb and delay

Sending errors to the chat

When an error occurs, the error bar has a “To chat” button: press it and the agent gets the error and helps fix it.

Tips

Be specific

The more precise the description, the better the result:

• ❌ “Make something”
• ✅ “Make a minimal techno beat at 120 BPM with a deep bass”

Use the selection

Select the code you want to change and the agent focuses on it.

Iterate

Don’t try to do everything at once. Start simple and add parts step by step.

Report problems

If something sounds wrong, say so. The agent will fix it.

Example conversation

You: Make a simple house beat

Agent: writes the code and plays it

// === HOUSE BEAT ===
stack(
  s("bd*4").gain(0.9)._scope(),           // kick on every beat
  s("~ cp ~ cp").gain(0.7),               // clap on 2 and 4
  s("hh*8").gain(0.5)._scope(),           // hi-hats
  note("c2 c2 c2 c3").s("bass").lpf(600)  // bass line
)

You: Add a piano

Agent: edits the code and adds a piano

You: Make the bass deeper

Agent: finds the bass and lowers the filter

Limitations

• The agent sees only the code and does not hear the result
• When something fails, describe what went wrong
• Build complex layered tracks step by step
• The agent works only with Strudel/TidalCycles syntax

Privacy

• API keys are stored only in your browser’s localStorage
• Code and messages go straight to the provider (OpenAI/Anthropic/Google)
• Bulka does not store your data on its servers