Automatonism is the name of both the modular synthesiser in Pure Data and the creative output of its developer, Johan Eriksson. A PhD student at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, UK, Eriksson works at the intersection of composition, performance and instrument design.

His research explores new ways of making music with modular synths by highlighting the partnership between human and the automaton.

His first modular project, Xodular, arrived during a new wave of interest in modular synthesis and gained notable popularity for a freeware instrument.

Automatonism builds on Xodular, adding more modules and features for greater performability and expressiveness, while also encouraging players to delve into the making of generative algorithms.