Distill
Machine learning journal where every paper is an interactive diagram; publication has stopped, the back catalogue has not aged.
Opens in a new tab. We do not control this site and it may have changed since we catalogued it.
How to get the most from it
Distill sits in Interactive Explainers under Learn, filed as rabbit hole.
- Open it when the evening is free. It has no natural stopping point.
- Use a laptop or desktop computer — we file it as desktop only.
- It works with the sound off, so it is fine on a train or in a quiet office.
- No account needed — you can start without signing up.
- Go in expecting something brainy and beautiful.
About this category: Explainers that use motion, interaction and scrolling to teach what a paragraph never could. The clearest teaching on the internet lives here.
Good for
- A long evening with nothing planned
- Giving your brain a workout
- Looking at something lovely
- A quiet break at your desk
- Trying it with zero commitment
Distill: quick answers
Is Distill free?
Yes. Distill is free to use and needs no account.
Do I need an account to use Distill?
No. You can use Distill without signing up for anything.
Does Distill work on a phone?
Not well. We file Distill as desktop only, so open it on a laptop or desktop computer.
Is Distill safe for work?
Yes, we file it as safe for work. It also works muted.
How long does Distill take?
We file it as "Rabbit hole": Clear your evening. We warned you.
More in Interactive Explainers
All 15 in Interactive ExplainersThe hub for playable posts — effectively the index for the entire genre of learn-by-fiddling essays.
- 1 hr+
- Desktop
Every part of a wristwatch exploded and animated in sequence, until the escapement finally makes sense.
- 10 min
- Desktop
Neal Agarwal's collection of one-idea interactive toys, from spending Bill Gates' money to scrolling the whole ocean floor.
Drag mildly biased shapes around a grid and watch a segregated neighbourhood assemble itself without anyone intending it.
Same mood: brainy
All brainy sitesSerious dithering workbench with dozens of algorithms, custom palettes, live preview and a video mode as well.
- 10 min
- Desktop
The deck-building game that invented the genre, officially online, with a free rotating selection of kingdom cards.
- 10 min
- Desktop
Precise Hindu calendar giving tithi, nakshatra and auspicious timings for any date and location. Astronomically rigorous throughout.
Yu-Gi-Oh played manually against real opponents, with every card ever printed and no automation to hide your mistakes.
- 1 hr+
- Desktop
Keep exploring
Category
Time and mood
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