Processing
| File:Processing-loading-logo.gif | |
| Paradigm | object-oriented |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Ben Fry and Casey Reas |
| First appeared | 2001 |
| Typing discipline | strong |
| OS | Cross-platform |
| License | GPL and LGPL |
| Website | processing.org |
| Influenced by | |
| Design by Numbers, Java | |
Processing is an open source project initiated by Casey Reas and Benjamin Fry, formerly of the Aesthetics and Computation Group at the MIT Media Lab. It is "a programming language and integrated development environment (IDE) built for the electronic arts and visual design communities", which aims to teach the basics of computer programming in a visual context, and to serve as the foundation for electronic sketchbooks. One of the stated aims of Processing is to act as a tool to get non-programmers started with programming, through the instant gratification of visual feedback. It is a language that builds on the graphical side of the Java programming language, simplifying features and creating a few new ones.
Features
Processing includes a "sketchbook", a minimal alternative to an IDE for organizing projects.
When programming in Processing all classes defined will be treated as inner classes when the code is translated into pure Java before compiling. This means that the use of static variables and methods in classes is prohibited unless you explicitly tell Processing that you want to code in pure Java mode.
Hello World
void setup()
{
println("Hello World!");
}
While this is a valid Hello World program, the following code is a better example of the look and feel of the Processing language.
void setup()
{
PFont font = loadFont("myfont.vlw");
textFont(font,20);
}
void draw()
{
text("Hello World!", 30,50);
}
Related projects
Processing has spawned another project, Wiring, which uses the Processing IDE together with a simplified version of the C programming language as a way to teach artists how to program microcontrollers. There are now two separate hardware projects, Wiring and Arduino, using the Wiring environment and language. Another spin-off project, Mobile Processing by Francis Li, allows software written using the Processing programming language and environment to run on Java powered mobile devices.
Awards
In 2005 Reas and Fry won the prestigious Golden Nica award from Ars Electronica in its Net Vision category for their work on Processing.
License
The IDE is licensed under the GNU General Public License.
Processing's 'core' libraries, the code that is included in exported applications and applets, is licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License, allowing the programmer to release their original code with their license of choice.
Name
Originally, Processing had the URL at proce55ing.org, because the "processing" domain was taken. Eventually, however, Reas and Fry acquired the domain. Although the name had a combination of letters and numbers, it was still pronounced "processing". They do not prefer the environment being referred to as "Proce55ing", according to the FAQ:
"When we see it with the 55's it annoys us and we want to punch people in the face. Or punch ourselves in the face for using it in the first place. Actually, we try not to be that emotional about it but we're trying to avoid the previous naming."
But, despite the name change, Processing still uses the term "p5" sometimes as a shortened name. However, they specifically use "p5" and not "p55".