Processing is an open-source programming language and development environment created by Casey Reas and Ben Fry in 2001. It is used by artists, designers, educators, and researchers to create interactive graphics, animations, and other multimedia projects. This guide will provide an overview of Processing's history, how to write code in Processing with an example, and some of the best applications for it.
Biography of Processing Language:
Processing began as a project at the MIT Media Lab in 2001 by Casey Reas and Ben Fry. It was initially developed as a tool to help students learn to code and to create interactive graphics for their projects. Processing was released as open-source software in 2003 and has since become a popular tool for artists, designers, and educators around the world.
Processing is based on the Java programming language and uses a simplified syntax to make it easier for beginners to learn. Processing code is written in a text editor and can be executed in the Processing development environment. Processing also has a large community of users who contribute to the development of the language, create libraries for new functionality, and share their projects with others.
How to Write Processing Code with an Example:
Writing code in Processing is similar to writing code in other programming languages, but with a simplified syntax that makes it easier to learn. Here is an example of a simple Processing sketch that draws a circle on the screen:
```
void setup() {
size(400, 400); // create a canvas with width 400 and height 400
}
void draw() {
background(255); // set the background color to white
fill(0, 0, 255); // set the fill color to blue
stroke(0); // set the stroke color to black
ellipse(200, 200, 100, 100); // draw a circle at x=200, y=200 with a diameter of 100
}
```
The `setup()` function is called once at the beginning of the sketch and is used to set up the canvas and any other variables or settings needed for the sketch. The `draw()` function is called repeatedly to update the canvas and draw the graphics.
To run this code in Processing, copy and paste it into the Processing development environment, save the file with a `.pde` extension, and click the "Run" button. The sketch will open in a new window and you will see a blue circle on a white background.
Best Applications for Processing:
Processing has a wide range of applications in art, design, education, and research. Here are some examples of how Processing is used:
1. Art: Processing is used by artists to create interactive installations, generative art, and other multimedia projects. Examples include Zach Lieberman's "Play the World," an interactive sound installation that uses Processing to track the movement of a globe, and Golan Levin's "Opto-Isolator," a robotic sculpture that responds to light.
2. Design: Processing is used by designers to create data visualizations, user interfaces, and other interactive graphics. Examples include the New York Times' "The Rent Racket," an interactive map of New York City's rental market, and Moritz Stefaner's "Truth and Beauty," a data visualization of the beauty industry.
3. Education: Processing is used in classrooms around the world to teach programming and computational thinking. Examples include the Processing Foundation's "Hello Processing" tutorial series and the Processing-based book "Getting Started with Processing" by Casey Reas and Ben Fry.
4. Research: Processing is used by researchers in a wide range of fields to visualize data and create interactive simulations. Examples include the "Molecular Workbench," a platform for visualizing molecular simulations, and "Rhythm Necklace," an interactive music composition tool.
Conclusion:
Processing is a powerful and accessible tool for creating interactive graphics, animations, and other multimedia projects. Its simplified syntax and large community of users make it a great choice for beginners and experienced programmers alike. By following this guide and experimenting with Processing code, you can create your own interactive projects and join the vibrant community of Processing users around the world.