3.2 KiB
| language | filename | contributors | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processing | learnprocessing.pde |
|
Introduction
Processing is a programming language for creation of digital arts and multimedia content, allowing non-programmers to
learn fundamentals of computer programming in a visual context.
While the language is based off on Java language,
its syntax has been largely influenced by both Java and Javascript syntaxes. See more here
The language also comes with its official IDE to compile and run the scripts.
/* ---------
Comments
---------
*/
// Single-line comment starts with //
/*
Since Processing is based on Java,
the syntax for its comments are the same as Java (as you may have noticed above)!
Multi-line comments are wrapped as seen here.
*/
/* ---------------------------------------
Writing and Running Processing Programs
---------------------------------------
*/
// In Processing, your program's entry point is a function named setup() with a void return type.
// Note! The syntax looks strikingly similar to that of C++.
void setup() {
// This prints out the classic output "Hello World!" to the console when run.
println("Hello World!"); // Another language with a semi-column trap, ain't it?
}
// Normally, we put all the static codes inside the setup() method as the name suggests.
// It can range from setting the background colours, setting the canvas size.
// You will see more of them throughout this document.
// Now that we know how to write the working script and how to run it,
// we will proceed to explore what data types and collections are supported in Processing.
/* -----------------------
Datatypes & collections
------------------------
*/
// According to Processing References, Processing supports 8 primitive datatypes as follows.
boolean booleanValue = true; // Boolean
byte byteValueOfA = 23; // Byte
char charValueOfA = 'A'; // Char
color colourValueOfWhiteM = color(255, 255, 255); // Colour (Specified using color() method)
color colourValueOfWhiteH = #FFFFFF; // Colour (Specified using hash value)
int intValue = 5; // Integer (Number without decimals)
long longValue = 2147483648L; // "L" is added to the number to mark it as a long
float floatValue = 1.12345; // Float (32-bit floating-point numbers)
double doubleValue = 1.12345D; // Double (64-bit floating-point numbers)
// NOTE!
// Although datatypes "long" and "double" work in the language,
// processing functions do not use these datatypes, therefore
// they need to be converted into "int" and "float" datatypes respectively,
// using (int) and (float) syntax before passing into a function.
Processing is easy to learn and is particularly useful to create multimedia contents (even in 3D) without
having to type a lot of codes. It is so simple that you can read through the code and get a rough idea of
the program flow.
However, that does not apply when you introduce external libraries, packages and even your own classes.
(Trust me! Processing projects can get really large)
What's Next?
Here, I have compiled some useful resources: