Processing (programming language)
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| Processing (programming language) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Processing |
| Year | 2001 |
| Designer | Ben Fry, Casey Reas |
| Developer | Processing Foundation |
| Typing | Dynamic, strong |
| Influenced by | Java, Logo, BASIC, Smalltalk |
| Influenced | p5.js, openFrameworks, Cinder |
| License | GNU LGPL |
Processing (programming language) Processing is a visual arts–oriented programming platform created to simplify graphics and interactive media creation for artists, designers, educators, and researchers. It originated as a collaboration building on ideas from MIT Media Lab, AIGA, Rhizome, and the work of proponents connected to Interactive Telecommunications Program and Eyebeam. It emphasizes immediate visual feedback, a lightweight runtime, and integration with hardware and curricular initiatives championed by institutions such as School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, New York University, and Rhode Island School of Design.
History
Processing began in 2001 as a joint project by Ben Fry and Casey Reas who were students at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and later affiliated with MIT Media Lab and AIGA. Early demonstrations appeared at venues including SIGGRAPH, ISEA International, and exhibitions curated by New Museum and Museum of Modern Art. Funding, stewardship, and advocacy came through partnerships with organizations such as Rhizome, Eyebeam, and later the nonprofit Processing Foundation. Milestones include adoption in pedagogical programs at Pratt Institute, California Institute of the Arts, and incorporation in workshops at Ars Electronica and Transmediale. The project responded to shifts in publishing, conferences like DEF CON and SXSW, and technical trends exemplified by Java evolutions and the emergence of JavaScript ecosystems.
Design and Language Features
Processing's syntax is a simplified dialect inspired by Java and influenced by Smalltalk, BASIC, and the educational language Logo. The core API prioritizes 2D and 3D graphics primitives, event handling, and media I/O patterned after examples shown at SIGGRAPH, ISEA International, and in curricula at Rhode Island School of Design. Types and structures map to the Java Virtual Machine model while providing dynamic conveniences akin to projects from MIT Media Lab. Graphics backends interoperate with libraries from OpenGL, JOGL, and projects influenced by openFrameworks and Cinder. Processing exposes functions for drawing, transforms, and color management suited to installations presented at Ars Electronica and galleries like Tate Modern.
Development Environment and Tools
The Processing Development Environment (PDE) offers a minimalist editor inspired by the teaching environments of Logo and classroom software used at School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The PDE integrates a compiler, runtime, and serial monitor for hardware interfaces similar to tools used by Arduino communities and exhibitions at MoMA. Tooling extends via plugins, command-line utilities, and integration with IDEs such as Eclipse, NetBeans, and IntelliJ IDEA. Build and deployment workflows parallel practices discussed at conferences like FOSDEM and PyCon when bridging art and engineering.
Libraries and Frameworks
A rich ecosystem of libraries supports audio, video, computer vision, and networking: bindings for OpenCV, sound libraries influenced by work at IRCAM, video libraries used at SFMOMA screenings, and networking stacks paralleling TCP/IP demonstrations at DEF CON. Creative coding frameworks and ports such as p5.js, openFrameworks, Cinder, and community-contributed libraries mirror plugins from Processing Foundation archives. Libraries enable hardware interaction with boards and platforms in the lineage of Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and sensor projects shown at Maker Faire.
Implementations and Variants
Beyond the original Java-based runtime, notable implementations and variants include a JavaScript reimplementation p5.js employed in web-based art and courses at Code.org and Mozilla Foundation initiatives, a Python-oriented mode influenced by Jython and educational efforts at Sugar Labs, and native ports leveraging OpenGL and Vulkan pursued by contributors tied to SIGGRAPH research groups. Commercial and academic projects have adapted the runtime for gallery installations at Tate Modern and festivals like Ars Electronica.
Community and Education
The Processing community is international, with meetups, hackathons, and symposiums organized around festivals and institutions such as Ars Electronica, Transmediale, ISEA International, and university programs at NYU Tisch School of the Arts and Harvard Graduate School of Design. The Processing Foundation and affiliated educators have published textbooks and curricula used in workshops at School of the Art Institute of Chicago and online platforms promoted by Khan Academy and Coursera-style providers. Community support channels mirror open-source ecosystems seen at GitHub and discourse patterns at Stack Overflow and mailing lists coordinated by the foundation.
Applications and Notable Projects
Processing has been used for interactive installations showcased at MoMA, Tate Modern, SFMOMA, New Museum, and festivals including SXSW and Ars Electronica. Notable projects and practitioners employing Processing span media artists and collectives associated with Rhizome, exhibitions at New Museum, works by alumni of MIT Media Lab, and installations presented at SIGGRAPH and ISEA International. Commercial and research uses range from data visualization pieces displayed at Open Data Institute events to generative design prototypes in studios with ties to Cooper-Hewitt and educational visualizations produced in courses at Harvard and NYU.