Basics

These examples introduce the basic elements of computer programming and the fundamental elements of drawing with Processing. If you are new to programming, these examples can be a part of the learning process, but they are not detailed or descriptive enough to be used alone. If you have prior experience, they will show you how to apply what you know to using Processing.

Topics

These examples build on the basics. They are related to the topics of animation, drawing, interaction, interface, motion, simulation, file i/o, cellular automata, fractals, and l-systems.

3D & OpenGL

These examples show the basics of drawing in 3D. Processing has two 3D renderers that can draw 3D shapes on screen and control lighting and camera parameters. The P3D renderer is an optimized software renderer and the OPENGL renderer uses JOGL to access OpenGL accelerated graphics cards (this creates an enormous speed improvement on computers with supported graphics cards.)

Libraries

These examples demonstrate how to use some of Processing's libraries. The libraries enable Processing to capture and play video, import SVG files, export PDF files, communicate using the Internet and RS-232 protocols, create and play sound files, and more...

Processing: A Programming Handbook for Visual Designers and Artists. Casey Reas and Ben Fry. Published 24 August 2007 by MIT Press. 736 pages. Sample chapters and example downloads.

Visualizing Data. Ben Fry. Published 18 December 2007 by O'Reilly. 384 pages.

Processing: Creative Coding and Computational Art. Ira Greenberg. Published 28 May 2007 by Friends of Ed. 840 pages.

Learning Processing: A Beginner's Guide to Programming Images, Animation, and Interaction. Dan Shiffman. Published 29 August 2008 by Morgan Kaufmann. 450 pages.

More books related to Processing are included on the Books page.