What Is Processing? The Beginner-Friendly Language for Visual Coding
By
Ethan Fahey
•
Aug 11, 2025
Processing is a beginner-friendly programming language designed with artists and designers in mind, making it easy to create visuals, animations, and interactive digital art. It strips away much of the complexity of traditional coding, allowing creatives to focus on bringing their ideas to life—even if they’re new to programming. In this article, we’ll break down what Processing is all about, its core features, and how to get started. For AI engineers and recruiters in the creative tech space, tools like Fonzi AI can help identify talent with niche skills like Processing, streamlining hiring for roles that blend art and code.
Key Takeaways
Processing is a user-friendly programming environment created to enhance software literacy in the visual arts, enabling artists and designers to easily create interactive visualizations.
The platform’s active community contributes libraries and tools, expanding Processing’s functionality, while abundant tutorials and examples provide essential resources for learning and experimentation.
Processing supports various applications in the visual arts, allowing creators to design dynamic visuals and integrate with technologies like Arduino for interactive installations.
What is Processing?
Processing is not just another programming language; it’s a flexible software sketchbook designed to make coding more accessible to artists and designers. Created by Casey Reas and Ben Fry, Processing aims to promote software literacy within the visual arts community, offering an intuitive platform where users can quickly prototype ideas and turn them into interactive visualizations.
Since its inception in 2001, Processing has influenced a myriad of technologies, including Arduino and Wiring, enhancing creative possibilities for artists and designers. With the release of Processing 4, the focus has been on improving code performance on modern hardware, ensuring that it remains a robust tool for creative coding.
Origins and Founders
The story of Processing begins with Casey Reas and Ben Fry, who initiated the project in 2001. Both Reas and Fry were inspired by the need to create a programming environment tailored specifically for artists and designers, making it easier for them to experiment with code and create interactive visuals.
Their vision was to build a platform that combined the fundamentals of programming with the creative freedom of art and design. Over the years, Processing has grown into a powerful tool, widely used by educators, designers, and artists around the world, fostering a community that values innovation and creativity.
Key Features
One of the standout features of Processing is its user-friendly Development Environment (PDE), which simplifies the coding process for beginners and experienced programmers alike. The PDE includes a large text editor for writing code and a toolbar for executing commands, making it easy to write, run, and debug sketches.
The Processing community plays a crucial role in expanding its capabilities. Community members actively create libraries and tools that enhance the software’s functionality, offering additional resources for users to explore. These contributions foster innovation and enable users to tackle more complex projects.
Moreover, the Processing ecosystem includes a wealth of examples and tutorials that help users understand the basics and advanced features of the language. These resources are:
Categorized by their functions
Designed to make it easier for users to find relevant code samples
Intended to help users learn through practical exercises
Applications in Visual Arts
Processing is a powerful tool for artists and designers, enabling them to create dynamic visuals and interactive installations. Artists utilize Processing to develop interactive installations that respond to user input, creating immersive experiences that blend art, technology, and processing ideas.
In the realm of visual arts, Processing is employed to design dynamic visuals and color images for exhibitions and performances. This versatility allows artists to explore new creative expressions, pushing the boundaries of traditional art forms and embracing the digital age.
Getting Started with Processing
Diving into the world of Processing begins with understanding the basics. The ‘Getting Started’ tutorial is an excellent resource for beginners, guiding users through the initial steps of using the Processing Development Environment (PDE). This section will walk you through the process of installing Processing, running your first sketch, and exploring built-in examples to get a feel for the language.
Processing development is designed to be accessible, making it easy for users to create and prototype their ideas quickly. Whether you’re an artist looking to visualize your work or a programmer exploring new creative outlets, Processing offers a flexible platform that caters to your needs.
Installation Guide
Installing Processing is a straightforward process, whether you’re using Windows, macOS, or Linux. Windows users can download a .msi installer file from the Processing website and run it from the Downloads folder. MacOS users can download a .dmg file, which needs to be dragged into the Applications folder for installation.
Linux users can install Processing directly from the Snap Store, ensuring compatibility across different distributions. Once installed, open the Processing application to begin your creative coding journey, ready to explore the numerous features and functionalities it offers.
Running Your First Sketch
Writing your first sketch in Processing is an exciting milestone. The PDE features a large text editor for written code and a toolbar for running commands. A simple chapter sketch typically begins with a setup function to initialize settings and a draw function to render graphics on the screen, including letters.
For beginners, the process is straightforward: write your code in the text editor, hit the ‘Run’ button, and watch your creation come to life. This ease of use makes Processing a flexible software sketchbook, perfect for happy coding and rapid prototyping in Python.
Exploring Examples
Processing comes with a plethora of built-in examples that demonstrate various functionalities of the language. These examples serve as excellent starting points for beginners and allow users to continue providing templates that can be modified to see immediate results.
These examples help users deepen their understanding of Processing’s various functions and tools. Whether you’re interested in creating dynamic visuals, animations, or interactive projects, these examples offer a wealth of knowledge to help you get started.
Learning Processing Development
Learning Processing development is a journey that combines creativity with technical skills. Since its inception, Processing has been promoting software literacy in the visual arts, making it an invaluable resource for artists, designers, and educators. This section will introduce various resources, including books, tutorials, and community contributions, to help you master Processing.
Leveraging these resources enhances your programming skills and allows you to explore advanced topics like data visualization and animation, pushing the creative boundaries of Processing.
Books and Tutorials
Books and tutorials are essential tools for anyone looking to learn Processing. One notable resource is “Learning Processing” by Daniel Shiffman, which serves as an introductory guide to the programming language, offering practical exercises and projects.
Processing also offers a variety of tutorials that cater to different skill levels, from beginners to advanced programmers. These tutorials help users grasp programming concepts through visual examples on the page, making the learning process engaging and effective.
Additionally, the built-in examples in Processing are categorized by their classes and functions, making it easier for users to find relevant code samples and understand how different aspects of the language work.
Community Contributions
The Processing community is a vibrant ecosystem that strongly encourages contributions from its users. As an open-source platform, Processing benefits from a wide range of libraries and tools created by community members, enhancing its capabilities and fostering innovation.
Students, artists, designers, researchers, and hobbyists all contribute to the community, creating a rich tapestry of projects and resources that support learning and development. Notable projects like Wiring and Arduino showcase the versatility and impact of Processing in the creative coding world.
Advanced Topics
Advanced topics like data visualization and animation present exciting opportunities for those wanting to explore further into Processing for the future. Processing’s capabilities can be expanded by integrating libraries, allowing users to create generative art and real-time data visualization applications.
Animation techniques within Processing enable dynamic visual outputs, enhancing user experience and interactivity. Exploring these advanced scene concepts allows you to push the boundaries of what’s possible with Processing, resulting in innovative and engaging projects.
Exporting and Sharing Projects
Once you’ve created your masterpiece, sharing it with the world is the next step. Processing allows you to export your projects in various formats, making it easy to distribute and showcase your work to a broader audience. This section will guide you through exporting applications, sharing on online platforms, and integrating with other technologies.
These exporting options allow creators to share their work widely, ensuring their creative efforts reach the right audience and make a lasting impact.
Exporting Applications
Exporting applications in Processing is a seamless process, allowing users to bundle their sketches into standalone applications for easier distribution. Users can select options for target platforms and whether to include Java during the export compilation process.
Each exported application requires the entire directory of files to function properly, not just the executable file. Creating .zip files of your exported applications simplifies sharing and distribution, making your projects easily accessible to others.
Online Sharing Platforms
Platforms like GitHub and OpenProcessing serve as popular venues for sharing Processing projects. These platforms facilitate community interaction and provide valuable feedback from fellow developers and artists.
Game Jolt and itch.io are also excellent platforms for sharing Processing projects, allowing creators to showcase their work and connect with a broader audience. Engaging with community feedback on these platforms helps improve projects and fosters collaboration among creators.
Integrating with Other Technologies
Processing’s versatility extends beyond visual programming, allowing for integration with various technologies. Combining Processing with hardware like Arduino enables the creation of interactive installations that blend visual programming with hardware control.
Processing is also compatible with web development technologies, enabling the creation of creative web-based applications. This integration expands the range of projects and enhances interactive experiences, allowing for innovative and engaging creations, completing the overall development process.
Why Choose Fonzi for Hiring AI Engineers?
As we transition from creative coding to the world of AI, it’s essential to recognize the importance of hiring top-tier talent. Fonzi is a curated marketplace that connects companies to pre-vetted AI engineers, ensuring a high-quality pool of candidates for hiring companies. This section will explore what Fonzi is, how it works, and the benefits of using it for hiring AI engineers.
Fonzi’s unique approach to recruitment ensures a fast, consistent, and scalable hiring process, making it an invaluable resource for businesses of all sizes.
What is Fonzi?
Fonzi serves as a specialized marketplace designed to curate AI engineering talent, ensuring a high-quality pool of candidates for hiring companies. One of Fonzi’s standout features is its ‘Match Day’ events, where companies meet qualified candidates in a structured hiring setup, allowing for real-time offers and decisions.
This approach standardizes candidate evaluations and communication, promoting an equitable hiring process that benefits both companies and candidates.
How Fonzi Works
Fonzi streamlines the hiring process for AI engineers through unique features and events. Match Day events facilitate live evaluations of candidates, enabling companies to make real-time offers within a limited log timeframe.
Unlike traditional recruitment methods, Fonzi delivers high-signal, structured evaluations with built-in fraud detection and bias auditing, ensuring transparency and effectiveness in the hiring process.
Benefits of Using Fonzi
Using Fonzi accelerates the hiring timeline, with most placements occurring within three weeks from the Match Day event. This rapid hiring process addresses urgent talent needs efficiently, making Fonzi an ideal solution for businesses looking to hire AI engineers quickly.
Fonzi also promotes fair hiring practices through features like bias-audited evaluations and built-in fraud detection, ensuring a secure and equitable recruitment experience for all parties involved.
Summary
Exploring the basics of Processing opens up a world of creative possibilities for both beginners and seasoned programmers. From its origins with Casey Reas and Ben Fry, Processing has grown into a robust, user-friendly environment that bridges the gap between programming and visual arts. Its key features, including a supportive community and extensive libraries, make it an invaluable tool for artists and designers.
Getting started with Processing is straightforward, with clear installation guides, beginner-friendly tutorials, and a plethora of examples to explore. As users advance, they can delve into more complex topics like data visualization and animation, further expanding their creative horizons. With the ability to export and share projects easily, Processing ensures that your creative work can reach a broad audience. And for those looking to hire AI engineers, Fonzi offers a streamlined, effective recruitment process that connects companies with top-tier talent.
