Hi,
Eventually I want to write a few applications on a PC to update an Arduino via seriel (the code will stay the same just some variables will be changed). Generally I would like it to be a windowed program with a few boxes to input values (numbers only at first) and send/receive buttons. What language would be easiest to use for this. I have looked around (I don't have much knowledge on compilers and compiling and that sort of thing) and found someone used Netbeans IDE for Java for something simular. The C++ compilers installation process confused the hell out of me :-/ ! I would be starting from scratch learning both the Arduino and the other so I would think C++ would be a bit nicer as it would be only one language to learn, but most people it seems use Java for GUI and such.
Any help is greatful, even internet articals to read and such.
Cheers!
Why not Processing (Java)?
Why not 
Thanks AWOL 
Had a quick look at Processing, and I thought it seemed aim towards more animation type of things, not just boring static windows that don't do anything. But I will look into it a bit more.
Seems that a Java based IDE would be best (just from the fact that I haven't seen any nicely packaged C++ based IDEs)
From Wikipedia;
The language builds on the graphical capabilities of the Java programming language, simplifying features and creating a few new ones
Just looked into Netbeans a bit more and it has a GUI builder (which sound like a drag and drop type interface) Which may make my life a whole lot easier. Although I would like to still learn how to do it from the ground up aswell.
one big advantage of Processing is the community of people working with arduino-connected applications. For casual programmers it's not too hard to go back and forth between them.
lots of examples too.
Yeah I think that the support (and the existing relationship with Arduino) is one big drawcard for Processing
What is the final output of Processing (Windows XP), is it a single .exe file I could stick on my desktop and run from there or is it more that that (I did read somewhere that for windows the lib folders needed to be included in the .exe folder, is this correct and only if you use additional libaries?)
Thanks again
Processing can export apps as well as web applets for Mac, Win, and Linux platforms. On Windows, you must have a Java VM installed; the VM is part of the MacOS X release.
The Mac export is a standalone app, but for Windows, note:
Windows is a shell .exe that calls the code and requires the "lib" folder along with it be kept intact. Someday we might make Windows be a nice single .exe file, but this requires more time to implement, and more specifically, make work consistently with the libraries. If you're finicky about this, use a Java EXE generator such as JSmooth or launch4j.
See this page for details: http://processing.org/reference/environment/#application.
.andy
Java is, and I suspect will be for a long time, my weapon of choice when programming GUIs.
I have made some in C++/OpenGL as well, but it takes an insanely amount of hours more to develop.
Got to love Java.
In the case the OP didn't realize, Java underlies Processing and C++ is underneath Arduino.
.ad
I use vb for communication to my Arduino. Its simple enough, but only works on windows. I started to learn java but didn't get very far, maybe I'll try again after reading this thread.
In the case the OP didn't realize, Java underlies Processing and C++ is underneath Arduino.
I would be starting from scratch learning both the Arduino and the other so I would think C++ would be a bit nicer as it would be only one language to learn, but most people it seems use Java for GUI and such.
Yep, already got that (sorta vague in my post). Good to have it spelt out plain and simple though for others.
Thanks.
Processing or OpenFrameworks.