"Processing" from processing.org

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) General Bar Sport
1

Can I install processing and have it co-exist without hassle on the same pc as the Arduino software?

I realize that when dealing with the serial port, only one program can have it.

My understanding of Processing, is that it has more of graphics front end to, let's say, the Arduino, than the Arduino IDE is, right? I mean, the Arduino IDE is more about writing C, than anything else. Could someone familiar with both pls expound on this!

Also, I went to the wiring forum and found relatively little activity. The processing forum activity is more like here. (Just rambling, random notes here.)

Thanks.

2

You can install both processing and arduino without any problem.
Those are two really different softwares. arduino is just for programming the arduino board (or boarduino an any other equivalent). it allows you to write the software that goes on the chip and to debug it.
Processing on the other end doesn't have any GUI or whatever, it's just a software that allows you to use a "simplified" version of Java, so that you can code software without virtually knowing Java. It doesn't allows you to program the arduino, but you can read and write data to it, to light some leds or analyze what comes from some sensors. With processing, you can "process" these datas and have some kind of interaction with the computer screen / keyboard / mouse.
Maybe a "real" exemple would help you : in processing, you can write a software with some buttons, the user clicks one of these buttons, processing sends it to the arduino board, and a Led lights up. For the led to light up, you have to write the proper code in the Arduino IDE and upload it to the board via the same Arduino IDE.

3

Melka, thanks for the info.

Let me see if I understand...

So basically,
Arduino environment = Just programs Arduino hardware, provides a serial terminal.
Processing = simplified Java (that some people use to communicate with Arduino hardware?)

I don't know much about Java but if I wanted to spend time on OO, I think C++ would be more appropriate. Personal Opinion of course!

Take it easy.

4

Melka, thanks for the info.

So basically,
Arduino environment = Just programs Arduino hardware, provides a serial terminal.

More precisely, simplified C++ designed for use the AVR Library, and embedding everything needed to burn programs in the Arduino and compatible boards.

Processing = simplified Java (that some people use to communicate with Arduino hardware?)

Yes, but you can do that with any language able to exchange data through a serial link, ie almost all of them.

I don't know much about Java but if I wanted to spend time on OO, I think C++ would be more appropriate. Personal Opinion of course!

Let's say religious opinion. Starting this kind of discussion is a bit like smoking while making nitroglycerin.

As an atheist (*Basic-smashing atheist, but atheist), I'd say you won't do the same things in Java and C++. C++ have a more complicated and somehow more complete (wet floor...) approach of OOP, than Java, but isn't a strictly-OO language, as there can be structures (functions, variables, etc.) outside of classes, for C compatibility.

(... ok, I will burn in hell.)

A neutral advice would look like : OOP is basically a paradigm, which you can learn more easily without a language.

(... seems like it's gotta be only a few centuries in purgatory)

5

ok guys. Thanks. I think I got it.