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Processing updates, news

A few days ago, Mobile Processing was updated to 0002 - and Processing ‘proper’ was updated to 0103. Mobile Processing allows one to compile sketches as midlets (Java Applets) for mobile phones that support a Java runtime engine. There are many libraries out there that allow one to access the various APIs that exist (bluetooth, sms, multimedia etc). I am a big fan of Mobile Processing.
From the changelog:

  • Support for touchscreen devices. pointerPressed, pointerX, pointerY, pointerPressed(), pointerDragged(), pointerReleased() added.
  • Handset library renamed to Phone library. The new Phone library has support for launching the phone browser, making a phone call, and fullscreen drawing.
  • Net Client library is now part of the standard core features as PClient.
  • Xml library added.
  • Proguard obfuscation/pruning/shrinking added on export.

Speaking of Processing, the blog aggregate Processing Blogs has some nice commentary on the state of the IDE, and its impact on new media art, artists:

“Being focused on small code sketches/experiments and used by various respected artists the tool created an huge amount of interest fairly quickly. In retrospect (well, for me after almost 3 years) I also think it encouraged a slightly superficial view of computational design by quickly gaining cult status amongst people never been exposed to programming before. I think it’s dangerous and a sign of crisis if every recycled L-System, Neural Network, Wolfram automata or webcam tracking experiment automatically is considered art (by their authors), simply because it’s been “(Re)Built with Processing”…”

Great post from Toxi which caused quite a stir. Check the comments and his follow up post. Interesting read. Fry (one of the Processing developers) has a good response on the Processing forums.

Also, if you are interested in learning Processing, the Interactive Telecommunications Program at NYU has some 2006 Processing syllabi and coursework up online.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 23rd, 2006 at 9:23:02 and is filed under Processing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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