Introduction

In this chapter, we'll take a look at the very basics of Processing. You'll learn how to install Processing on your computer, and extend it with libraries and tools. We'll also take a glimpse at the different modes that are available in Processing 2. These things aren't very exciting, but you need to know about them before you can start creating interactive art.

But don't worry, you'll have written your first Processing sketches by the time you reach the end of the chapter. You will learn more about the structure of a Processing sketch, and we'll use some math along the way. These sketches will also teach you the basics of interaction between humans and computers. We'll use the mouse and keyboard to create simple, yet somewhat useful applications. You'll notice that programming in the Processing language probably isn't as hard as you may have thought.