Processing
Processing is a free, open-source development environment for making visual and interactive work with code.
What Processing is
Processing is a free, open-source development environment for making visual and interactive work with code. It began in 2001 as a software sketchbook and a way to teach programming fundamentals through visual work, and has since developed into a tool used by professionals as well as in educational settings. Its Processing Development Environment combines a text editor, compiler, and display window for creating and running sketches. The default renderer supports 2D graphics, while the P3D renderer is used for 3D. Community libraries can add capabilities such as sound, computer vision, and advanced 3D geometry. Included utilities cover sketch archiving, font creation, color selection, and movie making; core libraries support networking, serial hardware connections, audio, video, and PDF or SVG export. Processing also offers command-line sketch execution for automation and headless setups. It runs locally on macOS, Windows, and Linux, and users can disable its update check. The Processing Forum supports questions and sharing work.
Good
- Free and open source.
- Supports both 2D and 3D sketches.
- Libraries add audio and computer vision capabilities.
- Runs locally on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
- Command-line interface supports automation and headless setups.
Watch out
- No free trial is listed.
- Update check is enabled unless disabled in settings.
Who it suits
Processing suits people learning programming through visual projects, as well as professionals creating graphics, animations, or interactive installations. Its classroom use spans art, computing, and humanities programs.
Verdict
Processing combines a sketching environment with tools for creating and running visual projects. Its local operation, extensibility, and terminal interface suit both learning and professional creative work.
Plans and prices
From Processing's own pricing page, checked 2 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free and open source |
The facts
Each one read from Processing's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- 2D and 3D
- Sketches can draw two-dimensional graphics with the default renderer or three-dimensional graphics with the P3D renderer.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Audience
- Processing is used in classrooms, including art schools, universities, high schools, computer science programs, and humanities curricula.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Built-in tools
- Included tools provide sketch archiving, font creation, color selection, and movie making.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Command line
- Processing includes a command-line interface for running sketches from a terminal, including for automation and headless setups.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Development environment
- The Processing Development Environment includes a text editor, compiler, and display window for creating and running sketches.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- Community libraries extend Processing with capabilities such as sound, computer vision, and advanced 3D geometry.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Core libraries support network communication, serial connections to external hardware, audio, video, and PDF or SVG export.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The Processing software runs locally and does not collect, track, store, or share user data; its update check can be disabled in settings.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Project history
- Processing started in spring 2001, and the Processing Foundation was started in 2012 to support software development and expand access to learning programming and creative work with code.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Processing began as a software sketchbook and a way to teach programming fundamentals through visual work, and has evolved into a development tool for professionals.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Support
- Users can ask questions and share work through the Processing Forum.checked 2 Oct 2026
- What it creates
- Processing focuses on creating visual, interactive media, including graphics, animations, and interactive installations.checked 2 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 2001checked 28 Sep 2026
Alternatives to Processing
- 1
IntelliJ IDEA
Free planAPIExtensionLinuxmacOS7.8Free plan - 2
Java-Editor
Free planOpen sourceAndroidLinuxmacOSWindows7.4Free plan - 3
AIDE
Free planAndroid6.8$2.99 one-time - 4
MyEclipse
LinuxmacOSWindows6.6From $37 a year - 5
CS++ Java IDE
Free planiOSWebmacOSWindows6.5Free plan - 6
Apache NetBeans
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.4Free plan