Processing: Creative Coding and Computational Art

PROCESSING: CREATIVE CODING AND COMPUTATIONAL ART
36
Java
}
this.y = y;
this.wdth = wdth;
this.ht = ht;
this.fillCol = fillCol;
/* check for stroke - if the last argument passed to the
constructor is not -1 then use that value to set the
stroke color. If it is -1, don't draw a stroke */
if (strokeCol!=-1){
this.strokeCol = strokeCol;
stroke(strokeCol);
}
else {
noStroke();
}
//drawRect method
void drawRect(){
//assign fill color
fill(fillCol);
// draw rectangle
rect(x, y, wdth, ht);
}
}
The other terms I threw at you earlier were “class files,” “compile,” “interpret,” and “Java
Virtual Machine,” which I’ll define as I introduce Java and describe Processing’s special
relationship to it.
I want to cover a little of Java’s history (sorry), but I think you may find it somewhat interesting,
especially as a lesson in the virtue of happy mistakes. I actually cover happy coding
mistakes a little later on as well. Java’s history is also relevant in regard to a deeper understanding
of Processing. Have I convinced you? Hope so.
Java, originally named Oak, was developed in the early 1990s as a language to be used to
program devices other than personal computers—things like microwave ovens with
embedded processors—not terribly sexy stuff, but as you’ll see, pretty visionary. However,
appliance manufacturers didn’t embrace the idea. So to save face, the Sun engineers went
back to their drawing boards and came up with a plan to remarket Oak as a language to
control “set-top boxes” for interactive TV. But alas, the cable companies passed on that idea
as well. Things were not looking good for Oak. To make matters even worse, it was discovered
that the name “Oak” had already been trademarked by another technology company.
Before I tell you how Java was reborn out of this very inauspicious beginning, let me explain
the basic problem the Sun engineers were trying to address in the design of Oak in the first
place. Then you can try to guess (if it is not already obvious) what saved Java.